RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2002-02198
            INDEX CODE:  110.03, 100.06
            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

1.  Her reenlistment eligibility (RE) code be changed.

2.  It appears that she is requesting administrative corrections be made  to
her medical records and discharge documents.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She  was  sexually  assaulted  prior  to  entering  the  Air  Force.   While
attending technical training she received her assignment to Dyess  AFB,  TX,
which is near Oklahoma, the place where she was assaulted.   The  individual
that assaulted her had been stalking her making  harassing  phone  calls  to
her.   The  harassment  is  what  triggered  her  flashbacks,  inability  to
concentrate, and her inability to adequately  rest  for  her  studies.   She
feared for her  life  and  was  getting  very  stressed.   She  submitted  a
hardship letter requesting that she be assigned to a different  location  or
separated so that she could later reenlist.  Her  request  for  reassignment
was denied.  She does not understand why  her  discharge  documents  reflect
that she was involuntarily discharged.

Applicant contends that her  discharge  documents  contains  numerous  false
initials and signatures.  She does not recall ever seeing  or  signing  some
of the documents.  She believes that  the  medical  evaluators  contradicted
themselves in their evaluation of her condition and that the diagnoses  were
extremely exaggerated.  After recent counseling and studies she has  learned
that anyone who has experienced something traumatic could have the  symptoms
of posttraumatic stress.

Since her discharge from the Air Force, she has learned  what  posttraumatic
stress  disorder  is  and  has  accepted  and  dealt  with  the  trauma  she
experienced.  She has received an Associate and Bachelor's  degree  and  now
wishes to reenlist and continue with her Air Force career.

In  support  of  her  request,  applicant  provided  a  personal  statement,
documents associated  with  her  discharge  processing,  extracts  from  her
military and Department of Veterans Affairs medical  records;  her  DD  Form
214, Certificate  of  Release  or  Discharge  from  Active  Duty;  character
references, her high  school  graduation  certificate,  and  her  Associates
degree certificate.   Her  complete  submission,  with  attachments,  is  at
Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 19 Jul 95  in  the  grade  of
airman.  On 26 Oct 95, she  was  notified  by  her  commander  that  he  was
recommending that she be discharged from the Air Force under the  provisions
of AFI 36-3208, paragraph 5.22.2.  The specific reasons for his action  were
that on 26 Sep 95, she failed a Block II exam with a score  of  60  percent;
on 12 Oct 95, she was evaluated with posttraumatic  stress  disorder  (PTSD)
which would likely render her unable  to  function  adequately  in  the  Air
Force making her a substantial risk for  recurrent  episodes,  the  disorder
being so severe that her inability to function effectively in  the  military
environment was significantly impaired; on 19 Oct 95, she was counseled  for
her negative attitude and was subsequently  removed  from  her  position  as
class leader; and on 17 Oct 95, she was eliminated from  technical  training
for her failure to adapt to  the  military  environment.   She  acknowledged
receipt of the notification on that same date.  She  elected  to  waive  her
right to consult counsel and waived her right to submit  statements  on  her
own behalf.  In a legal review of her case the  wing  staff  judge  advocate
found the case legally sufficient.  The applicant was discharged  on  1  Nov
95 with an uncharacterized, entry-level separation.   She  served  3  months
and 13 days on active duty.  She was  assigned  RE  code  2C  (Involuntarily
separated with an honorable discharge;  or  entry-level  separation  without
characterization of service).

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant states that the  apparent  temporary  nature  of
the circumstances surrounding this case make some  grounds  for  considering
change of the RE code.  Documents provided by the applicant  dated  in  1997
indicate her symptoms of PTSD had significantly improved;  however,  current
evidence of normal occupational and social functioning and a current  mental
health evaluation concluding  continued  resolution  of  symptoms  would  be
desirable to strengthen the applicant's case.  The  consultant  states  that
PTSD  is  a  very  complex  syndrome  resulting  from  psychological  trauma
resulting in  significant  somatic,  cognitive,  affective,  and  behavioral
effects.   PTSD  is  characterized  by   intrusive   thoughts,   nightmares,
flashbacks, avoidance of reminders, hypervigilence, and  sleep  disturbance.
These  symptoms  can  lead  to   considerable   social,   occupational   and
interpersonal dysfunction.  PTSD  is  a  chronic  condition,  only  a  third
recover after one year and one third are still symptomatic after ten  years.
 In patients who show recovery, the risk  of  recurrence  is  increased  but
cannot be specifically determined in an  individual.   In  addition  to  her
PTSD, her mental health providers also considered a diagnosis of  Adjustment
Disorder with Depressed Mood.  This  diagnosis  is  an  unsuiting  condition
that is subject to administrative discharge when its severity  impairs  duty
performance.  It cannot in retrospect, be  determined  which  condition  was
dominant.  It would seem that had she not been assaulted prior  to  entering
the service, that she would not  have  had  the  difficulties  adjusting  to
military life.  Based on the evidence of record, no change  in  her  records
is warranted.  The Medical Consultant evaluation is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DPPRS  recommends  denial.   DPPRS  states  that  the   discharge   was
consistent  with  the  procedural  and  substantive  requirements   of   the
discharge regulation,  and  was  within  the  discretion  of  the  discharge
authority.  She did not submit any new evidence or identify  any  errors  or
injustices that occurred in the  discharge  processing.   Airmen  are  given
entry-level separation  with  uncharacterized  service  when  separation  is
initiated  in  the  first  180  days  of  continuous  active  service.   Her
uncharacterized service is correct in accordance with Department of  Defense
and Air Force  instructions.   Entry-level  separation  and  uncharacterized
service should not be confused with other types of  separation.   The  DPPRS
evaluation is at Exhibit D.

AFPC/DPPAE recommends denial. DPPAE states that  his  RE  code  is  correct.
The DPPAE evaluation is at Exhibit E.
_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the  applicant  on  14
Feb 03 for review and comment within 30 days.  As of this date, this  office
has received no response.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided  by  existing  law  or
regulations.

2.  The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the interest  of
justice to excuse the failure to timely file.

3.  Sufficient relevant evidence  has  been  presented  to  demonstrate  the
existence of error or injustice that would warrant some  corrective  action.
Even though the  applicant  has  provided  no  evidence  to  show  that  her
separation  was  improper  or  not  in  compliance  with   the   appropriate
regulations, it is our opinion that relief is warranted in  this  case.   In
this respect, we believe that a good probability  exists  that  she  may  be
able to provide effective and meaningful service to our nation as  a  member
of the armed forces.  It appears  that  the  underlying  circumstances  that
precipitated the behavior which ultimately led to  her  discharge  from  the
Air  Force  have  significantly  improved.   We  note   the   BCMR   Medical
Consultant's  recommendation  that  she  provide  a  current  mental  health
evaluation; however, we  believe  that  correction  of  her  RE  code  to  a
waiverable code is warranted based on the merits of this case.   Whether  or
not she is successful will depend on  the  needs  of  the  service  and  our
recommendation in no way guarantees that she will be allowed  to  return  to
any branch  of  service.   Therefore,  we  recommend  that  her  records  be
corrected to the extent indicated below.

4.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to show the  existence
of an error or injustice with respect to her contention  that  her  military
personnel and medical records contain numerous errors.  We  took  notice  of
the  applicant's  complete  submission  in  judging  the  merits  of   these
contentions but we are not persuaded by her uncorroborated  assertions  that
any  errors  or  improprieties  occurred.   Therefore,  in  the  absence  of
evidence to the contrary, we find no compelling basis to recommend  granting
that portion of the relief sought in this application

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air  Force  relating
to APPLICANT be  corrected  to  show  that  on  1  November  1995,  she  was
separated with a reenlistment eligibility (RE) code of 3K.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered  Docket  Number  BC-2002-02198
in Executive Session on 26 Mar 03, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

      Mr. Thomas S. Markiewicz, Vice Chair
      Mr. James W. Russell III, Member
      Mrs. Carolyn J. Watkins-Taylor, Member

All members voted to correct the records,  as  recommended.   The  following
documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, undated, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 6 Dec 02.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPPRS, dated 10 Jan 03.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, AFPC/DPPAE, dated 6 Feb 03.
    Exhibit F.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 14 Feb 03.




                             THOMAS S. MARKIEWICZ
                                             Vice Chair


AFBCMR BC-2002-02198




MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF

      Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air Force
Board for Correction of Military Records and under the authority of Section
1552, Title 10, United States Code (70A Stat 116), it is directed that:

      The pertinent military records of the  Department  of  the  Air  Force
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that on  1  November  1995,  she
was separated with a reenlistment eligibility (RE) code of 3K.








  JOE G. LINEBERGER

  Director

  Air Force Review Boards Agency