RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  02-02377
            INDEX CODE:  110.02
            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His Reenlistment Eligibility (RE) code be changed to  one  that  would
allow him to reenlist.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He does not have any new evidence and would  like  to  have  a  second
chance to return to the military.

In  support  of  his  request,  the  applicant  submitted  a  personal
statement.  Applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force as an airman basic  on
10 May 2000 for a term of 4 years.  On 18 August 2000,  the  applicant
was notified by his commander that he  was  recommending  that  he  be
discharged from the Air  Force  for  conditions  that  interfere  with
military service, mental disorders.  He was advised of his  rights  in
this matter.  On    18 August 2000  he  acknowledged  receipt  of  the
notification, waived his right to consult counsel, and elected not  to
submit statements on his own behalf.  The package was reviewed by  the
assistant staff judge advocate and found to be legally sufficient.  On
29 August 2000 he was administratively discharged with an  entry-level
separation  under  the  provisions  of  AFI  36-3208,   Unsuitability,
Adjustment Disorder. He served three (3) months and twenty  (20)  days
on active duty.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant reviewed applicant’s  request  and  opined
that the narrative reason for discharge can be changed to  Secretarial
Authority and states that no change in the characterization of service
or Reenlistment Eligibility  (RE)  code  is  warranted.   The  Medical
Consultant  also  affirms  that  the  applicant  was  diagnosed   with
Adjustment Disorder with Anxious and Depressed Mood  while  in  entry-
level status.  He was administratively discharged  for  the  unsuiting
condition with an entry-level separation.

Adjustment Disorder is characterized by marked psychological  distress
in response to identifiable  stressors,  in  this  case  the  military
environment, that overcome the individual’s ability  to  cope  and  is
frequently  associated  with  significant  impairment  in  social  and
occupational functioning.  The emotional and behavioral responses  may
be in excess of what would normally be expected given the national and
behavioral responses may be  in  excess  of  what  would  normally  be
expected given  the  nature  of  the  stressors.   Manifestations  can
include depressed mood, anxiety, and disturbances of conduct.   A  key
feature  of  Adjustment  Disorder  is  that  the  condition  typically
resolves with relief of the stressors and criteria for depression  are
not met.  Adjustment Disorder when  severe  enough  is  unsuiting  for
continued military service and cause for administrative discharge.

Airmen who are in entry-level status  during  the  period  receive  an
entry-level  separation.   This  discharge   does   not   attempt   to
characterize the type of service as either good or bad,  thus  the  DD
Form 214 reflects “uncharacterized”.  The Secretary of the  Air  Force
may give  an  honorable  characterization  only  when  it  is  clearly
warranted by unusual circumstances of personal conduct and performance
of military duty.  Adjustment Disorder is an unsuiting condition  that
does not qualify for entry into the disability evaluation  system  and
service is  not  characterized  if  administrative  separation  occurs
during  the  entry-level   status   period.    A   general   discharge
characterization would be appropriate if there was misconduct.

The applicant’s DD  Form  214  states  the  reason  for  discharge  as
“personality disorder”.  This is an administrative label that does not
coincide with current diagnostic terminology and in some cases can  be
misleading when the discharge was for adjustment disorder.   There  is
no evidence apparent in the available documentation that the applicant
had  a  personality  disorder  (as  defined  by  the  Diagnostic   and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) diagnosed or the  presence  of
traits suggestive of a personality disorder.

Action  and  disposition  in  this  case  are  proper  and   equitable
reflecting compliance with Air Force  directives  that  implement  the
law, however the narrative  reason  for  discharge  in  this  case  is
misleading.

The Medical Consultant’s evaluation is at attachment C.

AFPC/DPPRS concurs with the BCMR Medical Consultant and recommends the
narrative  reason  for  separation  be  changed  to   “JFF-Secretarial
Authority”.  No change in  the  characterization  of  his  service  is
warranted. Based upon the documentation in the file, the discharge was
consistent with the procedural and  substantive  requirements  of  the
discharge regulation.  Additionally,  the  discharge  was  within  the
discretion of the discharge authority.  Airmen are  given  entry-level
separation/uncharacterized service characterization when separation is
initiated in the first 180 days of  continuous  active  service.   The
Department of Defense determined if a member served less than 180 days
of continuous active service, it would be unfair to the member and the
service to characterize their limited service.

The DPPRS evaluation is at attachment D.

AFPC/DPPAE recommends denial.   The  RE  code  of  2C,  “Involuntarily
separated with an honorable discharge; or entry-level characterization
of service” is correct.

The DPPAE evaluation is at attachment E.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on
3 Jan 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 timely filed.

3.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented  to  demonstrate
the existence of an error or injustice in regard to his  request  that
his reenlistment eligibility (RE) code be changed.  After  a  thorough
review of the documentation provided in support of his appeal and  the
evidence of record, it is our opinion  that  given  the  circumstances
surrounding his separation from the Air Force, the RE code assigned to
the applicant was  proper  and  in  compliance  with  the  appropriate
directives.  Applicant has not provided any evidence, which would lead
us to believe otherwise.  Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the
contrary, we find no compelling basis to recommend a change in his  RE
code.

4.  Notwithstanding the aforementioned, we note that the BCMR  Medical
Consultant has indicated that the narrative reason for his separation,
Personality  Disorder,  is  inappropriate  under   the   circumstances
surrounding the decision to separate him from the Air Force.  We agree
with the BCMR Medical Consultant in this matter and  believe  that  it
would be an injustice for  him  to  continue  to  suffer  the  adverse
effects of such characterization.  Accordingly, we recommend that  his
records be corrected to the extent indicated below.
_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The pertinent military records of the  Department  of  the  Air  Force
relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that on 29 August 2000,  he
was separated under the  provisions  of  AFI  36-3208,  paragraph  1.2
(Secretarial Authority), with a separation code of “JFF.”

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered Docket  Number  02-02377
in Executive Session on 26 February 2003, under the provisions of  AFI
36-2603:

                 Ms. Charlene M. Bradley, Panel Chair
                 Mr. Frederick R. Beaman, III, Member
                 Mr. Albert J. Starnes, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, undated, w/atch.
      Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C. Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 26 Sep 02.
      Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPPRS, dated 23 Oct 02.
      Exhibit E. Letter, AFPC/DPPAE, dated 23 Dec 02.
      Exhibit F. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 30 Jul 02.





      CHARLENE M. BRADLEY
      Panel Chair
AFBCMR 02-02377




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 29 August 2000, he was
discharged under the provisions of AFI 36-3208, paragraph 1.2, (Secretarial
Authority), with a Separation Program Designator code of “JFF”.







  JOE G. LINEBERGER

  Director

  Air Force Review Boards Agency