RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:                       DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2002-02777
                                       INDEX CODE:  112.10
      XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX                COUNSEL: NONE

      XXXXXXXXXXXXXX                    HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her records be changed to show a different reason for discharge  that  would
permit her to reenlist.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She is no longer an indecisive teenager, but a  responsible,  mature  adult.
Her depression was not a direct result of being in the Air Force.   She  has
matured over the past four and one half  years  since  her  discharge.   She
sought counseling following her discharge  and  she  is  now  able  to  keep
“those not so pleasant moods” in check.  She  has  married  an  active  duty
Marine and has been attending college.

In support of her application, the applicant provided a personal  statement,
a DD Form 293, Application for the Review of  Discharge  or  Dismissal  From
the Armed Forces of the United States, and two letters  of  reference.   The
applicant’s complete submission, with attachment, is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 1 April 1998, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force at the  age
of 17 in the grade of airman  basic  (E-1)  for  a  period  of  four  years.
During her technical military training, the applicant  was  recommended  for
separation by the military training flight chief for personal  problems  and
state of mind.  On 22-24 June 1998, she was  evaluated  at  Sheppard  Mental
Health Unit and diagnosed with Adjustment Order with  Depressed  Mood.   The
attending psychiatrist stated the applicant did not  have  a  severe  mental
disorder  and  was  not  considered  mentally   disordered;   however,   she
manifested a disorder of  character,  behavior,  and  adaptability  of  such
severity so as to  preclude  adequate  military  service.  The  psychiatrist
stated that due to the  applicant’s  pattern  of  maladaptive  responses  to
routine personal and/or work related stressors, she might  become  dangerous
to herself or to others in the future.  The  psychiatrist  recommended  that
the  applicant  should  be  processed  for  an  expeditious   administrative
separation.

On 8 July 1998, the applicant’s commander notified her of his intentions  to
recommend her for an entry-level separation due to a  mental  disorder.   He
stated  if  the  discharge  was  approved,  she  would  be  ineligible   for
reenlistment in the Air Force and  probably  be  denied  enlistment  in  any
component of the Armed Forces.  The applicant acknowledged  receipt  of  the
notification,  consulted  counsel,  and  waived  her  right  to   submit   a
statement.  On 9 July 1998, her commander recommended the applicant  for  an
entry-level separation without probation or rehabilitation  because  of  her
emotional symptoms and inability  to  effectively  function  in  a  military
assignment.  On 10 July 1998, the recommendation was  found  to  be  legally
sufficient by the deputy staff  judge  advocate  and  was  approved  by  the
discharge authority  under  provisions  of  AFI  36-3208,  paragraph  5.11.1
because of a mental disorder.  The applicant  was  discharged  effective  17
July 1998 with an uncharacterized  entry-level  separation  with  a  reentry
code of 2C (entry-level separation without characterization of service)  and
a separation code of JFX (personality disorder).  She  had  served  3  month
and 17 days on active duty.

________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant states that even  though  the  narrative  reason
for discharge on the applicant’s  DD  Form  214  is  listed  as  personality
disorder, the applicant was  not  diagnosed  with  a  personality  disorder.
Department of Defense uses the term “personality order” administratively  to
include all unsuiting character and behavior disorders including  Adjustment
Disorder, Personality Disorders, and Impulse Control Disorders.   This  term
is confusing  because  the  Diagnostic  and  Statistical  Manual  of  Mental
Disorders uses the  term  “personality  disorder”  in  a  specific,  defined
manner to classify specific disorders of personality  that  do  not  include
Adjustment Disorder or Impulse Control  Disorder.   Prior  regulations  used
the more inclusive and less confusing “character and behavior disorder.”

Since the applicant was not diagnosed with a personality  disorder  and  was
further  not  noted  to  demonstrate  maladaptive  traits  suggestive  of  a
personality disorder, it is the Medical  Consultant’s  opinion  that  it  is
inaccurate to list  the  narrative  reason  as  personality  disorder,  even
though administratively it is correct.  Action and disposition in this  case
are proper and equitable reflecting compliance  with  Air  Force  directives
that implement the law.

The BCMR Medical Consultant is of the opinion that the narrative reason  for
discharged should be changed to Secretarial Authority, but feels  no  change
in the RE Code is warranted.  Details of his evaluation are at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DPPAE  indicated  that  the  reenlistment   code   2C,   “Involuntarily
separated with an honorable discharge; or  entry  level  separation  without
characterization of  service”  was  properly  accessed  to  the  applicant’s
record as she was discharged in accordance with Air Force  directives.   The
DPPAE evaluation is at Exhibit D.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to  the  applicant  on  3
January 2003, for review and comment within 30  days  (Exhibit  E).   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 probable error or injustice warranting a change in  the  reason
for separation.  After reviewing the evidence of record,  we  are  persuaded
that some relief is warranted.  We note  that  the  discharge  action  taken
against the applicant was in accordance  with  the  applicable  instruction.
However, after  reviewing  the  applicant’s  request  and  the  evidence  of
record, we  find  the  narrative  reason  for  her  entry-level  separation,
“Personality Disorder,” to be inappropriate.  Since the applicant was  never
diagnosed with a personality  disorder,  we  agree  with  the  BCMR  Medical
Consultant  that  it  is  inaccurate  to  list  the  narrative  reason   for
separation  as  such.   We  noted  that  the  BCMR  Medical  Consultant  has
indicated that current Air Force  Instructions  regulating  separations  for
mental  health  do  not  allow  for  variations  thereof,  thus  at   times,
improperly  labeling  the  reason  for  separation.   We  believe  this  has
happened in this case.  Therefore, we recommend that  the  narrative  reason
for her separation be changed to  “Secretarial  Authority.”   The  applicant
states she has matured over the last four and one half years and  counseling
has helped her to cope well with stress since her  discharge;  however,  she
has failed to provide documentary evidence which would lead  us  to  believe
that she would not experience the same symptoms of  adjustment  disorder  in
the highly structured military  environment  that  she  suffered  previously
while on active duty.  The RE Code which was  issued  at  the  time  of  the
applicant’s  separation  accurately  reflects  the  circumstances   of   her
separation and, in view of the above, we do not find  this  code  to  be  in
error or unjust.  Accordingly, her request to change  her  RE  Code  is  not
favorably considered.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that the narrative reason for
separation, issued in conjunction with her honorable discharge on 17 July
1998, was “Secretarial Authority” and the separation program designator
(SPD) code was “KFF.”

_________________________________________________________________

The following  members  of  the  Board  considered  this  application  in
Executive Session on 19 March 2003, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                 Mr. Roscoe Hinton Jr., Panel Chair
                 Ms. Patricia D. Vestal, Member
                 Ms. Dorothy P. Loeb, Member

The following documentary evidence for AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2002-02777
was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 4 Sep 02.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 24 Oct 02.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPAE, dated 24 Dec 02.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 3 Jan 03.




                                   ROSCOE HINTON JR.
                                   Panel Chair





AFBCMR BC-2002-02777


MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF

      Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air Force
Board of 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 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, be corrected to show that the narrative
reason for separation, issued in conjunction with his entry level
separation on 17 July 1998, was “Secretarial Authority” and the
separation program designator (SPD) code was “KFF.”



                                                       JOE G. LINEBERGER
                                                       Director
                                                       Air Force Review
                 Boards Agency