RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2002-03481
            INDEX CODE:  110.00

            COUNSEL:  None

            HEARING DESIRED: No

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The Narrative Reason for Separation be changed from Mental Disorder to
Medical.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The “Mental Disorder” is embarrassing when applying for jobs.   He  is
in the  process  of  trying  to  become  a  Firefighter.   He  is  not
comfortable in obtaining his veterans’ status because of the  language
on the DD Form 214.

Applicant's complete submission, with attachment, is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 18 August  1999  for  a
period of four years as an airman basic.

There are no discharge documents in the applicant’s records.  However,
his records indicate on 3 August 2000, he self referred to the  Mental
Health  Clinic  (MHC)  because  he  had  for   several   months   been
experiencing problems at work and being stationed in the Whiteman  AFB
area.  He  was  initially  diagnosed  with  adjustment  reaction  with
depressed mood.  During the 14  August  2000  counseling  session  the
applicant was diagnosed with Adjustment Disorder with Depressed  Mood.
The applicant received counseling from the MHC from 3  August  through
19 October 2000.  He terminated the counseling session stating he  was
better and there was no need for further mental health counseling.

The applicant was seen in the MHC on 4 September 2001,  because  about
three weeks earlier he had experienced a bad week and wanted  to  talk
about it.  He attributed this to his being  assigned  to  do  “crappy”
details at work and feeling sad because  he  had  just  returned  from
leave.  During the session, the applicant stated he had tried to  come
to MHC earlier but because an Exercise was  going  on  his  supervisor
requested he reschedule his appointment.  He further  stated  that  he
was feeling a lot better and that things were going better.  There was
no psychiatric determination made and the applicant did not desire any
further service at this time.

On 27 November 2001, the applicant reported  to  MHC  because  he  was
experiencing a depressed mood because he was not permitted  to  go  on
leave for the Thanksgiving Holiday and his girlfriend had just  broken
up with him.  He also stated he did not know if he would hurt  himself
if he were carrying a gun.  The applicant agreed to be hospitalized.

The applicant was seen as a walk-in appointment after  being  released
from the hospital on 3 December 2001, stating he felt better  and  was
able to work though many of his problems.  He further stated  that  he
was diagnosed at the hospital  with  Attention  Deficit  Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD) and was prescribed Wellburtin.

In a 4 December 2001, Memorandum for  Record  (MFR),  the  applicant’s
commander, after speaking with the applicant, determined the applicant
was not suited  for  the  military,  and  the  commander  requested  a
commander directed mental health evaluation, which was  scheduled  for
13  December  2001.   The  evaluation  determined  the  applicant  was
experiencing depressive and  anxious  symptoms  and  most  likely  his
depressive symptoms where chronic.  He  was  functioning  at  a  lower
level of efficiency due to his symptoms and did not have  good  coping
skills to deal with his problems.  During the applicant’s 18  December
2001, counseling session he was diagnosed with an Adjustment  Disorder
(STET) with  depressed  mood,  in  partial  remission,  and  Dysthymic
Disorder.  This diagnosis (Dysthymic Disorder) is cited as the  reason
for discharge and disqualification for the nuclear  weapons  personnel
reliability program.

The applicant was honorably discharged on  11  January  2002,  in  the
grade of airman first class, under  the  provisions  of  AFI  36-3208,
Administrative Separation of Airmen.   The  applicant’s  DD  Form  214
(Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) reflects Mental
Disorder as the narrative reason for separation.  He served 2 years, 7
months and 18 days of active duty service.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Chief  Medical  Consultant,  AFBCMR,  recommends  the  applicant’s
narrative reason for separation be changed  from  Mental  Disorder  to
Secretarial Authority,  based  on  the  fact  the  applicant  was  not
diagnosed with a Personality Disorder.

A complete copy of the Air Force evaluation is attached at Exhibit C.

HQ AFPC/DPPRS concurs with the AFBCMR Consultant that the  applicant’s
narrative reason for separation be changed  from  Mental  Disorder  to
Secretarial Authority with a separation  program  designator  code  of
KFF.

A complete copy of the Air Force evaluation is attached at Exhibit D.

HQ AFPC/DPPAE states the applicant received a reenlistment eligibility
code of "2C," indicating the member was involuntarily  separated  with
an  honorable   discharge,   or   entry   level   separation   without
characterization, which is correct (Exhibit E).

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on
18 July 2003, for review and response.  As of this date,  no  response
has been received by this office.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

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

2.    The application was timely filed.

3.    Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to  demonstrate
the  existence  of  error  or  injustice  to  warrant  changing   the
applicant’s narrative reason for separation and separation code.   In
this respect, it appears that the applicant was unable to  adapt  and
cope with the stresses of military service.  However, after carefully
reviewing  this  application  we   agree   with   the   opinion   and
recommendation of the  AFBCMR  Medical  Consultant  that,  while  the
current narrative reason for separation is accurate, we believe  that
it would be an injustice for the applicant to continue to suffer  the
adverse  effects  of  such  a  characterization.    Accordingly,   we
recommend that his records  be  corrected  to  the  extent  indicated
below.

4.     Insufficient  relevant  evidence   has   been   presented   to
demonstrate the  existence  of  error  or  injustice  concerning  the
applicant’s RE code.  The applicant has provided no evidence  showing
that his assigned RE code is in error or contrary to  the  prevailing
instruction.  Notwithstanding the change we propose to the  narrative
reason for his separation, it appears that the decision  to  separate
the applicant was proper based on his situation at the time.  The  RE
code which was  issued  at  the  time  of  his  discharge  accurately
reflects the circumstances of  his  separation,  i.e.,  involuntarily
separated with an honorable discharge.  Accordingly, we do  not  find
this code to be in error or unjust.  We therefore  conclude  that  no
basis exists upon which to recommend favorable action on his  request
that it be changed.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the  Department  of  the  Air  Force
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show the narrative  reason  for
separation, issued in conjunction with his honorable discharge  on  11
January 2002, was “Secretarial Authority” and the  Separation  Program
Designator (SPD) code was “KFF.”
_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-
2002-03481 in Executive  Session  on  17  September  2003,  under  the
provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                       Ms. Peggy E. Gordon, Panel Chair
                       Mr. Michael V. Barbino, Member
                       Ms. Patricia E. Kelly, Member

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

      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 17 Sep 02, w/atch.
      Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C. Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated
                 7 May 03.
      Exhibit D. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPRS, dated 23 May 03.
      Exhibit E. Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPAE, dated 8 Jul 03.
      Exhibit F. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 18 Jul 03.




                       PEGGY E. GORDON
                       Panel Chair






AFBCMR BC-2002-03481
INDEX CODE:  110.00


MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF

      Having received and considered the recommendation of the Air
Force Board for Correction for 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 ,        be corrected to show the narrative reason
for separation, issued in conjunction with his honorable discharge
on 11 January 2002, was “Secretarial Authority” and the Separation
Program Designator (SPD) code was “KFF.”




                             JOE G. LINEBERGER
                             Director
                             Air Force Review Boards Agency