RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2002-03944
            INDEX CODE:  112.10
      XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX      COUNSEL:  NONE

      XXXXXXXXXXX      HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His reentry (RE) code and narrative reason  for  separation  be  changed  to
allow him to reenlist in the military.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He made a foolish mistake  in  getting  out  of  the  military.   Since  his
separation, he has “dealt with and conquered his  demons.”   He  will  serve
his country well if allowed to return to the military.

In support of his request, the applicant submits a copy of his DD Form  214,
Certificate  of  Release  or  Discharge  From  Active  Duty.   His  complete
submission, with attachment, is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 8 July 1998  at  the  age
of 22 for a period of four years in the  grade  of  airman  (E-2).   He  was
progressively promoted to the grade of airman first  class  (E-3)  effective
and with a date of rank of 8 May 1999.  He was  trained  in  the  Air  Force
career field, Medical Service Apprentice, Air Force Specialty Code 4N031.

On 2 June 1999, the applicant presented himself to the mental health  clinic
for anxiety, depressed mood and thoughts of suicide relating to marital  and
personal problems.  He was hospitalized 2-8 June 1999 and  then  transferred
to an intensive outpatient  program  at  a  local  civilian  facility.   His
mental health evaluation  dated  22  June  1999,  rendered  a  diagnosis  of
Adjustment Disorder with mixed  anxiety  and  depressed  mood  that  was  so
severe as to interfere  with  continued  military  service  and  recommended
administrative  separation  for  unsuitability.   On  23  July   1999,   the
applicant received a letter of evaluation from his NCOIC for the  period  20
March 1999 through 23 July  1999.   The  report  indicated  the  applicant’s
personal problems conflicted  with  his  ability  to  perform  patient  care
duties and he was unable  to  complete  his  career  development  course  or
upgrade training due to continuation of medical care.

On 2 August 1999, the commander initiated discharge proceedings against  the
applicant.  The applicant was advised of his rights,  acknowledged  receipt,
and waived his options to consult counsel or to  submit  statements.   In  a
legal review of the discharge case file, the staff judge advocate  found  it
legally  sufficient  and  recommended  that  the  applicant   be   honorably
discharged   from   the   Air   Force   without   offering   probation   and
rehabilitation.  On 6 August 1999, the  discharge  authority  directed  that
the applicant be discharged from the Air Force under the provisions of  AFPD
36-32 and AFI 36-3208, paragraph  5.11.1,  Conditions  that  Interfere  with
Military Service - Mental Disorders.  The applicant was  separated  with  an
honorable discharge on 30 August 1999 by reason  of  “Personality  Disorder”
with a Separation Code of JFX and a Reenlistment Eligibility  (RE)  code  of
2C, (involuntary separation with honorable discharge).   The  applicant  had
served 1 year, 1 month, and 23 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 states that stressful  life  circumstances  such
as marital discord, divorce, illness, or death of  a  parent,  are  commonly
experienced by members of the military, the majority  of  whom  continue  to
function effectively in their jobs in spite of their sad feelings.  When  an
individual responds to a common life stressor  to  the  degree  of  becoming
dysfunctional, their ability to cope with the stresses of military  service,
operational environments, and combat is  called  into  question.   The  fact
that the applicant is functioning well at this time  at  home  confirms  his
diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder; however, it does not predict that he  will
respond well to the stresses of military operations, deployment,  or  combat
when he is separated  from  his  familiar  surroundings  and  usual  support
system of family and friends.  His  past  experience  is  predictive  of  an
increased  risk  for  recurrence  of  debilitating  anxiety  and  Adjustment
Disorder if re-exposed to the rigors of military  training  and  service  or
personal problems.

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/DPPRS states the discharge  was  consistent  with  the  procedural  and
substantive requirements of the discharge regulation.   DPPRS  concurs  with
the BCMR Medical Consultant that the  adjustment  disorder  was  incorrectly
labeled and recommends the applicant’s separation code be changed  to  “KFF”
Secretarial Authority.  The DPPRS evaluation is at Exhibit D.

AFPC/DPPAE states the  RE  code  of  2C  (involuntarily  separated  with  an
honorable discharge; or entry level separation without  characterization  of
service) is correct.  The DPPAE evaluation is at Exhibit E.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The applicant indicates he has learned  from  his  mistakes  and  has  grown
stronger from his trials.  He feels the chances of him  relapsing  are  less
likely to happen now than before.  He was sexually abused as a child but  he
has dealt with his past.  Since  his  discharge,  he  lives  away  from  his
immediate family and has had employment working in  pediatrics,  geriatrics,
urgent care,  float  nurse,  and  currently  works  for  a  family  practice
facility.  He has included a supporting statement from the doctor  for  whom
he works.  The applicant’s rebuttal is at Exhibit G.

_________________________________________________________________

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 probable error or injustice warranting a change in  the  reason
for separation.  After reviewing the evidence of record, the Board  majority
was 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, the Board majority finds the narrative  reason  for  his
entry-level separation, “Personality Disorder,” to  be  inappropriate.   The
Board majority believes that since the applicant was never diagnosed with  a
personality disorder, it is inaccurate to  list  the  narrative  reason  for
separation as such.  We note that the BCMR Medical Consultant has  indicated
that current  Air  Force  Instructions  regulating  separations  for  mental
health do not  allow  for  variations  thereof,  occasionally  resulting  in
improper  labeling  of  the  reason  for  separation.   The  Board  majority
believes this has happened in this  case.   Therefore,  the  Board  majority
recommends that the narrative  reason  for  his  separation  be  changed  to
reflect “Secretarial Authority.”  The applicant  states  he  has  “conquered
his demons” since his discharge; however, he  did  not  provide  documentary
evidence showing that he would not again experience symptoms  of  adjustment
disorder in the highly-structured and regimented military  environment  that
he previously suffered while on active duty.  The RE Code  assigned  at  the
time of the applicant’s separation accurately reflects the circumstances  of
his separation and we do not find this  code  to  be  in  error  or  unjust.
Accordingly, his request to change his 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 his honorable discharge on 30
August 1999, 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 25 June 2003, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

            Mr. Philip Sheuerman, Panel Chair
            Mr. Laurence M. Groner, Member
            Mr. James E. Short, Member

Mr. Groner and Mr. Short voted to correct the records as  recommended.   Mr.
Sheuerman voted to deny the applicant’s request and elected not to submit  a
minority report.  The  following  documentary  evidence  was  considered  in
connection with AFBCMR Docket No. BC-2002-03944:

      Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 3 Dec 02, with attachment.
      Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dtd 7 Mar 03.
      Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPRS, dated 21 Mar 03.
      Exhibit E.  Letter, AFPC/DPPAE, dated 6 May 03.
      Exhibit F.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 16 May 03.
      Exhibit G.  Applicant’s rebuttal, dated 3 Jun 03.




                                                   PHILIP SHEUERMAN
                                                   Panel Chair


AFBCMR BC-2002-03944




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 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, be corrected to show that the
narrative reason for separation, issued in conjunction with his honorable
discharge on 30 August 1999, was “Secretarial Authority” and the
separation program designator (SPD) code was “KFF.”





  JOE G. LINEBERGER

  Director

  Air Force Review Boards Agency