RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-00767
            INDEX CODE:  110.00

            COUNSEL:  VFW

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His uncharacterized discharge be changed to an honorable discharge and
his records be corrected to show a different reason for discharge that
would permit him to reenlist.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was never the subject of  disciplinary  action;  he  just  did  not
absorb the Air Force culture.  Had he known the process to transfer to
the Marine Corps he would have pursued such a course.

In support of the appeal, applicant submits a copy of his DD Form  293
a letter from his father, and two character references.

Applicant's complete submission is attached at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 26 September  2000  and
began basic training at the age of 19.

On 2 February  2001,  the  Squadron  Section  Commander  notified  the
applicant  that  he  was  being  recommended   for   discharge.    The
commander’s action was based on a 29 January 2001 diagnosis pertaining
to the applicant by a clinical psychologist of an adjustment  disorder
with depressed mood, as described in the  Diagnostic  and  Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), which  was  so  severe  that  his
ability to  function  effectively  in  the  military  environment  was
significantly impaired.  Applicant’s disorder  was  evidenced  by  his
continued symptoms of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thinking,  and
it was he examiner’s opinion that these symptoms were  not  likely  to
resolve while he remained on active duty.

On  8  February  2001,  the  applicant  was  discharged   because   of
“personality disorder” with an entry-level separation.  He had  served
4 months and 13 days on active duty.

As a result of the submission of this appeal,  on  2  July  2003,  the
applicant’s  records  were  administratively  corrected  to  show  the
narrative reason  for  separation  as  secretarial  authority  with  a
separation code of JFF.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR  Medical  Consultant  states  that  the  applicant  developed
symptoms of anxiety and depressed mood  while  in  technical  training
that were diagnosed as Adjustment Disorder and he was administratively
discharged  for  this  unsuiting   condition   with   an   entry-level
separation.   Adjustment   Disorder   is   characterized   by   marked
psychological distress in  response  to  identifiable  stressors  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   nature   of   the   stressors.
Manifestations can include depressed mood, anxiety,  and  disturbances
of conduct.  One of the key features of Adjustment  Disorder  is  that
the condition resolves with relief of the stressors.  Individuals  who
develop Adjustment Disorder due to the stress of the routine rigors of
military service with or without concomitant personal issues  are  not
suited  for  military  service  and  are  subject  to   administrative
discharge by their commander.

The fact that the applicant is functioning well at this time  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  a  significantly  increased  risk  for
recurrence of debilitating anxiety  and  Adjustment  Disorder  if  re-
exposed to the rigors of military training and service.

On the applicant’s DD 214,  the  narrative  reason  for  discharge  is
listed as personality disorder  even  though  the  applicant  was  not
diagnosed  with  a  personality  disorder.   The  DOD  uses  the  term
personality  disorder  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 or  misconduct
suggestive of a personality disorder, it is  inaccurate  to  list  the
narrative reason as personality disorder, even though administratively
it is correct.

The BCMR Medical Consultant is  of  the  opinion  that  the  narrative
reason for discharge should be changed to Secretarial  Authority,  but
no change in the reenlistment code is warranted.

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

AFPC/DPPAE states that the  Reenlistment  Eligibility  (RE)  code  2C,
“Involuntarily separated with an honorable discharge, or  entry  level
separation without characterization of service” is correct.

A complete copy of their evaluation is attached at Exhibit D.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 15 August 2003, copies of the Air Force evaluations were  forwarded
to the applicant for review and response within 30 days.  As  of  this
date, this office has received no response.

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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 error or injustice with respect to his  requests  for
an honorable discharge and his records be changed in  a  manner  which
would allow him to reenlist.  We note that administrative  action  has
been taken to change the reason for the  applicant’s  separation  from
“Personality Disorder” to “Secretarial  Authority.”   After  reviewing
all the facts  and  circumstances  of  this  case,  and  the  evidence
provided by the applicant, we believe that he has been afforded proper
and fitting relief by this action and that further corrections to  the
record would not be appropriate on the basis of the evidence presented
here.  The applicant  requests  that  his  entry-level  separation  be
changed to an honorable discharge; however, the  governing  regulation
provides that when separation action is initiated within 180  days  of
entry on active duty, an entry level separation is  normally  applied.
We therefore find  that  the  applicant’s  entry-level  separation  is
correct.  As to the applicant’s request that his records be changed so
as to allow for his reenlistment, we agree with the assessment by  the
BCMR Medical Consultant on this  issue.   The  record  indicates  that
shortly after his entry on active duty,  the  applicant’s  ability  to
cope  with  his  environment  was  severely  compromised  by  symptoms
diagnosed  as  an  adjustment  disorder.   While   it   appears   that
applicant’s  symptoms  have  abated  since  his  separation,  we   are
unpersuaded by the evidence that they would not recur if he were again
to be exposed to  the  stresses  of  the  highly  structured  military
environment.  Accordingly, in the absence of  convincing  evidence  to
the contrary, we find no compelling basis to  favorably  consider  the
applicant’s requests for an honorable discharge and for changes to his
records that would render him eligible to enlist.

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THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The  applicant  be  notified  that  the  evidence  presented  did  not
demonstrate the existence of material error  or  injustice;  that  the
application was denied without a personal  appearance;  and  that  the
application will only be reconsidered upon  the  submission  of  newly
discovered relevant evidence not considered with this application.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered  this  application,  BC-
2003-00767, in Executive Session  on  25  September  2003,  under  the
provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                       Mr. Robert S. Boyd, Panel Chair
                       Mr. James E. Short, Member
                       Ms. Martha J. Evans, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 9 Mar 03, w/atchs.
      Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C. Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 15 May 03.
      Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPPAE, dated 6 Aug 03.
      Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 15 Aug 03.




                             ROBERT S. BOYD
                             Panel Chair