RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-00868
            INDEX CODE:  100.03
            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her records be corrected to enable reenlistment into the Air Force.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She informed her supervisor and commander that she was  homesick,  had
no friends on the base and requested to be sent home.   She  was  then
referred to mental health for evaluation.  After a few  weeks  on  the
base she met several people and changed her  mind  about  going  home,
however when  she  approached  her  commander  about  staying  in  the
military she was told she would be discharged anyway.  Several members
of her squadron told her that people are normally given  a  chance  to
change their mind, but feels she was not given that opportunity.   She
feels that it should take  more  than  one  or  two  sessions  with  a
psychologist to be diagnosed with a personality disorder.

In support of her request, the applicant submits a personal statement,
a copy of DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active
Duty, two Certificates of Training, a copy of a  letter  sent  to  her
Senator, and a Letter of Recommendation.

Applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force as an airman basic  on
14 February 2001 for a  term  of  4  years.   On  22  June  2001,  the
applicant was notified by her commander that he was  recommending  she
be discharged from the Air Force due to a  condition  that  interferes
with military service (mental disorder).  The reason for  this  action
was that the applicant’s psychiatric evaluation revealed that she  was
suffering from  an  adjustment  disorder  with  depressed  mood.   She
expressed concerns  of  significant  feelings  of  depression,  crying
spells, decreased appetite with frequent feelings of nausea, decreased
interest   in   activities   and   significant    difficulties    with
concentration, which she attributed to her dislike  of  the  military.
She was advised of  her  rights  in  this  matter.   She  acknowledged
receipt of the notification, waived her right to consult counsel,  and
elected not to submit statements on her own behalf.  The  package  was
reviewed  by  the  staff  judge  advocate  and  found  to  be  legally
sufficient.  On 12 July  2001,  she  was  administratively  discharged
under the provisions of  AFI  36-3208,  Administrative  Separation  of
Airman, (mental disorder), with an uncharacterized discharge. She  was
issued an RE code of 2C “Involuntarily  separated  with  an  honorable
discharge; or  entry  level  separation  without  characterization  of
service)”.  She served 4 months and 29 days total active service.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant recommends changing the  narrative  reason
for separation to secretarial authority, but denial  of  the  RE  code
change request.   The  applicant  was  discharged  for  unsuitability,
adjustment disorder.  Although dependent traits were noted on Axis  II
of the formal psychiatric diagnosis, this trait may  not  be  distinct
from the Adjustment Disorder, her principle diagnosis.   Her  symptoms
of depressed mood and intense desire to leave the Air Force  developed
because she was lonely and did not  like  the  military.   No  unusual
stressful events or situations are documented in the record that could
have further contributed to her symptoms.

Adjustment disorder with  depressed  mood  results  from  identifiable
stressors that overcome the individual’s ability to cope.   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 typically  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 she is  functioning  well  at  this  time  confirms  her
diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder, however it does not predict that she
will respond well to the stresses of military operations,  deployment,
or combat when she is separated from  her  familiar  surroundings  and
social support system of family and friends.  Her past  experience  is
predictive  of  an  increased  risk  for  recurrence  of  symptoms  of
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.

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.  In this case although dependent  traits  were  listed,
there is inadequate documentation to support this as a trait  distinct
from her adjustment disorder.  Although action and disposition in this
case are proper and equitable reflecting  compliance  with  Air  Force
directives that implement the law, change of the narrative reason  for
discharge to Secretarial Authority is recommended but no change in the
reenlistment code is warranted.

The Medical Consultant’s evaluation is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DPPRSP concurs with the BMCR Medical Consultant.  The applicant’s
separation code and narrative reason for separation should be  changed
to JFF-Secretarial Authority.

The DPPRSP evaluation is at Exhibit D.

AFPC/DPPAE recommends denial.   The  RE  code  of  2C,  “Involuntarily
separated with an  honorable  discharge;  or  entry  level  separation
without characterization of  service”  is  correct.   Member  has  not
provided  any  documentation  that  supports  changing  her  RE  code.
Waivers of RE codes for enlistment are considered and  approved  based
on the  needs  of  the  respective  military  service  and  recruiting
initiatives at the time of the enlistment inquiry.

The DPPAE evaluation is at Exhibit E.

On 20 November 2003, the  applicant’s  DD  Form  214,  Certificate  of
Release or Discharge from Active Duty was  administratively  corrected
to reflect an uncharacterized  entry-level  separation;  a  separation
code of “JFF” and the narrative reason for separation was  changed  to
“Secretarial Authority”.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on
26 Nov 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.   While  we   note   the
administrative  changes  made  to  her  reason  for   separation   and
separation code, we do not believe  that  she  should  be  allowed  to
return to the Air Force.  In this regard we note the comments made  by
the Medical Consultant that her ability  to  function  in  a  military
environment  was  significantly  impaired.   In  view  of  the   above
determination and  in  the  absence  of  persuasive  evidence  to  the
contrary, we find no compelling  basis  to  recommend  any  additional
changes to her record.

_________________________________________________________________

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 Docket  Number  BC-2003-
00868 in Executive Session on 20 January 2004, under the provisions of
AFI 36-2603:

                 Mr. Robert S. Boyd, Panel Chair
                 Ms. Jean A. Reynolds, Member
                 Ms. Carolyn B. Willis, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 1 Mar 03, w/atchs.
      Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C. Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 2 Sep 03.
      Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPPRS, dated 7 Oct 03.
      Exhibit E. Letter, AFPC/DPPAE, dated 14 Nov 03.
      Exhibit F. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 26 Nov 03.





      ROBERT S. BOYD
      Panel Chair