RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-01188
            INDEX NUMBER:  110.00
      XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX      COUNSEL:  None

      XXX-XX-XXXX      HEARING DESIRED:  No

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her Reenlistment Eligibility (RE) code of “2Q,”  “Personnel  medically
retired or discharged,” and her separation code of “JFM,” “Disability,
existed prior to service, PEB,” be changed to allow her  reentry  into
the Air Force.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Her commander recommended her discharge for failure to meet Air  Force
weight standards, while the Informal Physical Evaluation Board  (IPEB)
recommended her discharge for a medical condition that  existed  prior
to service (depression).

She has not had any further episodes of depression since she was  last
hospitalized in the Air Force.  She is willing to see a doctor to  get
verification of her capabilities.

In support of her appeal, the applicant provides a copy of her medical
evaluation  board  report  and  the  proposed  discharge  for   weight
initiated by her commander.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant entered active duty in the Air Force on 29 Nov 95.   The
applicant received one enlisted performance report during her time  in
service with an overall rating of “3.”  The report was also a referral
due to applicant’s failure to meet weight standards.  As a  result  of
the applicant’s visit to the emergency room on 12 Jul 97  for  ongoing
symptoms  of  depression,  it  was  discovered  that  she   had   been
hospitalized on two previous occasions prior to her entry into the Air
Force.  The applicant did not disclose this fact  when  providing  her
report of medical history for entry into the  Air  Force.   A  medical
Evaluation Board (MEB) was convened on  24  Jul  97  to  evaluate  the
applicant’s fitness for continued  service.   The  MEB  diagnosed  the
applicant with Major Depressive Disorder, recurrent that existed prior
to service (EPTS).  The MEB recommended that the applicant be referred
to an IPEB.  On 28 Aug 97, the IPEB also diagnosed the applicant  with
Major Depressive Disorder, recurrent, which was not compensable.  They
found the applicant unfit for active duty and recommended that she  be
discharged.  On 29 Sep  97,  the  applicant  agreed  with  the  IPEB’s
recommendation.

According  to  documents  provided  by  the  applicant,  her  squadron
commander notified her on 11 Sep 97 of his intent to discharge her for
failure in the weight control program.  On 23 Sep  97,  the  commander
recommended to the  Medical  Wing  Commander  that  the  applicant  be
discharged for failure in the weight management program.

On 30 Sep 97, the Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council (SAFPC)
considered the applicant’s case as a dual action case (two  concurrent
discharge actions; one medical, the other administrative) and directed
that the applicant be discharged due to disability that existed  prior
to service.  The applicant was discharged on 19 Nov 97 and was  issued
an RE code of “2Q.”

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical  Consultant  recommends  denial  of  the  applicant’s
appeal.  Although the applicant reports doing well at this  time,  her
history of recurrent depression is a predictor of  future  bouts  with
depression  and  is  disqualifying  for  entry  into  the  Air  Force.
Recurrence of depression is unpredictable and varies  from  person  to
person.  However, individuals with three prior  episodes  have  a  90%
chance of recurrent depression.

The complete evaluation is at Exhibit C.

AFPC/DPPD  recommends  denial  of  the  applicant’s  appeal.   Current
military records clearly  indicate  the  applicant  was  appropriately
found unfit for the rigors of military service  at  the  time  of  her
MEB/PEB.

The complete evaluation is at Exhibit D.

AFPC/DPPAE reviewed the applicant’s RE code and determined that it  is
correct.

The complete evaluation is at Exhibit E.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on
21 Nov 03 for review and comment within 30 days.  To date, a  response
has not been received.

_________________________________________________________________

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.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented  to  demonstrate
the  existence  of  error  or  injustice.   We  took  notice  of   the
applicant's complete submission in judging the  merits  of  the  case;
however, we agree with the opinions and  recommendations  of  the  Air
Force offices of primary responsibility and adopt their  rationale  as
the basis for our conclusion that  the  applicant  has  not  been  the
victim of an  error  or  injustice.   Therefore,  in  the  absence  of
evidence to the contrary, we find no  compelling  basis  to  recommend
granting the relief sought in this application.

_______________________________________________________________

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-
01188 in Executive Session on 7 January 2004, under the provisions  of
AFI 36-2603:

      Mr. Albert F. Lowas, Jr., Panel Chair
      Mr. Mike Novel, Member
      Ms. Martha Maust, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 3 Apr 03, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Memorandum, BCMR Medical Consultant,
                dated 28 Jul 03.
    Exhibit D.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPPD, dated 9 Sep 03.
    Exhibit E.  Memorandum, AFPC/DPPAE, dated 5 Nov 03.
    Exhibit F.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 21 Nov 03.




                                   ALBERT F. LOWAS, JR.
                                   Panel Chair