RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-01808
            INDEX CODE:  100.03
            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His reenlistment eligible (RE) code be changed  to  a  1,  which  will
enable him to reenter the military.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was immature and admits he made mistakes due to being homesick.

In support of his request, the applicant submits a personal statement.

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
27 August 1998, for a  term  of  4  years.   On  27  April  1999,  the
applicant was notified by his commander that he was recommending he be
discharged from the Air Force due to a condition that interferes  with
military service (mental disorder).  The reason for  this  action  was
that after making suicidal comments, the  applicant  was  referred  to
mental health and diagnosed with an adjustment disorder so severe that
it significantly impaired his ability to function in the military.  On
10  March  1999,  the  applicant  received  a  letter  of   individual
counseling for failure to  follow  an  order  to  trim  his  beard  in
accordance with his shaving waiver and lying to his  supervisor  about
having received the order.  On 18 March 1999, he received a Letter  of
Reprimand (LOR) for repeat failure to follow orders  to  maintain  his
beard within standards.  He was referred for mental health  evaluation
on 22 April 1999, after making suicidal comments  to  his  supervisor.
The mental health evaluation report, dated 23 April 1999, reported the
applicant’s history suggested anti-social behavior that defies  social
norms and that he had not been able  to  adjust  to  the  demands  and
standards of military life.  He was diagnosed with adjustment disorder
with mixed disturbance of emotions and conduct.  He was advised of his
rights in this matter.  He acknowledged receipt  of  the  notification
and elected not to submit statements on his own behalf.   The  package
was reviewed by the staff judge  advocate  and  found  to  be  legally
sufficient.  On 14 May 1999, he was administratively discharged  under
the provisions of AFI 36-3208, Administrative  Separation  of  Airman,
(personality disorder), with an honorable discharge. He was issued  an
RE code of 2C “Involuntarily separated with an honorable discharge; or
entry level separation  without  characterization  of  service)”.   He
served 8 months and 16 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 adjustment  disorder
after making a suicidal  remark  to  his  supervisor.   The  available
records do not detail the extent of the applicant’s mood  disturbance,
but primarily reflect difficulty with authority, a poor attitude about
being in the military and  a  resulting  difficulty  adapting  to  the
military environment.

Since the applicant was not diagnosed with a personality disorder  and
was further 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 his 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.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on
5 Dec 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 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 an error or injustice in regard to his  request  that
his reenlistment eligibility (RE) code be changed.  After  a  thorough
review of the documentation provided and the evidence of  record,  the
Board is of the opinion that given the circumstances  surrounding  his
separation from the Air Force, the RE code assigned to  the  applicant
was  proper  and  in  compliance  with  the  appropriate   directives.
Applicant has not provided any evidence, which would lead the Board to
believe otherwise.  Therefore, in  the  absence  of  evidence  to  the
contrary, the Board finds no compelling basis to recommend a change in
his RE code.

4.  Notwithstanding the aforementioned, we note that the BCMR  Medical
Consultant has indicated that the narrative reason for his separation,
Personality  Disorder,  is  inappropriate  under   the   circumstances
surrounding the decision to separate him from the Air Force.  We agree
with the BCMR Medical Consultant in this matter and  believe  that  it
would be an injustice for  him  to  continue  to  suffer  the  adverse
effects of such characterization.  Accordingly, we recommend that  his
records be corrected to the extent indicated below.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the  Department  of  the  Air  Force
relating to APPLICANT be corrected to show that on 14 May 1999, he was
separated  under  the  provisions  of  AFI  36-3208,   paragraph   1.2
(Secretarial Authority), with a separation code of “JFF.”

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered Docket  Number  BC-2003-
01808 in Executive Session on 3 February 2004, under the provisions of
AFI 36-2603:

                 Ms. Charlene Bradley, Chair
                 Ms. Brenda L. Romine, Member
                 Ms. Martha Maust, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 21 May 03, w/atchs.
      Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C. Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 29 Oct 03.
      Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPPRSP, dated 20 Nov 03.
      Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 5 Dec 03.





      CHARLENE BRADLEY
      Panel Chair

AFBCMR BC-2003-01808




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 APPLICANT, be corrected to show that on 14 May 1999,
he was separated under the provisions of AFI  36-3208,  paragraph  1.2
(Secretarial Authority), with a separation code of “JFF”.








  JOE G. LINEBERGER

  Director

  Air Force Review Boards Agency