RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:                       DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-02282
                                             INDEX CODE:  110.02
                                             COUNSEL:  NONE

                                             HEARING DESIRED:  NO

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His reenlistment eligibility (RE) code be changed from 2C to 1A or 1M.

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The condition noted in section 26 of  his  separation  document,  separation
code (JFX) no longer exists.

In support of his request, the applicant submits a personal statement and  a
recent psychiatric evaluation.  The applicant’s  complete  submission,  with
attachments, is at Exhibit A.

________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 10 October 2000, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force  at  the
age of 19 in the grade of airman basic for a period  of  six  years.   After
completing  basic  military  and  technical  training,  the  applicant   was
assigned to duties as a Communications, Computer Systems Operations Helper.

The applicant was diagnosed as having a mental disorder as contained in  the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV).

The DSM-IV Diagnosis are:

Axis I:     309.9 Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood

In a  mental  health  evaluation,  dated  29  March  2001,  a  psychological
resident recommended the applicant for discharge from the  Air  Force.   The
examiner rendered diagnoses of “Adjustment Disorder  with  Depressed  Mood.”
The examiner indicated that as a result of the diagnoses, the applicant  was
deemed unsuitable for continued  military  service  and  he  was  likely  to
continue to deteriorate in  an  active  duty  environment.   He  recommended
expeditious administrative separation.

On 11 April 2001, the applicant’s commander notified the applicant  that  he
was recommending the applicant be separated from the  Air  Force  under  the
provisions of AFI 36-3208  because  of  the  mental  health  diagnosis  that
significantly impaired  his  ability  to  function  in  the  military.   The
applicant was advised of his rights.  The applicant acknowledged receipt  of
the notification and, after consulting military legal  counsel,  waived  his
right to submit statements in his  own  behalf.   The  commander  thereafter
initiated a recommendation for the applicant’s separation.

In a legal review of the discharge  case  file  dated  17  April  2002,  the
Chief, Administrative  Discharge  Branch,  assigned  to  the  staff  of  the
discharge authority, found the file was legally sufficient  and  recommended
that the applicant be  separated  from  the  service  with  an  entry  level
separation.   On  18  April  2002,  the  discharge  authority  approved  the
recommended separation and directed the  applicant  be  discharged  for  the
reasons recommended by his commander, without the  offer  of  probation  and
rehabilitation.

On 20  April  2001,  the  applicant  was  honorably  discharged  because  of
personality disorder with a reentry code of 2C  and  a  separation  code  of
JFX.  Reentry code 2C  is  applied  in  those  cases  where  the  member  is
involuntarily separated with an honorable discharge.   The  separation  code
is directly related to the reason and authority for his separation.  He  had
served six months and eleven days on active duty.

________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant is of the opinion that the narrative reason  for
discharge should be changed to  Secretarial  Authority.   The  BCMR  Medical
Consultant indicated  that  according  to  the  Diagnostic  and  Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders, an Adjustment Disorder is not  classified  as  a
personality disorder.  Therefore, based on the specific  diagnosis  in  this
case,  it  is  inaccurate  to  list  the  narrative  reason  as  personality
disorder, even though administratively it is  correct.   However,  the  BCMR
Medical Consultant is of the opinion that  no  change  in  the  reenlistment
code is warranted (Exhibit C).

HQ  AFPC/DPPRS  believes  that  the  discharge  was  consistent   with   the
procedural  and  substantive  requirements  of  the  discharge   regulation.
However, DPPRS states that if the Board decides to approve  the  applicant’s
request, the separation code  and  narrative  reason  separation  should  be
changed to read “KFF” and “Secretarial Authority” (Exhibit D).
________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the  applicant  on  30
January 2004 for review and comment.  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.  Sufficient relevant  evidence  has  been  provided  to  demonstrate  the
existence of injustice that  would  warrant  a  change  in  the  reason  for
separation.  After reviewing his submission and the evidence of  record,  we
are persuaded that some relief is warranted.  We note  that  the  separation
action taken against the applicant was in  accordance  with  the  applicable
instruction.  However, after reviewing the evidence of record  and  the  Air
Force assessments of this case, it is our opinion that the narrative  reason
improperly labels the reason for his discharge.  It appears to us  that  the
current reason could be misconstrued to infer that his  separation  was  due
to actual “personality disorders” instead of  a  maladjustment  to  military
service.   Therefore,  in  order  to  correct  an  injustice  of  improperly
labeling the applicant,  his  narrative  reason  for  separation  should  be
corrected to accurately reflect the circumstances  of  his  separation,  and
recommend that the narrative reason for  his  separation  and  corresponding
separation code be changed to reflect “Secretarial Authority.”

4.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been  presented  to  demonstrate  the
existence of error or injustice that would warrant  the  applicant’s  return
to active duty or a change to his RE code.  Notwithstanding our belief  that
the reason for the applicant’s separation should be  changed,  evidence  has
not been provided which would lead  us  to  conclude  that  his  involuntary
separation was inappropriate.  We  have  noted  the  psychiatric  evaluation
provided for our review and although it appears that the  applicant  is  now
doing well, the record shows that he was experiencing  difficulty  adjusting
to military service.  In view of the above and in the absence of  persuasive
evidence that would lead us to believe that the applicant would now be  able
to successfully function in a military  environment,  this  portion  of  his
request 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 on 20 April 2001,  he  was  separated
under the provisions of AFI 36-3208, paragraph 1.2  (Secretarial  Authority)
with a separation code of KFF.

________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number  BC-2003-
02282 in Executive Session on 25 March 2004, under the provisions of AFI 36-
2603:

                 Mr. Robert S. Boyd, Panel Chair
                 Mr. Albert C. Ellett, Panel Member
                 Mr. Beth M. McCormick, Panel Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

      Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 20 June 03, with attachments.
      Exhibit B.  Applicant’s Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Med Consultant, dated 26 Nov 03.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPRS, dated 20 Jan 04.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 30 Jan 04.



      ROBERT S. BOYD
      Panel Chair



AFBCMR BC-2003-01852



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 APPLICANT, be corrected to show that on 20 April 2001, he was
separated under the provisions of AFI 36-3208, paragraph 1.2 (Secretarial
Authority) with a separation code of KFF.







                                                                        JOE
G. LINEBERGER

Director
                                                                        Air
Force Review Boards Agency