RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-02740
            INDEX CODE:  112.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  YES


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His Reenlistment Eligibility (RE) code be changed.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He made a grave mistake when he left the Air Force.   He  fully  understands
the mistake he made and hopes in good patriotic faith  this  won’t  be  held
against him indefinitely.  He desires to be  reinstated  to  Air  Force,  so
that he may fulfill his patriotic duties.  He  lied  to  a  medical  officer
saying he missed his father and friends and that he wanted to get  out.   He
also lied saying he was suicidal, which if he asked any of  his  friends  or
family they would by far say otherwise.  His weapon was taken  away  and  he
was put on detail until he was released.  He indicates  he  is  married  and
has one child and is struggling in today’s decreasing economy.   He  desires
to make the Air Force a career.

Applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 10 June 1998 in the grade  of
airman basic for a period of four years.

On 3 December 1998, applicant was notified  of  his  commander's  intent  to
initiate discharge action against him for  lack  of  aptitude  for  military
service.  The specific reasons follow:

      On 2 November 1998, the applicant was  seen  by  Peterson  AFB  Mental
Health Clinic, self-referred for feelings  of  depression  and  thoughts  of
suicide.  He had been feeling depressed since  10 June  1998,  the  date  he
came into the service.  He  reported  feeling  depressed  throughout  basic,
technical school, and since his arrival.   He  was  fine  on  leave  between
technical school and Peterson AFB.  He was fine at work, but  while  in  his
dorm room he  becomes  depressed  and  tearful.   He  also  reported  having
recurring thoughts of suicide.  He believed he made a  mistake  coming  into
the service and wanted out.  He stated he was family oriented and wanted  to
be with his family and friends in  Phoenix,  AZ.   He  denied  any  previous
counseling.  He denied family history of mental disorder  but  believed  his
uncle was an alcoholic.  He  reported  he  did  not  drink,  smoke,  or  use
illegal drugs.  He consumed approximately two cans of coke a  day.   He  was
diagnosed  with  an  adjustment  disorder  with  depressed  mood.   It   was
recommended he return in two weeks for a reassessment,  that  he  have  more
social involvement, to exercise regularly to help reduce stress, and to  eat
healthy  and  drink  plenty  of  water.   He  was  found  to  be  world-wide
qualified.

      On 16 November 1998, during a follow-up evaluation it  was  found  the
applicant was still depressed with continuing sleep concentration  problems,
and continued to have some  thoughts  of  suicide.   He  contemplated  going
absent without leave (AWOL), but changed his  mind  after  driving  for  six
hours.

      On 16 November 1998, a Mental Health  recommendation  indicated  given
the length of time the  applicant  had  felt  depressed  and  his  continued
suicidal thoughts, it was recommended he not carry a weapon  at  that  time.
Improvement in his mental status was unlikely  since  he  was  unwilling  to
engage in treatment.  He was convinced the only way  he  would  feel  better
was to leave the Air Force.  He did not have a mental health  disorder  that
would warrant separation through medical channels, nor did he have a  mental
health problem that would preclude service in the Air Force.  Retraining  or
an administrative separation was recommended as he was not suitable for  his
career field.

The commander advised the applicant of his right to  consult  legal  counsel
and to submit statements in his own behalf; or waive the above rights  after
consulting with counsel.

After consulting with counsel the  applicant  waived  his  right  to  submit
statements in his own behalf.

The commander indicated in his  recommendation  for  discharge  action  that
probation and rehabilitation was not appropriate.

On 11 December 1998, a legal  review  was  conducted  and  the  Staff  Judge
Advocate  recommended  the  applicant  be  discharged  with  an  entry-level
separation, without probation and rehabilitation.

On 14 December  1998,  the  convening  authority  approved  the  applicant’s
discharge.

On 17 December 1998,  the  applicant  was  discharged  with  an  entry-level
separation in the grade of  airman  under  the  provisions  of  AFI  36-3208
(Entry  Level  Performance  and  Conduct)  and  given  an  RE  code  of   2C
(Involuntarily  separated  with  an  honorable  discharge;  or  entry  level
separation without characterization of service).  He  completed  six  months
and eight days of total active duty service.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant recommended denial.  He indicates the  applicant
developed symptoms  of  depressed  mood  with  suicidal  ideation  while  in
technical training.  He was  diagnosed  with  an  Adjustment  Disorder  with
Depressed Mood  and  was  administratively  discharged  for  this  unsuiting
condition.  The applicant  indicates  he  lied  regarding  his  symptoms  of
depressed mood and suicidal thoughts in order to get out of the  Air  Force.
Regardless, if this is true, then this behavior  is  equally  unsuiting  for
military service.  Action and  disposition  in  this  case  are  proper  and
equitable reflecting compliance with Air  Force  directives  that  implement
the law.

The evaluation is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 6 February 2004, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to  the
applicant for review and response within 30  days.   As  of  this  date,  no
response has been received by this office.

_________________________________________________________________

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 that would warrant a  change  to  his  RE
code.  After a thorough  review  of  the  evidence  of  record  we  are  not
persuaded given the circumstances surrounding his separation  from  the  Air
Force, the RE code should be changed.  The applicant has  not  provided  any
evidence which would lead us to believe  otherwise.   We  note  the  opinion
from the BCMR Medical Consultant which  indicates  the  applicant  developed
symptoms of  depressed  mood  with  suicidal  ideation  while  in  technical
training which was diagnosed as Adjustment  Disorder  with  Depressed  Mood.
The applicant contends he lied regarding his symptoms of depressed mood  and
suicidal thoughts in order to get out of the Air Force.   The  Board  is  of
the opinion, along with the BCMR  Medical  Consultant,  that  regardless  if
this is true, this  behavior  would  appear  to  be  equally  unsuiting  for
military service.  As noted  by  the  Medical  Consultant,  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.  The applicant has not shown to  the  satisfaction  of
the Board that it would be to the applicant’s or the Air Force’s benefit  to
return him to a situation that has caused so  much  distress  in  the  past.
Therefore, in the absence of persuasive evidence to the  contrary,  we  find
no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief sought.

4.    The applicant's case is adequately documented  and  it  has  not  been
shown that a personal appearance with or  without  counsel  will  materially
add to our understanding of the issue(s) involved.  Therefore,  the  request
for a hearing is not favorably considered.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented  did  not  demonstrate
the existence of an 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 AFBCMR Docket Number  BC-2003-
02740 in Executive Session on 10 March 2004 under the provisions of AFI  36-
2603:

                 Ms. Brenda L. Romine, Panel Chair
                 Ms. Ann-Cecile M. McDermott, Member
                 Ms. Kathleen F. Graham, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 11 August 2003.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant,
               dated 16 January 2004,
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 February 2004.




                                   BRENDA L. ROMINE
                                   Panel Chair