RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-03035
            INDEX CODE:  110.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED: NO

___________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The narrative reason for separation on her DD Form 214, Certificate
of  Release  or  Discharge  from  Active  Duty,  be  changed   from
“Personality Disorder” to “Medical Reasons.”

___________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Her DD Form 214 reveals  privacy  information  within  her  medical
records, which has hindered her from getting employment and has the
potential to limit her even more in the future.  She faced  extreme
discrimination in her unit  prior  to  attending  officer  training
school (OTS) and when she was disenrolled and assigned to  an  Army
installation.   Her  discharge  was  a  direct  result  of   unjust
treatment.

In support of her appeal, applicant submitted a copy of her DD Form
214, dated 6 Jan 03, a copy of her privacy act form and a  copy  of
her congressional inquiry.

Applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

___________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 17 Jun 95, applicant enlisted in the Regular Air  Force  in  the
grade of airman first class  for  a  period  of  four  years.   She
reenlisted on 3 Mar 00 for a period of six  years.   Prior  to  the
events under review,  she  was  promoted  to  the  grade  of  staff
sergeant (SSgt/E-5) with an effective date  and  date  of  rank  of
1 Dec 00.

A resume of applicant’s enlisted performance reports (EPR)  profile
follows:

            PERIOD CLOSING              OVERALL EVALUATION


           15 Jan 97                                    5
           15 Jan 98                                    5
                 15 Jan 99                                    5
                 19 Aug 99                                    5
                 19 Aug 00                                    5
                 19 Aug 01                                    5
                 19 Aug 02                                    5

Applicant enrolled in Officer Training School (OTS) on 17  Jan  01.
She was disenrolled from training for military training  deficiency
on 23 Feb 01.

On 18 Nov 02, the Inpatient Psychiatry diagnosed the  applicant  as
having an Adjustment Disorder with  Depressed  Mood  (Chronic),  as
described in  the  Diagnostic  and  Statistical  Manual  of  Mental
Disorders (DSM-IV).  The prognosis rendered reflected that she  did
not have a medically  disqualifying  condition  and  that  she  was
competent for pay and records and  responsible  for  her  behavior.
However, the development of suicidal ideation,  which  resulted  in
two suicidal gestures as a way of coping with  the  stress  of  her
duties, led to her being unable to perform those  duties.   It  was
determined  that  very  likely  in  the  future  she  would   again
decompensate and pose a risk of harm to  herself  or  others  under
times of stress in a  military  setting.   Her  Personality  Traits
significantly impaired her ability  to  function  in  the  military
effectively and separation was in the  best  interest  of  the  Air
Force and the individual.

On 12 Dec  02,  the  squadron  commander  initiated  administrative
discharge  action  against  the  applicant  for   conditions   that
interfere with military service - mental  disorder.   The  specific
reason for the proposed action was the diagnosis cited  above.   It
was  determined  that  this  disorder  significantly  impaired  her
ability to function effectively in  the  military.   On  that  same
date, applicant waived her rights to  an  administrative  discharge
board and to submit written  statements  in  her  own  behalf.   On
16 December 02, the staff judge advocate found the case file to  be
legally  sufficient  to  support  an  honorable  discharge  without
probation  and  rehabilitation  (P&R).   The  discharge   authority
approved a honorable discharge, without P&R.

On 6 Jan 03, the  applicant  was  honorably  discharged  under  the
provisions of AFI 36-3208, by reason of personality  disorder,  and
was issued an RE  code  of  2C  (involuntarily  separated  with  an
honorable   discharge;   or    entry-level    separation    without
characterization of service).  She served 7 years and 7  months  on
active duty.

On 1 Mar 04, applicant’s DD Form 214 was administratively corrected
to reflect “separation pay - $9,268.35” rather than “separation pay
$3,381.36” in Item 18.

___________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The  AFBCMR  Medical  Consultant  states  that  the  applicant  was
discharged for unsuitability, adjustment disorder  and  personality
disorder, on 7 Jan 03, after 7 years and 7 months  on  active  duty
and now requests her discharge certificate be  changed  to  show  a
different reason for discharge.

The evidence of record supports both diagnoses, Adjustment Disorder
and Personality Disorder.  Both are conditions that may  render  an
individual unsuitable for military service.  Personality  disorders
are  lifelong  patterns  of  maladjustment  in   the   individual’s
personality structure, which are  not  medically  disqualifying  or
unfitting but may render  the  individual  unsuitable  for  further
military service and may be cause for administrative action by  the
individual’s unit commander.  They are  frequently  exacerbated  by
stress and may present with  symptoms  consistent  with  Adjustment
Disorder.  Those personality traits identified in the mental health
evaluation actually served the applicant well during the  time  she
served in Hawaii, however, those same rigid traits interfered  with
her ability to  succeed  under  the  associated  higher  levels  of
leadership and supervisory responsibility  when  placed  under  the
associated higher levels of stress.  Action and disposition in this
case are proper and equitable reflecting compliance with Air  Force
directives that implement the law.   It  is  his  opinion  that  no
change in the records is warranted.

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit C.

HQ AFPC/DPPRS recommended applicant’s request be denied.  Based  on
available documentation in  the  file,  they  found  the  discharge
consistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of  the
discharge regulation.  Additionally, the discharge was  within  the
sound discretion of  the  discharge  authority.   They  also  noted
applicant did not submit any new evidence or identify any errors or
injustices that occurred in the discharge processing  and  provided
no other facts warranting a change to the reason for discharge.

A complete copy of the 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 Mar 04 for review and comment within  30  days.   As  of  this
date, no response has been received by this office (Exhibit E).

___________________________________________________________________

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 error  or  injustice.   The  discharge
appears to be in compliance with the governing AFI and we  find  no
evidence to indicate that applicant’s separation from the Air Force
was  inappropriate.   The  applicant  requests   her   reason   for
separation  of  “Personality  Disorder”  be  changed  to   “medical
reasons.”   Even  though  it  does  not  appear  the  applicant  is
contesting the reason for separation, she believes it is  an  error
to list it on her DD Form 214 since it  reveals  protected  privacy
information from her medical records.   The  applicant’s  case  has
undergone an exhaustive review by the BCMR Medical  Consultant  and
there is nothing in the evidence provided  by  the  applicant  that
would overcome his assessment of the case.  Additionally, the Board
notes  the  applicant  was  advised  that  discharged  members  are
provided copies of their DD Form 214 that mask the narrative reason
for discharge.  The appropriate Air Force  offices  have  addressed
the issues presented by the applicant and we are in agreement  with
their opinions  and  recommendation.   Therefore,  we  adopt  their
rationale as the basis for our conclusion that  the  applicant  has
not been the victim of an error  or  injustice.   In  view  of  the
foregoing, and in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we  find
no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief sought in this
appeal.

___________________________________________________________________

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 AFBCMR Docket  Number
BC-2003-03035 in Executive  Session  on  1  June  2004,  under  the
provisions of AFI 36-2603:

      Mr. Richard A. Peterson, Panel Chair
      Mr. James A. Wolffe, Member
      Ms. Carolyn B. Willis, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 20 Oct 03, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 19 Feb 04.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPPRS, dated 2 Mar 04.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 5 Mar 04.




                                   RICHARD A. PETERSON
                                   Panel Chair