RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:                       DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-03187
                                        INDEX CODE 100.06
                                        COUNSEL: No

                                        HEARING DESIRED: No


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His reenlistment eligibility (RE) code  be  changed  to  a  qualifying
code.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He is more focused on his future and would like to earn his degree  on
aircraft maintenance and  become  an  officer.  He  wants  to  travel,
provide a better future for his family, and retire from the Air Force.
He would be proud to wear the uniform.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 11 Dec 96.  He  was
assigned to the 90th Maintenance Squadron at F.E. Warren AFB, WY, as a
materiel control  technician.  His  two  performance  reports  reflect
overall ratings of 4 and 3.

On 5 Mar 99, the Mental Health Clinic  recommended  the  applicant  be
permanently decertified from the Personnel Reliability  Program  (PRP)
because of ongoing depressed mood and difficulties  adjusting  to  the
area and climate. The evaluation noted the applicant had been  on-and-
off PRP status several times in the last  45  days.  The  problem  was
believed to be chronic and efforts to  correct  it  were  ineffective.
Prognosis was that the problem would continue. The applicant was still
able to successfully perform Air Force  duties  and  did  not  have  a
medically disqualifying condition.

The applicant was permanently decertified on 15 Mar 99.

He was promoted to the grade of senior airman effective 11 Apr 99.

A 19 Apr 99  Mental  Health  Clinic  Narrative  Summary  reported  the
applicant’s  mood  symptoms  had  persisted  at  an   intensity   that
compromised his functioning within the Air Force.  The  diagnosis  was
adjustment disorder with depressed mood. Administrative separation was
recommended.

A 25 Apr 99 memo from 90 MXS/LGMSD reported the  applicant  threatened
suicide and personal injury. He required  100%  supervision  while  on
duty  and  was  incapable  of  performing  his  duties.  He   required
supervisors to come to his home and monitor him during  off-duty  time
and had a history of prior suicide attempts.

On 11 Jun 99, the applicant was notified of his commander’s intent  to
recommend an honorable discharge  for  a  condition  interfering  with
military service. The 19 Apr 99 mental health evaluation was cited  as
the reason. The applicant acknowledged receipt.

In an undated letter, the commander recommended an honorable discharge
because the applicant’s mental disorder severely impacted his  ability
to function in a military environment  and  he  was  not  amenable  to
further  treatment.  Probation  and  rehabilitation  (P&R)  were   not
recommended. On 16 Jun 99, after  consulting  counsel,  the  applicant
waived his right to submit statements.

Legal review on 18  Jun  99  found  the  case  sufficient  to  support
discharge and recommended an honorable discharge without P&R.

On 19 Jun 99, the discharge authority approved the discharge  and,  on
23 Jun 99, the applicant was honorably  discharged  in  the  grade  of
senior airman after 2 years, 6 months and 12 days of  active  service.
He received an RE  code  of  “2C”  (Involuntarily  separated  with  an
honorable discharge or an entry-level  separation)  and  a  separation
program designator (SPD) code of “JFX” (Personality Disorder).

On 10 Feb 04, HQ AFPC/DPPRSP advised the applicant that the  SPD  code
and narrative reason had been administratively changed  to  “JFF”  and
“Secretarial Authority,” respectively.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The AFBCMR Medical Consultant contends that  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  and  are  subject  to   administrative
discharge by their  commander.  The  Consultant  notes  the  narrative
reason for  discharge  is  “Personality  Disorder,”  even  though  the
applicant was not diagnosed with this disorder. The DOD uses this term
administratively to  include  all  unsuiting  character  and  behavior
disorders, including adjustment  disorder,  personality  disorder  and
impulse control disorder. This is confusing because the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental  Disorders  uses  the  term  “personality
disorder” in a specific, defined manner to classify specific disorders
of personality that do not  include  adjustment  disorder  or  impulse
control disorder. Although  administratively  correct,  the  narrative
reason is inaccurate. The fact that the applicant is functioning  well
at this time confirms his diagnosis of adjustment  disorder;  however,
it does not predict he will respond well to the stresses  of  military
operations, deployment, or  combat  when  he  is  separated  from  his
familiar surroundings and support system of family  and  friends.  The
Consultant recommends the applicant’s narrative reason be  changed  to
“Secretarial Authority,” but the  RE  code  should  remain  the  same.
[Note: The narrative  reason  has  been  administratively  changed  to
“Secretarial Authority.”]

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A complete copy of the Air  Force  evaluation  was  forwarded  to  the
applicant on 20 Feb 04 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 waive the failure to timely file.

3.    Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate
the existence of  an  error  or  injustice  to  warrant  altering  the
applicant’s RE code.  The  SPD  code  and  narrative  reason  for  his
discharge, “Personality Disorder,” have been appropriately changed  to
“Secretarial  Authority”  since  the  applicant  did  not  have   that
condition.  However, he was diagnosed as having an adjustment disorder
with depressed mood. He threatened suicide  and  personal  injury  and
required constant supervision. The AFBCMR Medical  Consultant  advises
that adjustment disorder  is  characterized  by  marked  psychological
distress,  beyond  a  normally  expected  response   to   identifiable
stressors, which  overcomes  an  individual’s  ability  to  cope.  The
Consultant warns the fact that the applicant is  functioning  well  at
this time confirms the adjustment disorder diagnosis.  The applicant’s
past  experience  and  diagnosis  indicates  an  increased  risk   for
recurrence of debilitating depressed mood and adjustment  disorder  if
he was returned to the stresses of military operations, deployment  or
combat. We agree with  this  assessment.  As  the  applicant  has  not
demonstrated he was improperly discharged or would be able  to  adjust
to stressors encountered in a military environment, we find  no  basis
upon which to recommend granting  the  requested  relief  beyond  that
already administratively afforded.

_________________________________________________________________

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  this  application  in
Executive Session on 7 April 2004, under the  provisions  of  AFI  36-
2603:

                                  Mr. Joseph A. Roj, Panel Chair
                                  Ms. Rita J. Maldonado, Member
                                  Ms. Leslie E. Abbott, Member

The following documentary evidence relating to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-
2003-03187 was considered:

      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 16 Sep 03, w/atchs.
      Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C. Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated 22 Jan 04.
      Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 20 Feb 04.



                                             JOSEPH A. ROJ
                                             Panel Chair