RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:            DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2003-03199
                                        INDEX CODE 100.06
                                        COUNSEL:  None

                                        HEARING DESIRED:  Yes


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His reenlistment eligibility (RE) code be changed to “1.”

_________________________________________________________________

THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He is of sound mind to rejoin the military and serve his country.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the  Regular  Air  Force  on  5  Feb  02  and  was
assigned to the 48th Security Forces Squadron (48 SFS)  at  RAF  Lakenheath,
United Kingdom (UK) as a security forces member.

According to a 48 SFS document, dated 29 Jul 02, it  appears  the  applicant
received fines for failing to obey a traffic signal  and  speeding.  On  the
same date, a Personnel Reliability  Program  (PRP)  certificate  noted  that
information had been found which might preclude qualification for PRP  duty.
A physician’s assistant  at  the  Family  Practice  Clinic  recommended  the
applicant not be certified. No other information is available.

A 10 Sep 02 medical entry reported the First Sergeant brought the  applicant
to the Mental  Health  Clinic  (MHC)  because  of  complaints  of  insomnia,
hopelessness and suicidal thoughts.  The  applicant  indicated  relationship
problems and his assignment to the UK, where he had few friends, were  among
the stressors he  was  experiencing.  The  applicant  was  admitted  to  the
inpatient psychiatric unit for adjustment problems and  recent  thoughts  of
suicide. The staff psychiatrist  recommended  a  30-day  suspension  of  PRP
privileges and status.

A 17 Sep  02  medical  evaluation  diagnosed  the  applicant  as  having  an
adjustment disorder  with  anxiety  and  depressed  mood.  The  psychiatrist
reported the applicant lacked  any  desire  or  motivation  to  perform  his
duties and was unable  to  develop  any  significant  support  systems.  Any
significant short-term  changes  were  not  anticipated  as  the  Air  Force
environment represented a severe stressor on his  adaptive  abilities,  both
personally and professionally. Administrative discharge was  recommended  as
his adjustment disorder was considered so severe his ability to function  in
the military was significantly and  severely  impaired.  The  applicant  was
discharged from the inpatient unit on 17 Sep 02.

A telephonic consultation on 3 Oct 02  indicated  the  applicant  was  still
experiencing  sleep  difficulties,  but  he  denied  suicidal  or  homicidal
ideation.

On 25 Oct 02, the applicant  was  notified  of  his  commander’s  intent  to
recommend an honorable discharge for conditions  interfering  with  military
service (mental disorders). The applicant  consulted  counsel  but  did  not
submit statements. The  commander  subsequently  recommended  administrative
discharge without probation and rehabilitation (P&R) on 25 Oct 02.

The applicant was permanently decertified from the PRP on 28 Oct 02, due  to
the recommendation of the  medical  authority.  He  was  seen  in  follow-up
visits at the MHC on 5 and 12 Nov 02.

On 19 Nov 02, the discharge authority approved the recommended separation.

The  applicant  was  discharged   on   5   Feb   02,   with   an   honorable
characterization, after 9 months and 23 days of active service. He  received
an RE code of “2C” (Involuntarily Separated with an Honorable  Discharge  or
Entry Level Separation) and a separation program designator  (SPD)  code  of
“JFX” (Personality Disorder).

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The  AFBCMR  Medical  Consultant  advised  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. The  applicant
also had a history of depressive symptoms prior to service  consistent  with
a long term, chronic mood disorder, further predisposing  him  to  recurrent
difficulties. The fact that he is functioning well  at  this  time  at  home
confirms the 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  usual
support  system.   Action  and  disposition  were  proper  and   denial   is
recommended.
A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit C.

______________________________________________________________

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF EVALUATION:

A complete copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to  the  applicant
on 5 Mar 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 timely filed.

3.    Sufficient relevant evidence has been  presented  to  demonstrate  the
existence of error or  injustice  warranting  partial  relief.  Individuals,
such as the applicant,  who  develop  adjustment  disorder  because  of  the
stress of routine military service are not suited for that  environment  and
are subject to administrative discharge.  Additionally, the applicant had  a
history of depressive symptoms prior  to  service  consistent  with  a  long
term, chronic mood disorder. The applicant may be functioning well  at  home
now; however, his adjustment disorder symptoms will very likely recur  under
the rigors of military operations,  deployment  or  combat.   Therefore,  we
conclude  the  applicant  is  not  a  candidate  for  reenlistment  and  his
unwaiverable RE code should remain unchanged.  However, we take  issue  with
the applicant’s SPD code and narrative reason. Prior to 1993,  the  Services
had specific SPD codes to reflect most of the reasons for mental  disorders,
including adjustment disorder.  However,  when  the  Department  of  Defense
(DOD) standardized the SPD codes,  the  Services  were  left  with  the  one
narrative reason of “Personality Disorder.” The applicant was  diagnosed  as
having an adjustment disorder, not a personality disorder, as  is  currently
reflected on his DD Form 214. Since we have  no  SPD  code/narrative  reason
for adjustment disorder, we recommend the applicant’s records  be  corrected
to show a  more  innocuous  SPD  code  of  “JFF”  and  narrative  reason  of
“Secretarial Authority.”

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 RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air  Force  relating
to APPLICANT, be corrected to show  that,  in  conjunction  with  his  entry
level separation on 5 February 2002, he  was  issued  a  separation  program
designator code of “JFF,” instead  of  “JFX,”  and  a  narrative  reason  of
“Secretarial Authority,” rather than “Personality Disorder.”
________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered this application in  Executive
Session on 21 April 2004 under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                 Mr. Thomas S. Markiewicz, Chair
                 Mr. Frederick R. Beaman III, Member
                 Mr. Vance E. Lineberger, Member

All members voted to correct the records,  as  recommended.   The  following
documentary evidence relating to  AFBCMR  Docket  Number  BC-2003-03199  was
considered:

      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 25 Aug 03.
      Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C. Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated 18 Feb 04.
      Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 5 Mar 04.




                                             THOMAS S. MARKIEWICZ
                                             Chair



AFBCMR BC-2003-03199




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     , be corrected to show that, in conjunction with his entry
level separation on 5 February 2002, he was issued a separation program
designator code of “JFF,” instead of “JFX,” and a narrative reason of
“Secretarial Authority,” rather than “Personality Disorder.”





JOE G. LINEBERGER

Director

Air Force Review Boards Agency