RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-03721
            INDEX CODE:  110.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The words “Character  and  Behavior  Disorder”  be  deleted  from  his
narrative reason for separation which reads, (Condition That Interfere
with Military Service-not Disability-Character and Behavior Disorder).

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His medical records and training do not justify  the  characterization
he received.  The  airman  that  typed  his  discharge  papers  had  a
personal grievance against him due to an incident in which he was  the
policeman in charge.

In support of the appeal, applicant submits a copy of his DD Form 214,
five certificates, and a copy of his medical records.

Applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 12  June  1985  in  the
grade  of  airman  basic  for  a  period  of  four  years.    He   was
progressively promoted to the grade of airman on 12 December 1985, and
the grade of airman first class on 12 October 1986.  He received three
Airman Performance Reports (APRs) closing 11 June 1986, 11  June  1987
and 26 March 1988, in which the overall evaluations were “9,””9,”  and
“8.”

On 11 April  1988,  a  Mental  Health  Evaluation  pertaining  to  the
applicant was  completed  and  it  was  stated  that  his  ability  to
adequately cope with stress was poor.  Moreover, he was  diagnosed  as
suffering from an adjustment disorder with depressed mood, as well  as
from an avoidant personality disorder.  Along these lines, the  report
states that apart from  the  distress,  which  the  applicant  readily
acknowledges, there appears to be  some  characterlogical  pattern  of
social  maladjustment  with  high  dependency  needs  and  a   general
avoidance of social relationships.

On 2 May 1988, the applicant’s commander notified the applicant he was
recommending separation from the  service  because  of  character  and
behavior disorder.  The applicant was  further  advised  an  honorable
discharge would be recommended.  The applicant acknowledged receipt of
the notification and his understanding of his rights.  On 10 May 1988,
the applicant submitted a statement indicating he did seek counsel and
did not wish to submit any statements in his own behalf.  In  a  legal
review of the discharge case file, dated 11 May 1988, the Deputy Staff
Judge Advocate assigned to the staff of the discharge authority  found
the  case  file  legally  sufficient  and  recommended  the   proposed
separation be approved.  On  19  May  1988,  the  discharge  authority
approved the recommendation  for  separation  and  directed  that  the
applicant be honorably discharged without the offer of  probation  and
rehabilitation.  The applicant was honorably discharged on 20 May 1988
under the provisions of  AFR  39-10,  paragraph  5-11,  because  of  a
character and behavior disorder.  He served 2 years, 11 months  and  9
days on active duty.

The Air  Force  Discharge  Review  Board  (AFDRB)  denied  applicant’s
request for a change of reason for discharge on  10  June  1993.   The
AFDRB decision document is at Exhibit B.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR  Medical  Consultant  states  that  Adjustment  Disorder  and
Personality Disorder are conditions  that  may  render  an  individual
unsuitable for military service.  Adjustment Disorder is characterized
by marked psychological distress in response to identifiable stressors
that overcome the individual’s  ability  to  cope  and  is  frequently
associated with significant  impairment  in  social  and  occupational
functioning.  The emotional and behavioral responses may be in  excess
of what would normally be expected given the nature of the  stressors.
Manifestations can include depressed mood, anxiety,  and  disturbances
of conduct.  Adjustment Disorder when severe enough is  unsuiting  for
continued military service and  cause  for  administrative  discharge.
Personality disorders are lifelong patterns of  maladjustment  in  the
individual’s   personality   structure   when   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.  Personality disorders  are
frequently  exacerbated  by  stress  and  may  present  with  symptoms
consistent with Adjustment Disorder.  Action and disposition  in  this
case are proper and equitable reflecting  compliance  with  Air  Force
directives that implement the law.  The BCMR Medical Consultant is  of
the opinion that no change in the records is warranted.

A complete copy of the evaluation is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Applicant disagrees with the reason for his discharge.  He does accept
the fact that he made some very bad choices in his youth while in  the
military.  Now that he is an adult and has  children  of  his  own  he
realizes he could have handled some  situations  differently,  but  he
adamantly disagrees with himself being labeled  the  way  the  doctors
have portrayed him.  He has been happily married  for  17  years  with
three children and has worked at the same job for the past  11  years.
He attends church and social gatherings; he is a  law-abiding  citizen
and does not avoid people or situations.

He hopes the Board  will  take  into  consideration  that  he  was  an
excellent airman up and until  he  was  discharged  and  that  it  was
honorable.  He feels that if there were a behavior disorder  it  would
have been evident before 2 years and 11 months had  passed.   He  does
take responsibility for making bad choices and has paid dearly for it.
 He just hopes the Board will consider at the very least issuing a new
DD Form 214 with the typed words  [Character  and  Behavior  Disorder]
deleted.

Applicant's complete response, with attachment, is at Exhibit E.

_________________________________________________________________

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.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the
existence of an injustice warranting a change in the narrative  reason
for separation.  While the reason for his  separation  appears  to  in
accordance with the applicable  Air  Force  instruction,  we  believe,
based on his overall  record  of  performance,  that  the  reason  for
separation  appears  harsh.   In  this  regard,  we  note   that   the
applicant’s evaluation reports reflect  outstanding  performance.   In
addition, we note that the applicant has adjusted  to  civilian  life.
We recognize the adverse impact of the separation applicant  received;
and, while it may have been appropriate at the  time,  we  believe  it
would be an injustice for the applicant  to  continue  to  suffer  its
effects.  In view of the above and to remove  any  possibility  of  an
injustice, we  recommend  his  records  be  corrected  to  the  extent
indicated below.

________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the  Department  of  the  Air  Force
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that on 9  June  1988,  he
was honorably discharged under the provisions of AFR  39-10,  Directed
by Secretary of  the  Air  Force,  and  issued  a  Separation  Program
Designator code of “JFF.”

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the  Board  considered  this  application  in
Executive Session on 29 July 2004, under the  provisions  of  AFI  36-
2603:

                  Mr. Richard A. Peterson, Panel Chair
                  Ms. Kathleen F. Graham, Member
              Mr. Vance E. Lineberger, Member

All members  voted  to  correct  the  records,  as  recommended.   The
following documentary evidence was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 31 Oct 03, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 8 Mar 04.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 19 Mar 04.
   Exhibit E.  Applicant’s Response, undated.




                                   RICHARD A. PETERSON
                                   Panel Chair




AFBCMR BC-2003-03721




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 on 9 June  1988,  he  was
honorably discharged under the provisions of AFR  39-10,  Directed  by
Secretary of the Air Force, and issued a Separation Program Designator
code of “JFF.”







            JOE G. LINEBERGER
            Director
            Air Force Review Boards Agency