RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2003-04274
                       INDEX CODE:  110.00
                       COUNSEL:  None

                       HEARING DESIRED:  Yes

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The term “Personality Disorder”  in  item  28  on  his  DD  Form  214,
Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty be removed.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was inaccurately diagnosed with Personality Disorder.  He  believes
this inaccurate classification as well as the  permanent  stigma  will
continually impact his life.  He has realized  through  post-discharge
counseling and  treatment  that  his  issues  were  related  to  post-
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 21 February 1996, for a
period of six years.

The applicant failed to report to work on 17 and 18 February 1998  and
was referred to Mental Health for an evaluation.

The applicant underwent a Mental Health evaluation on  10  March  1998
and was diagnosed with a  Major  Depressive  and  Generalized  Anxiety
Disorder which existed prior to service and Personality  Disorder  not
otherwise  specified.   The  psychiatrist  stated,  “the   applicant’s
depression combined with anxiety and personality disorder would effect
his interpersonal relationships  and  his  duty  performance  and  the
condition would  be  aggravated  by  his  continued  presence  in  the
military environment.”  The psychiatrist recommended the applicant  be
administratively  discharged  for  conditions  that  interfered   with
military service but his condition did not warrant referral  into  the
disability evaluation system.

On 5 April 1998, the applicant was notified of his commander’s  intent
to recommend him for discharge for conditions (mental  disorder)  that
interfered with military service.  The basis for this action was  that
the applicant was  diagnosed  as  having  Major  Depressive  Disorder,
Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Personality Disorder  (Not  Otherwise
Specified).

The commander advised the applicant of  his  right  to  consult  legal
counsel and that legal counsel had been obtained to assist him; and to
submit statements in his own behalf, or waive the above rights.

The commander indicated in his  recommendation  for  discharge  action
that the psychiatrist determined the applicant’s condition as chronic,
existing prior to active duty, and was so severe that it significantly
affected his ability to function in the military environment.

On 20 April 1998, a legal review was conducted which found the case to
be legally sufficient to support separation from  the  Air  Force  and
recommended the applicant be discharged with  an  honorable  discharge
without probation and rehabilitation.

On 27 April 1998, the convening authority directed  the  applicant  be
discharged with service characterized as general.

On 5 May 1998, the applicant was honorably  discharged  from  the  Air
Force for a Personality Disorder.  He served 2 months, 2 months and 15
days of active service.  He received an RE code of  “2C”  which  means
"Involuntarily separated with an honorable discharge; or  entry  level
separation without service characterization.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The  Chief  Medical  Consultant,  AFBCMR,  states  the  applicant  was
administratively  discharged  for  conditions  that  interfered   with
military  service.   The  documentation  provided  by  the   applicant
confirms a history of depression existing prior to service to  include
a suicide attempt.  The July 1998 inpatient documentation  showed  the
applicant experienced  cycling  moods,  impulsivity  and  poor  coping
skills, that can be seen in both  Bipolar  and  Personality  Disorder.
The Medical Consultant further states there is  insufficient  evidence
to refute the diagnosis of the Air Force  psychiatrist.   The  Medical
Consultant  believes  the  processing  of  the  applicant’s  case  was
equitable and in compliance with applicable Air Force directives.  The
Medical Consultant recommends the requested relief be denied.

A complete copy of the Medical Consultant’s evaluation is attached  at
Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on
26 May 2004, for review and response.  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 timely filed.

3.    Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to  demonstrate
the existence of an error or injustice.  After a  careful  review  of
the applicant’s request,  the  available  medical  records,  and  the
evidence presented in support of his appeal, we  are  persuaded  some
relief is warranted.  In coming  to  this  conclusion,  we  note  the
applicant while on active duty served satisfactorily with an  overall
rating of “4” on his enlisted performance reports.  It is  noted  the
applicant, after  duty  hours,  was  a  volunteer  emergency  medical
technician (EMT).  While on duty as an EMT a fellow EMT was  involved
in a deadly motor  vehicle  accident.   The  applicant  was  the  EMT
responding to the motor vehicle accident and was the last one to  see
the victim alive prior to the accident.  The applicant  contends  the
loss of his coworker  changed  him  forever.   The  Board  notes  the
applicant was previously treated for  depression  prior  to  entering
active duty but was apparently cleared for entry  onto  active  duty,
therefore, we believe he has established reasonable doubt in his case
that the diagnosis of personality disorder may not have  best  suited
his situation.  We believe it would be in the best  interest  of  the
Air Force and the applicant to resolve  this  matter  in  his  favor.
Therefore, it is the Board’s  opinion  that  his  records  should  be
corrected as 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 27 April 1998,  he
was discharged under the provisions of AFI 36-3208,
Secretarial Authority, and  issued  a  Separation  Program  Designator
(SPD) code of “KFF.”

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-
2003-04274 in Executive Session on 29 June 2004, under the  provisions
of AFI 36-2603:

                       Ms. Cathlynn B. Sparks, Panel Chair
                       Ms. Marth J. Evans, Member
                       Mr. James E. Short, Member

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

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 29 Dec 03, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated 12 May 04.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 26 May 04.




                                        CATHLYNN B. SPARKS
                                        Panel Chair






AFBCMR BC-2003-04274


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  27
April 1998, he was discharged under the provisions of  AFI  36-3208,
Secretarial Authority, and issued a  Separation  Program  Designator
(SPD) code of “KFF.”




                             JOE G. LINEBERGER
                             Director
                             Air Force Review Boards Agency