RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2004-00608
            INDEX NUMBER:  110.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO

___________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His narrative reason for separation  and  Reenlistment  Eligibility
(RE) code be changed so that he can join the Navy Reserve.

___________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was under a lot of stress  and  had  a  difficult  time  staying
focused during basic training after learning his mother had cancer.

He had a thorough psychological evaluation and was  found  mentally
sound to enter the Navy  Reserve.   The  Navy  Bureau  of  Medicine
approved him to join the military.

In support of his appeal, he provided a personal statement, a  copy
of his DD Form 214, a psychological examination dated 25 Sep 03,  a
letter of support from the Naval and Marine Corps  Reserve  Center,
Spokane, and copies of enlistment medical examinations for the Army
and Navy.

Applicant’s complete submission is attached at Exhibit A.

___________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 23  Mar  00,  for  a
period of six years as an airman basic.

In applicant’s first week of basic  military  training,  he  sought
counseling  because  he  was  experiencing  symptoms  of   sadness,
impaired  concentration,  insomnia,  diminished  appetite  and  low
energy.  During  counseling  he  disclosed  a  history  of  bipolar
disorder since age 12, difficulty with anger control, and  that  he
was treated with lithium until age 17.

A mental health evaluation dated 29  Mar  00,  confirmed  his  past
history of Bipolar Disorder and recommended the member be processed
for expeditious administrative separation.

On 5 Apr 00, the applicant was notified by his  commander  that  he
was recommending he be discharged for a condition  that  interfered
with military service,  specifically  for  mental  disorders.   The
applicant acknowledged receipt of the notification and  waived  his
option to consult legal counsel and submit statements  on  his  own
behalf.

On 10 Apr 00, applicant  received  an  uncharacterized  entry-level
separation, by reason of “Personality Disorder,” and was issued  an
RE Code of 2C  (involuntarily  separated  with  an  uncharacterized
entry level separation).  Applicant served 18 days on active duty.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Chief Medical Consultant, AFBCMR, recommends the application be
denied.  The applicant  was  administratively  discharged  with  an
entry level  separation  after  disclosing  a  history  of  Bipolar
Disorder for several years prior  to  entering  active  duty.   The
record clearly establishes the applicant was medically disqualified
for military  service  based  on  his  mental  health  history  and
treatment.  Although the  applicant  is  presently  doing  well  as
indicated by a recent  psychological  evaluation,  his  history  of
mental illness is disqualifying for entry into the Air Force.

Telephonic communication with the  Naval  Bureau  of  Medicine  and
Surgery established they would not have granted a waiver  had  they
known about his pre-service diagnosis.

On the applicant’s DD Form 214, the narrative reason for  discharge
is listed as personality disorder even though the applicant was not
diagnosed with a personality disorder.  The Department  of  Defense
(DoD) uses the term “personality disorder” administratively on  the
DD Form  214  to  include  all  unsuiting  character  and  behavior
disorders  including  Adjustment,  Personality,   Impulse   Control
Disorders, and mental disorders that are not  the  purview  of  the
disability  evaluation  system  (i.e.  history  of  mental  illness
existing prior to service disqualifying  for  entry  and  continued
service).  This term may be 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 Bipolar Disorder.

The Medical Consultant further states since the applicant  was  not
diagnosed  with  a  personality  disorder,  his  DD  Form  214   is
administratively correct and as accurately as  possible  identifies
the basis  for  discharge  as  due  to  a  mental  condition.   The
applicant’s history of mental illness disqualifies  him  for  entry
into military service and  his  reenlistment  code  should  not  be
changed.

A complete copy of the Air Force evaluation is attached at  Exhibit
C.

__________________________________________________________________



APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 31 Aug 04, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was  forwarded  to
the applicant for review and response within 30 days.  As  of  this
date, no response has been received by this office.  (Exhibit D)

___________________________________________________________________

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.   After  careful
review of the applicant’s complete submission, we found no evidence
to indicate his discharge from the Air Force was  inappropriate  or
unjust.  Applicant contends he was under a  lot  of  stress  during
basic training and had difficulty staying  focused  after  learning
his mother had cancer,  and  that  he  has  since  had  a  thorough
psychological evaluation and was found mentally sound to enter  the
Navy.   However,  we  do  not  find  these  arguments,  in  and  of
themselves,  sufficiently  persuasive  to  override  the  rationale
expressed by the BCMR Medical Consultant.  Although  the  applicant
is presently doing well as  indicated  by  a  recent  psychological
evaluation, his history of mental  illness  disqualifies  him  from
entry into military service.  Therefore, we agree with the findings
and recommendation of the BCMR Medical  Consultant  and  adopt  his
rationale as the basis for our conclusion that  the  applicant  has
not been the victim of an error or injustice.  In  the  absence  of
evidence to the contrary, we find no compelling basis to  recommend
granting the relief sought in this application

___________________________________________________________________

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 Docket Number BC-2004-
00608 in Executive Session on 2 November 2004, under the provisions
of AFI 36-2603:

      Mr. Richard A. Peterson, Panel Chair
      Mr. Gregory A. Parker, Member
      Mr. James W. Russell III, Member


The following documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 15 Mar 04, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated 19 Aug 04.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 31 Aug 04.




                                   RICHARD A. PETERSON
                                   Panel Chair