RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2004-00620
            INDEX CODE:  112.00

            COUNSEL:  NONE

            HEARING DESIRED:  NO


_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His Reenlistment Eligibility (RE) code be upgraded.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He believes when he was diagnosed with an  Adjustment  Disorder  with  Mixed
Anxiety and Depressed Mood, his  family  situation  at  that  time  was  not
considered.  At the time of his enlistment  he  left  his  wife  six  months
pregnant with medical and  emotional  problems  due  to  insurance  coverage
problems.  He was not ready for basic training at that time; however, he  is
now.   His  family  is  now  medically  and  monetarily  stable  and  he  is
physically and mentally ready to  finish  what  he  started,  to  serve  his
country.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 6 February 2001, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force  in  the
grade of airman basic for a period of six years.

Lackland AFB Form 105A, Basic  Training  Record,  indicated  on  10 February
2001, the applicant was transported  to  the  Wilford  Hall  Medical  Center
(WHMC) due to  suicidal  ideations.   After  counseling  the  applicant  for
refusing to train, he had  an  emotional  breakdown  and  stated,  “I’ll  do
whatever it takes to get out of here to include harming myself.”

On 12 February 2001, a mental health evaluation indicated the applicant  was
solely motivated for discharge.  Even though he had  considerable  financial
debts,  lacked  significant  vocational  training,  was  a  father  of   two
children, and was being afforded a  $13,000.00  sign-up  bonus  by  the  Air
Force, the applicant said he could not adjust  to  Basic  Military  Training
(BMT) and feared his wife would leave him if he  was  to  remain  on  active
duty.  The applicant was evidencing a fairly severe adjustment  reaction  to
the  rigors  of  BMT.   There  was  considerable  depression  and   anxiety,
diminished concentration, and significant sleeping and eating  disturbances.
  During  that  evaluation,  the  applicant  wept,  prayed  to  God  to   be
discharged, and related he would “do whatever it takes  to  go  home.”   The
applicant was not considered  to  be  suicidal  or  homicidal,  but  he  was
considered to be impulsive, exercised poor judgment, and was prone  to  act-
out his frustrations.  Retention on active duty would  only  result  in  the
applicant becoming an increasing  administrative  and  disciplinary  problem
for the Air Force.  The diagnoses were Axis  I:   Adjustment  Disorder  with
Mixed Anxiety and Depressed  Mood;  Axis  II:   Deferred;  Axis  III:   Note
Medical Record.  The applicant’s diagnoses did not meet retention  standards
for continued military service.  His ability to  function  in  the  military
was significantly impaired.  The  applicant  was  motivated  for  separation
from the military.  The recommendation to the commanding  officer  indicated
the  applicant  should   be   processed   for   expeditious   administrative
separation.  The applicant did not have a severe  mental  disorder  and  was
not considered mentally disordered.  However, he manifested a  long-standing
disorder of character, behavior, and adaptability that was of such  severity
so as to preclude adequate military service.   Although  he  was  not  at  a
significant risk for suicide or homicide, due to  his  lifelong  pattern  of
maladaptive responses to personal  and  work  related  stressors,  he  could
become dangerous to himself or others in  the  future.   The  applicant  was
disqualified  for  the  Personnel  Reliability   Program   (PRP),   security
clearance, and weapons handling.  It was further recommended he  attend  the
319 TRS stress management program while awaiting separation.

On 27 February 2001, the applicant was notified of  his  commander's  intent
to  initiate  discharge  action  against  him  for  Mental  Disorders.   The
commander indicated the reason for the recommended action was the  applicant
being diagnosed by the Department  of  Mental  Health  as  having  a  mental
disorder as contained in the Diagnostic and  Statistical  Manual  of  Mental
Disorders (DSM-IV).  The Department of Mental  Health  had  determined  this
condition interfered with  duty  performance  and  conduct  and  was  severe
enough that his ability  to  function  in  the  military  was  significantly
impaired.  The specific diagnosis was DSM-IV; Axis I -  Adjustment  Disorder
with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood; Axis II - Deferred; Axis III  -  Note
Medical Record.

The commander advised the applicant of his right to consult  legal  counsel,
to  submit  statements  in  his  own  behalf,  or  waive  his  rights  after
consulting with counsel.

In  his  recommendation  for  discharge,  the  commander  indicated  he  was
recommending the applicant be discharged with an entry-level separation.

The applicant waived his option  to  consult  with  counsel  and  to  submit
statements in his own behalf.

On 1  March  2001,  the  Assistant  Staff  Judge  Advocate  recommended  the
applicant be discharged under the provisions  of  AFI  36-3208,  Chapter  5,
Section B, Paragraph 5.11, Conditions that Interfere with Military  Service,
specifically Paragraph 5.11.1, under Mental Disorders with  an  entry  level
separation.

On  1  March  2001,  the  discharge  authority  approved   the   applicant’s
discharge.

On 6 March 2001, the applicant was discharged in the grade  of  airman.   He
received an entry-level separation with uncharacterized  service  under  the
provisions of AFI 36-3208 (Personality Disorder).  He served one  month  and
one day of total active duty service.  He  received  an  RE  code  of  2C  -
Involuntarily  separated  with  an  honorable  discharge;   or   entry-level
separation without characterization of service.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant indicated the applicant  developed  symptoms  of
depressed mood with suicidal ideation and refused to  continue  training  on
day four of basic  military  training.   He  was  diagnosed  as  “Adjustment
Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed  Mood”  and  was  administratively
discharged for this unsuiting condition with an entry-level separation.

A normal mental health exam at this time does  not  change  the  history  of
inability to cope with the stresses of military training.  The fact that  he
is functioning  well  at  this  time  at  home  confirms  his  diagnosis  of
“Adjustment Disorder,” however it does not  predict  that  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  of
family and friends.  His past experience is predictive of an increased  risk
for recurrence of “Adjustment  Disorder”  if  reexposed  to  the  rigors  of
military training and service  and  the  reenlistment  code  should  not  be
changed.

On the applicant’s DD Form 214 - Certificate of Release  or  Discharge  from
Active Duty, the narrative reason for discharge  is  listed  as  personality
disorder even though the applicant was  not  diagnosed  with  a  personality
disorder.  The DoD uses the term personality  disorder  administratively  to
include all unsuiting character and behavior disorders including  Adjustment
Disorder, Personality Disorders, and Impulse Control Disorders.   This  term
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.   Prior  regulations  used
the more inclusive and less confusing “character and behavior disorder.”

Since the applicant was  not  diagnosed  with  a  personality  disorder  and
mental  health  records  do  not  identify  maladaptive  personality  traits
suggestive  of  a  personality  disorder,  it  is  inaccurate  to  list  the
narrative reason as personality disorder, even  though  administratively  it
is correct.  Although action and disposition in this  case  are  proper  and
equitable reflecting compliance with Air  Force  directives  that  implement
the law, change  of  the  narrative  reason  for  discharge  to  Secretarial
Authority is recommended.  The reenlistment code should not be changed.

The evaluation is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 18 August 2004, 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.

_________________________________________________________________

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 warranting  a  change  in  the  narrative
reason for separation.  After reviewing the applicant’s submission  and  the
evidence of record, we are persuaded that  some  relief  is  warranted.   We
note the discharge action taken against  the  applicant  was  in  accordance
with the applicable instruction.  However, after reviewing  the  applicant’s
request and the evidence of record, we find the  narrative  reason  for  his
separation; i.e., personality disorder, to be inaccurate.  The BCMR  Medical
Consultant states  the  applicant  was  not  diagnosed  with  a  personality
disorder and mental health records do not identify  maladaptive  personality
traits suggestive of a personality disorder, it is inaccurate  to  list  the
narrative reason as personality disorder, even  though  administratively  it
is correct.  We are in complete agreement with the BCMR  Medical  Consultant
and recommend the applicant’s narrative reason for separation be changed  to
Secretarial Authority.  Therefore, in view of the above findings and  in  an
effort  to  offset  any  possibility  of  an  injustice,  we  recommend  the
applicant’s records be corrected to the extent indicated below.


4.    Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to  demonstrate  the
existence of an error or injustice  that  would  warrant  a  change  to  the
applicant’s RE code.  After a thorough review of the evidence of record  and
the applicant’s submission, it is our opinion that given  the  circumstances
surrounding his separation from the Air Force,  the  RE  code  assigned  was
proper and in compliance with the  appropriate  directives.   The  applicant
has not provided any evidence which would  lead  us  to  believe  otherwise.
The BCMR Medical Consultant indicates the applicant  developed  symptoms  of
depressed mood with suicidal ideation and refused to  continue  training  on
day four of  basic  military  training.   He  was  diagnosed  as  having  an
Adjustment  Disorder  with  Mixed  Anxiety  and  Depressed  Mood   and   was
administratively discharged.  As the Medical  Consultant  states,  a  normal
mental health exam at this time does not change the history of inability  to
cope  with  the  stresses  of  military  training.   The  fact  that  he  is
functioning well at this time at home appears to confirm  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 usual support system of  family
and friends.  As noted by the Medical Consultant,  his  past  experience  is
predictive of an increased risk for recurrence of Adjustment Disorder if re-
exposed to the rigors of  military  training  and  service.   Therefore,  we
agree with the Air Force office of primary responsibility  and  adopt  their
rational as the basis for our conclusion that he has not been the victim  of
an error or injustice.   In  the  absence  of  persuasive  evidence  to  the
contrary, we find no compelling  basis  to  recommend  granting  the  relief
sought.

_________________________________________________________________

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 6 March 2001, he was issued a  Separation  Program  Designator
of “KFF” and  a  narrative  reason  of  Secretarial  Authority  rather  than
Personality Disorder.

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered this application in  Executive
Session on 6 October 2004, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                 Mr. Charles E. Bennett, Panel Chair
                 Ms. Barbara R. Murray, Member
                 Mr. Albert C. Ellett, Member




All members voted to correct the records,  as  recommended.   The  following
documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket  Number  BC-2004-00620  was
considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 23 January 2004, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Military Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant,
               dated 28 July 2004.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 18 August 2004.




                       DAVID C. VAN GASBECK
                       Panel Chair




AFBCMR BC-2004-00620





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 6 March 2001, he was issued a Separation Program
Designator of “KFF” and a narrative reason of Secretarial Authority rather
than Personality Disorder.





            JOE G. LINEBERGER
            Director
            Air Force Review Boards Agency