RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2004-00124
            INDEX CODE:  110.00

      XXXXXXX    COUNSEL:  NONE

      XXXXXXX    HEARING DESIRED: NO

___________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her separation code of JFX, reenlistment eligibility (RE)  code  of
2C, and narrative reason for separation of Personality Disorder  be
changed.

___________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

Her discharge was improper and was based on  three  incidents  that
were occurring at the same  time.   She  became  pregnant  and  her
husband,  also  a  security  forces  member,  had  severe   medical
problems, then her baby was born.  She requested some help from her
unit to work in the back office, however, it never  happened.   She
wasn’t able to handle everything by herself, so she decided to  get
out.  A decision that has haunted her ever since.  Her physician at
the time of discharge now states that she is completely better  and
supports her decision to return to the Air Force as long as she  is
not returned to her previous Air Force  Specialty  Code  (AFSC)  of
security forces.

In support of her appeal, applicant provided a personal  statement;
a letter of support from her staff psychologist; several  character
statements from former co-workers and associates, and a copy of  DD
Form 214, Certificate of Release or  Discharge  from  Active  Duty,
dated 6 Jun 03.

Applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

___________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force  on  12  Apr  01.   She
received one performance report with an overall evaluation of 4.

Applicant was seen periodically by the Maxwell  AFB  Mental  Health
Unit from 1 Aug 02.  She  received  consistent  outpatient  therapy
from 20 Feb 03.  On 17 Apr 03, she  was  evaluated  by  two  mental
health providers.   They  diagnosed  the  applicant  as  having  an
Adjustment Disorder with Mixed  Anxiety  and  Depressed  Mood,  and
Personality Disorder, Borderline and Dependent Traits, as described
in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders  (DSM-
IV).  The prognosis rendered reflects that she was  not  judged  an
imminent danger to herself or others.  Given her low motivation  to
remain in the Air Force and unresponsiveness to treatment,  it  was
unlikely that continued intervention would  result  in  substantial
change to her maladaptive emotional  patterns.   Her  reactions  to
stressful circumstances appeared to increase in  nature  over  time
and were expected to create more distress with progression  in  the
Air  Force.   They  recommended   an   expeditious   administrative
separation.  She did not have a severe mental disorder and did  not
require  a  medical  evaluation  board.   However,  she   possessed
maladaptive emotional patterns  of  such  severity  as  to  prevent
adequate military service.  Her inability to regulate her  emotions
significantly impaired her ability to function effectively  in  the
Air Force.

On 12 May  03,  the  squadron  commander  initiated  administrative
discharge action against the applicant for Mental  Disorders.   The
specific reason for the proposed action  was  the  diagnosis  cited
above.  It was determined that this disorder significantly impaired
her ability to function effectively in the military.  The applicant
was advised of her right to counsel and to submit statements on her
own behalf.  On 15 May  03,  after  consulting  with  counsel,  she
waived her right to  submit  statements  in  her  own  behalf.   On
21 May 03, the Chief, Adverse Action, found the case to be  legally
sufficient   to   support   discharge   without    probation    and
rehabilitation  (P&R).   On  4  Jun  03,  the  discharge  authority
directed  applicant  be   discharged   and   concurred   with   the
recommendation for an honorable discharge, without P&R.

On 6 Jun 03, the applicant was discharged under the  provisions  of
AFI 36-3208, by reason of personality disorder, and was  issued  an
RE  code  of  2C  (involuntarily  separated   with   an   honorable
discharge), with a separation code of JFX.  She was credited with 2
years, 1 month, and 25 days of active duty service.

___________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The  AFBCMR  Medical  Consultant  states  that  the  applicant  was
discharged  for  unsuitability,  due  to  Adjustment  Disorder  and
maladaptive personality traits, on 6 Jun  03,  after  2  years  and
1 month, and 25 days on active duty and now requests her records be
changed to show a different reason for discharge that would  permit
her to reenlist.

Applicant developed symptoms  of  depressed  mood,  anxiety,  panic
attacks and  symptoms suggestive of Post Traumatic Stress  Disorder
stemming from a pre-service traumatic  event.   She  was  diagnosed
with Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood  and
the presence of borderline and dependent personality  traits.   Due
to worsening symptoms despite treatment, and psychological  testing
that indicated poor coping skills when  under  stress,  her  mental
health   providers   recommended   administrative   discharge   for
unsuitability.

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.  One of the  key  features  of  Adjustment
Disorder  is  that  the  condition  resolves  with  relief  of  the
stressors.  Individuals who develop Adjustment Disorder due to  the
stress of routine  rigors  of  military  service  with  or  without
concomitant personal issues are not suited for military service and
are  subject  to  administrative  discharge  by  their   commander.
Although the applicant experienced a number of stressors  including
work, pregnancy, marriage, parenthood, illness of her husband,  her
mental health providers concluded that her Adjustment Disorder  was
not a normal  response  and  reflected  a  pattern  of  coping  and
psychological symptoms that rendered her unsuitable  for  continued
military service.

A normal mental health exam  at  this  time  does  not  change  the
history of inability to cope with the combined stresses of  routine
military service and personal life stressors.  The  fact  that  the
applicant is functioning well at this time  at  home  confirms  the
diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder, however, it does not predict that
she will respond well  to  the  stresses  of  military  operations,
deployment, or combat when  she  is  separated  from  her  familiar
surroundings and usual support system of family and  friends.   Her
past experience is predictive of an increased risk  for  recurrence
of debilitating symptoms of Adjustment Disorder  if  re-exposed  to
the  rigors  of  military  training  and   service.    Action   and
disposition in  this  case  are  proper  and  equitable  reflecting
compliance with Air Force directives that implement the law.  It is
his 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:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to  the  applicant
on 19 Nov 04 for review and comment 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.  Insufficient  relevant   evidence   has   been   presented   to
demonstrate the existence of error or injustice.  We took notice of
the applicant's complete submission in judging the  merits  of  the
case.   The  applicant  requests  her  reason  for  separation   of
“personality disorder” be changed.  However, we found  no  evidence
which would lead us to believe that the applicant's  separation  or
reason for separation were in error or contrary  to  the  governing
Air Force instructions, which implement the law.  Additionally,  at
the time members  are  separated  from  the  Air  Force,  they  are
furnished an RE code predicated upon the quality of  their  service
and circumstances of their separation.  Applicant’s RE code  of  2C
accurately reflects that she was involuntarily  separated  with  an
honorable characterization of service.  The  applicant’s  case  has
undergone an exhaustive review by the BCMR Medical  Consultant  and
there is nothing in the evidence provided  by  the  applicant  that
would overcome his assessment of the case.  After a thorough review
of the evidence of  record,  including  the  letters  of  character
reference submitted in the  applicant’s  behalf,  we  believe  that
given the circumstances surrounding the applicant’s separation, the
RE code issued was in accordance  with  the  governing  directives.
Therefore, in the absence of persuasive 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 AFBCMR Docket  Number
BC-2004-00124 in Executive Session on 19 January  2005,  under  the
provisions of AFI 36-2603:

      Mr. Frederick R. Beaman III, Panel Chair
      Mr. Wallace F. Beard Jr., Member
      Mr. Michael J. Novel, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 6 Jun 03, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated 10 Nov 04.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 19 Nov 04.




                                   FREDERICK R. BEAMAN III
                                   Panel Chair