RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2004-01711
            INDEX CODE:  100.03
      xxxxxxxxxxxxxx   COUNSEL:  NONE

      xxxxxxxxxxxxxx   HEARING DESIRED:  NO

MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  30 NOV 2005

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His reenlistment eligible (RE)  code  be  changed  to  enable  him  to
reenter the military.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He does not have a personality  disorder  and  should  not  have  been
discharged.

In support of his appeal he submitted DD Form 293, Application for the
Review of Discharge or Dismissal from the Armed Forces of  the  United
States.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force as an airman basic  on
6 February 2001, on a guaranteed  training  enlistment  agreement  for
electrical systems for a term of 4 years.

On 25 July 2001, the applicant was notified by his commander  that  he
was recommending he  be  discharged  from  the  Air  Force  due  to  a
condition that interferes with  military  service  (mental  disorder).
The reason for this action was that the applicant was diagnosed  by  a
clinical psychologist as  having  a  specific  phobia  and  adjustment
disorder with anxiety.  His disorder was  evidenced  by  his  fear  of
heights and a pattern of normal to low average  cognitive  functioning
and executive system inefficiencies that appeared  to  interfere  with
his ability to acquire new information.

He acknowledged receipt of the notification and after consulting  with
counsel elected not to submit  statements  on  his  own  behalf.   The
package was reviewed by the attorney advisor and found to  be  legally
sufficient.

On  30  July  2001,  he  was  administratively  discharged  under  the
provisions  of  AFI  36-3208,  Administrative  Separation  of  Airmen,
(personality disorder), with an  uncharacterized  discharge.   He  was
issued an RE code of 2C “Involuntarily  separated  with  an  honorable
discharge; or  entry  level  separation  without  characterization  of
service”.  He served 5 months and 25 days total active service.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant recommends changing the  narrative  reason
for separation to Secretarial Authority, but denial  of  the  RE  code
change request.

On the applicant’s DD 214,  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, impulse control disorders and specific phobias.
 This term is confusing because the Diagnostic and Statistical  Manual
of Mental Disorders uses the term “personality  disorder”  in  a  very
specific, defined manner to classify specific disorders of personality
that do not include adjustment disorder or specific phobias.

Since the applicant was not diagnosed with 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
warranted.  The RE code should not be changed.

The Medical Consultant’s 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
28 Jan 2005, for review and comment within 30 days.  As of this  date,
this office has received no response.

_________________________________________________________________


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 an error or injustice in regard to his  request  that
his reenlistment eligibility (RE) code be changed.  After  a  thorough
review of the documentation provided and the evidence of  record,  the
Board is of the opinion that given the circumstances  surrounding  his
separation from the Air Force, the RE code assigned to  the  applicant
was  proper  and  in  compliance  with  the  appropriate   directives.
Applicant has not provided any evidence, which would lead the Board to
believe otherwise.  Therefore, in  the  absence  of  evidence  to  the
contrary, the Board finds no compelling basis to recommend a change in
his RE code.

4.  Notwithstanding the aforementioned, we note that the BCMR  Medical
Consultant has indicated that the narrative reason for his separation,
Personality  Disorder,  is  inappropriate  under   the   circumstances
surrounding the decision to separate him from the Air Force.  We agree
with the BCMR Medical Consultant in this matter and  believe  that  it
would be an injustice for  him  to  continue  to  suffer  the  adverse
effects of such characterization.  Accordingly, we recommend that  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  30 July  2001,  he
was separated under the  provisions  of  AFI  36-3208,  paragraph  1.2
(Secretarial Authority), with a separation code of “JFF.”

_________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered Docket  Number  BC-2004-
01711 in Executive Session on 26 April 2005, under the  provisions  of
AFI 36-2603:

                 Ms. B. J. White-Olson, Panel Chair
                 Ms. Janet I. Hassan, Member
                 Mr. Grover L. Dunn, Member

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


      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 26 May 04, w/atchs.
      Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C. Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 21 Jan 05.
      Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 28 Jan 05.





      B. J. WHITE-OLSON
      Panel Chair

AFBCMR BC-2004-01711




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 APPLICANT, be corrected to  show  that  on  30  July
2001, he was separated under the provisions of AFI 36-3208,  paragraph
1.2 (Secretarial Authority), with a separation code of “JFF”.








  JOE G. LINEBERGER

  Director

  Air Force Review Boards Agency