RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2004-02344
            INDEX CODE:  110.02

            COUNSEL:  None

            HEARING DESIRED: No

MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  1 FEB 06

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The Narrative Reason for Separation on his DD Form 214 be removed.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The words Unsuitability - Personality Disorder have  hampered  him  in
obtaining full-time  and  gainful  employment.   The  doctors  at  the
Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital told him that his reason for separation
was a catch all phrase and does more harm than good.

He was turned down for the last three jobs he applied for  because  of
the narrative reason on his DD Form 214.

Applicant's complete submission is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted in the Air Force Reserves on 23 April  1975  for  a
period of six years as an airman basic (AB).

Between 19 March 1980 and 22 December 1980, the applicant was seen  on
several occasions in the Mental Health Clinic (MHC) for possible child
advocacy concerns and marital problems.

On 15 December 1980, the applicant was admitted to  the  hospital  for
depression and suicide ideations.

On 6 April 1981, the applicant underwent a  mental  health  evaluation
and was diagnosed with an atypical personality disorder.

On 15 June 1981, the applicant was informed of his commander’s  intent
to recommend him for discharge  under  the  provisions  of  Air  Force
Manual (AFM) 39-12 for unsuitablility.  The specific reasons  for  the
discharge action were:

      The  6  April  1981  MHC  evaluation  diagnosis  of  personality
disorder  and  the  22  April  1981  letter  from  the  mental  health
evaluator.  The 22 April 1981 letter further indicated  the  applicant
had a history of unreliability, lying, inability to  learn  from  past
mistakes, problems and difficulties, as well as, immaturity,  anxiety,
agitation and suicide.

The applicant’s Letter of Notification made specific reference to  the
following instances of inadequate performance by the  applicant  which
were legitimately viewed as manifestations of his diagnosed condition:

      a.    In August 1980, the applicant failed to properly  maintain
his base quarters, for which he received a Letter of Counseling (LOC).

      b.    On 15 September 1980, the applicant was 45 days delinquent
on his Open Mess account, for which he received an LOC.

      c.    On 26 November 1980, the applicant  misused  a  government
vehicle (GMV) by using the GMV  to  check  his  mail  at  his  private
residence, for which he received a Letter of Reprimand (LOR).

      d.    Prior to December 1980, the applicant received a  speeding
ticket for going 71 miles per hour (mph) in his private vehicle,  used
a government vehicle for  his  personal  use  and  exceeded  the  base
housing area speed limit, for which he received an LOC.

      e.    On 8 December 1980, the applicant  misrepresented  himself
to his supervisor and the Officer in Charge (OIC) by telling  them  he
needed time off to allow his wife to make a special order and to  pick
up a clothes dryer, when he did not do  those  things,  for  which  he
received an LOC.

      f.    On 15 December 1980, the applicant threatened suicide  and
he was admitted to the hospital.

      g.    In January 1981, the applicant published inaccurate  facts
in the “Missile Matters” newsletter, for which he was counseled.

The commander advised applicant of his right to consult legal counsel;
present his case to an administrative discharge board; be  represented
by legal counsel at a board hearing;  submit  statements  in  his  own
behalf in addition to, or in lieu of, the board hearing; or waive  the
above rights after consulting with counsel.

The commander indicated in his report for discharge action that if his
recommendation  was  approved,  the  applicant's  service   would   be
characterized as general.  He further stated  the  applicant  received
numerous written and oral counselings  from  his  superiors,  his  NCO
status was vacated and he was placed on the  Control  Roster  for  two
consecutive four month periods.

On 27 July 1981, after consulting with counsel,  applicant  offered  a
conditional waiver to an administrative discharge board contingent  on
his receiving a honorable discharge.

A legal review was conducted on 27 July 2001, in which the staff judge
advocate (SJA)  recommended  the  applicant’s  conditional  waiver  be
accepted and he be discharged with an honorable discharge.

On 29 July 1981, the  Discharge  Authority  accepted  the  conditional
waiver and  approved  the  discharge  and  ordered  the  applicant  be
discharged with an honorable discharge.

Applicant’s performance report profile is listed below.

                 PERIOD ENDING          OVERALL EVALUATION

             19 Dec 76                  6
             19 Dec 77                  8
             19 Dec 78                  8
              5 Nov 79                  8
             18 Sep 80                  9

The applicant was discharged on 3 August 1981, in the grade of  senior
airman with an honorable discharge.  He served 6 years, 1 month and 14
days of active duty service.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The  Chief  Medical  Consultant,  AFBCMR,  states  the  applicant  was
discharged  for  unsuitability  due   to   a   personality   disorder.
Personality disorders are enduring patterns of  maladjustment  in  the
individual’s personal structure which are not medically  disqualifying
or unfitting and may be a cause for administrative action by the  unit
commander.  By  definition,  Personality  Disorders  are  an  enduring
pattern of thinking, inner experience, feeling, and behaving  that  is
pervasive and inflexible, is relatively  stable  over  time,  deviates
from  the  individual’s  cultural  norms,  and  causes   distress   or
impairment in social and or occupational functioning.  The features of
a Personality Disorder usually become recognizable during  adolescence
or early adult life.  Personality disorders are frequently exacerbated
by stress and may not cause  significant  problems  or  be  recognized
until  stressful  circumstances  result  in  occupational  or   social
problems.  Manifestations (symptoms and behavior), wax and wane
over time depending on the nature and degree of stressors  present  at
any given time.  The Medical Consultant further states the applicant’s
diagnosis of personality disorder is well supported with  his  medical
and personnel records.  Therefore, based on the documentation provided
he recommends the requested relief be denied.

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

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the  applicant  on
10 June 2005, 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 not timely filed; however,  it  is  in  the
interest of justice to excuse the failure of timely file.

3.     Insufficient  relevant  evidence   has   been   presented   to
demonstrate the existence of an error or an  injustice.   Applicant’s
contentions are duly noted; however, we agree with  the  opinion  and
recommendation  of  the  AFBCMR  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.   The  applicant  was
discharged from active duty for unsuitability due  to  a  Personality
Disorder.   Personality  disorders  are   life   long   patterns   of
maladjustment in the individual’s personality  which  interfere  with
the individual’s normal social and occupational functioning  and  may
impair the individual’s ability to cope with stress.   Based  on  the
documentation in the applicant's personnel and  medical  records,  it
appears the diagnosis was well supported by the evidence  of  record.
In addition, the applicant has not submitted persuasive evidence that
the processing, the reason, and the characterization of the discharge
were inappropriate and not accomplished in accordance with Air  Force
policy.  Therefore, 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 AFBCMR Docket Number BC-
2004-02344 in Executive Session on 4 August 2005, under the provisions
of AFI 36-2603:

                       Mr. Thomas S. Markiewicz, Chair
                       Mr. Terry L. Scott, Member
                       Mr. James W. Russell III, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 18 Jul 04.
      Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C. Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated
                 7 Jun 05.
      Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 Jun 05.




                       THOMAS S. MARKIEWICZ
                       Chair