RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:                       DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2004-02578
                                             INDEX CODE:  112.00
      XXXXXXX                           COUNSEL:  NONE

      XXXXXXX                           HEARING DESIRED:  NO


MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  22 Feb 06


________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The narrative reason for his discharge  and  Reenlistment  Eligibility  (RE)
code be changed to allow him to enter the Air Force.

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He does not have a mental disorder and is fit to be in the Air Force.

Applicant’s compete submission is at Exhibit A.

________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant contracted his  enlistment  with  the  Regular  Air  Force  on
31 May 2000.  On 27 June 2000, he received notification that  he  was  being
recommended for discharge for a  condition  that  interfered  with  military
service, specifically for a mental disorder.  The commander  indicated  that
his basis for the action was that applicant had been diagnosed as  having  a
mental disorder that interfered  with  his  duty  performance  and  conduct,
which was severe enough that his ability to function  in  the  military  was
significantly impaired. He received an  entry  level  separation  on  5 July
2000, under the provisions of AFI 36-3208  (Personality  Disorder),  without
characterization of service and was issued an RE code of  2C  (involuntarily
separated with an honorable discharge  or  entry  level  separation  without
characterization of service).  He completed a total of 1 month  and  5  days
and was serving in the grade of airman first class  (E-3)  at  the  time  of
discharge.

________________________________________________________________




AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The  BCMR  Medical  Consultant  recommends  the  narrative  reason  for  the
applicant’s discharge be changed to  Secretarial  Authority  and  recommends
the RE code not be changed.  The BCMR Medical Consultant  states,  in  part,
that  the  Department  of  Defense  uses  the  term  “personality  disorder”
administratively on the DD Form 214 to include all unsuiting  character  and
behavior disorders including adjustment disorder, personality disorder,  and
impulse  control  disorders.   Since  the  applicant  was  not  specifically
diagnosed with a personality disorder and had not  demonstrated  maladaptive
traits or misconduct suggestive of a personality disorder, it is  inaccurate
to list the narrative reason for his  separation  as  personality  disorder,
even though administratively it is correct.  Applicant’s past experience  is
predictive of an increased risk for recurrence of adjustment disorder if re-
exposed to the rigors of military training/service and his  RE  code  should
not be changed.

The BCMR Medical Consultant’s evaluation is at Exhibit C.

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A complete copy of the evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 10  June
2005 for review and comment within 30 days.  However, 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 to timely file.

3.  Sufficient relevant evidence  has  been  presented  to  demonstrate  the
existence of error or injustice to warrant  changing  the  narrative  reason
for the applicant’s separation.  In this respect, it appears the action  and
disposition in the applicant’s case were proper.  However, since he was  not
specifically diagnosed with a personality disorder and had not  demonstrated
maladaptive traits or misconduct suggestive of a personality  disorder,  the
BCMR Medical Consultant opines that it is inaccurate to list  the  narrative
reason  for  his   separation   as   personality   disorder,   even   though
administratively it is correct.  In view of  this,  we  believe  it  is  not
proper to apply an erroneous label to an individual because of a  recognized
administrative shortfall.  In order to correct the injustice  of  improperly
labeling the applicant’s disorder, the BCMR  Medical  Consultant  recommends
that his reason for discharge be changed  to  “Secretarial  Authority.”   We
agree.  Therefore, we recommend his  records  be  corrected  to  the  extent
indicated below.

4.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been  presented  to  demonstrate  the
existence of error or injustice to  warrant  upgrading  the  applicant’s  RE
code.  In this respect, we note that applicant’s discharge appears to be  in
compliance with the governing Air Force Instruction in effect  at  the  time
of his separation  and  that  he  was  afforded  all  the  rights  to  which
entitled.  Although the diagnosis of  personality  disorder  may  have  been
questionable, there is  no  doubt  he  manifested  an  adjustment  disorder.
While he submits evidence of excellent occupational  functioning  since  his
discharge, it does not predict that he would respond well  to  the  stresses
of military operations,  deployment,  or  combat  when  separated  from  his
familiar surroundings and usual support system of family  and  friends.   In
view of the foregoing, and in the absence of evidence to  the  contrary,  we
find no compelling basis to upgrade his RE code.

________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air  Force  relating
to APPLICANT be corrected to show that on 5 July 2000, he received an  entry
level separation  under  the  provisions  of  AFI  36-3208,  paragraph  1-2,
(Secretarial Authority),  with  Separation  Program  Designator  (SPD)  Code
“JFF.”

________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number  BC-2004-
02578 in Executive Session on 21 July 2005, under the provisions of AFI  36-
2603:

            Mr. Michael K. Gallogly, Panel Chair
            Mr. Albert C. Ellett, Member
            Mr. Jay H. Jordan, Member

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

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 10 Aug 04, w/atchs.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 6 Jun 05.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 10 Jun 05.




                                   MICHAEL K. GALLOGLY
                                   Panel Chair



AFBCMR BC-2004-02578




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 XXXXXXX, XXXXXXX, be corrected to show that on 5 July 2000, he
received an entry level separation under the provisions of AFI 36-3208,
paragraph 1-2, (Secretarial Authority), with Separation Program Designator
(SPD) Code “JFF.”






            JOE G. LINEBERGER
            Director
            Air Force Review Boards Agency