RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2004-03214
            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 changed from
Personality Disorder to Medical Discharge.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was being treated for severe depression  due  to  his  divorce  and
custody issues of his three year old daughter.

Applicant's complete submission is at Exhibit A.

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force (RegAF) on 4 February 1992
for a period of four years as an airman basic (AB).

On 15 February 1994, the applicant  was  seen  at  the  Mental  Health
Clinic (MHC) (commander referral) for  an  alcohol  related  incident.
MHC   recommended   the   applicant   participate   in   the   alcohol
rehabilitation program.   The  applicant  completed  Track  2  of  the
alcohol rehabilitation program on 18 February 1994.

On 20 December 1998, an ambulance was sent  to  the  applicant’s  home
where he had apparently attempted to commit  suicide  by  cutting  his
left wrist.  Two empty bottles of Tylenol PM were found at the  scene.
A friend indicated there were  nine  bottles  of  beer  missing.   The
applicant’s wound was dressed and he was transported to the  hospital,
where he was turned over to the Emergency Room staff.

On 29 December 1998, the applicant was seen at the MHC  and  diagnosed
with an Adjustment Disorder, unspecified, alcohol  abuse  and  partner
relational problems.

In a psychiatry medical note dated 18 October 1999, it was  noted  the
applicant  was  having  difficulty   sleeping,   decreased   appetite,
decreased energy, lack of concentration and feelings of  hopelessness.
It also noted the applicant’s grandmother committed  suicide  and  his
father had emotional problems.  The applicant agreed  to  a  voluntary
admission at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC).

On 21 October  1999,  the  applicant  was  seen  at  the  Life  Skills
Enhancement Center (LSEC) for  a  follow-up  appointment  and  it  was
determined he had a Depressive Disorder and would  receive  counseling
from his squadron Chaplain rather the LSEC.

On 24 November 1999, the  applicant  was  seen  at  the  LSEC  and  he
reported he was feeling better and requested a letter to  MSgt  L.  to
clear him to  regain  possession  of  his  personal  handgun.  It  was
determined the treatment at the LSEC be terminated and he be monitored
by his primary care manager (PCM).

On 21 August 2002, the applicant was seen by the  Family  Maltreatment
Case Management Team  (FMCMT)  due  to  an  incident  involving  minor
physical  maltreatment  of  his  spouse.   FMCMT  recommended  marital
therapy for him and his spouse and anger management for the applicant.

The applicant’s medical records indicate he  continued  on  a  regular
basis to receive medical care from the MHC,  Family  Advocacy  Program
(FAP) and his PCM for his depression.

On 22 January 2003, the applicant was placed on a 90-day  profile  for
depression.

On 21 May 2003, the applicant was notified of his  commander's  intent
to recommend him for discharge for a mental disorder that impaired his
ability to function in a military environment.  The  specific  reasons
for the discharge action were:

      a.    On 9 October 2002, the  applicant  received  a  Letter  of
Reprimand (LOR) for failure to go and a Unfavorable  Information  File
(UIF) was established.

      b.    On 16 October 2002, the applicant  received  a  Letter  of
Counseling for being late for duty.

      c.    On 13 November 2002, the applicant  received  an  LOR  for
failure to go.

      d.    On 14 January 2003, the applicant received an  Article  15
for failure to obey a lawful order and failure to go.

      e.    The applicant, from 7 through 15 April 2003, was  given  a
comprehensive medical examination by a psychiatrist and was
diagnosed as having Axis I, Major Psychiatric Disorder, and  Axis  II,
Personality and Intelligence Disorder as  defined  by  Diagnostic  and
Statistical Manual of Medical Disorders (DSM-IV).

The applicant’s Letter of Notification made specific reference to  the
psychiatrist’s statement  indicating  the  applicant’s  difficulty  in
adjusting to military service would likely be a  chronic  problem  and
that his disorder would make him unfit for continued service on active
duty and they further believed the applicant was at risk to do harm to
himself and others.

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.

In a memorandum for record dated 19 May 2003, the  staff  judge  spoke
with the psychiatrist  and  noted  the  psychiatrist  recommended  the
applicant be discharged as soon as possible.

On 22 May 2003, after consulting with counsel,  the  applicant  waived
his right to a board hearing and to submit statements in his behalf.

On 11 June 2003, the Discharge Authority directed  that  applicant  be
discharged  with  an  honorable  discharge   without   probation   and
rehabilitation.

Applicant’s performance report profile is listed below.

                 PERIOD ENDING          OVERALL EVALUATION

             1 Jun 95                   5
             1 Jun 96                   5
             1 Jun 97                   5
             1 Jun 98                   5
            10 Dec 98                   5
            10 Dec 99                   5
             2 Jul 00                   5
             2 Jul 01                   5
             2 Jul 02                   5
            *10 Mar 03                  2 (Five front side
                                                Markdowns)

*Referral Report

The applicant was discharged on 21 June 2003, under the provisions  of
AFR 36-3208, paragraph 5.11.9, Conditions That Interfere with Military
Services, in the grade of staff sergeant
with an honorable discharge.  He served 11 years, 4 month and 18  days
of active duty service.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Medical Consultant, AFBCMR, states the applicant’s medical records
reflect he received medical intervention for alcohol abuse, adjustment
disorder, depression, family  maltreatment  and  personality  disorder
over a period of more than four years.  While the diagnoses  given  by
the  different  providers  vary  over  that  period,  the  psychiatric
diagnoses of April  2003  are  considered  definitive,  based  on  the
cumulative period of observation  and  intensive  patient  evaluation.
That consultant identified Personality Disorder and alcohol dependence
unsuiting   for   continued   military   service    and    recommended
administrative  discharge.    The   diagnosed   conditions   are   not
“unfitting”  conditions  that  warrant  disability  processing.    The
applicant’s depressed mood was determined to be  due  to  his  alcohol
abuse.

Personality disorders are enduring patterns of  maladjustment  in  the
individual’s   personality   structure   which   are   not   medically
disqualifying or unfitting and  may  be  a  cause  for  administrative
action by the unit commander.  By definition, a  Personality  Disorder
is 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 medical  records
support a finding of unsuitability due to  Personality  Disorder,  for
which an administrative separation is  appropriate.   The  applicant’s
commander could have  administratively  separated  the  applicant  for
misconduct for failure in  alcohol  rehabilitation.   The  applicant’s
records  do  not  support  a  medical  discharge   for   a   medically
disqualifying  unfitting   condition.    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
24 August 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 timely filed.

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  an  injustice.   The  applicant  was
discharged from active duty for unsuitability due  to  a  Personality
Disorder.  The applicant’s diagnosed condition was not  an  unfitting
condition that warranted processing through the Disability Evaluation
System for a medical discharge.  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-
2004-03214  in  Executive  Session  on  12  October  2005,  under  the
provisions of AFI 36-2603:

                       Ms. Marilyn M. Thomas, Vice Chair
                       Ms. Jean A. Reynolds, Member
                       Ms. Patricia R. Collins, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 11 Oct 04, w/atchs.
      Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C. Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated
                 22 Aug 05.
      Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 24 Aug 05.




                       MARILYN M. THOMAS
                       Vice Chair