RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:                       DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2004-03541
                                             INDEX CODE:  110.02
                                             COUNSEL:  NONE

                                             HEARING DESIRED: NO

MANDATORY COMPLETION DATE:  20 MAY 2006

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

The narrative reason and related codes for his discharge on  his  separation
document (DD 214) be changed  from  “Personality  Disorder”  to  “Conditions
That Interfere With Military Service – Sleepwalking.”

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The evidence of record does not support the reason for his separation.

In support of his request, the applicant  submits  his  personal  statement,
his Application for the Review of Discharge  or  Dismissal  from  the  Armed
Forces of the United States (DD 293), a copy of his discharge  file,  and  a
copy of his DD 214.  The applicant’s complete submission, with  attachments,
is at Exhibit A.

________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 10 August 2004, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Air  Force  at  the
age of 19 in the grade of airman basic for  a  period  of  six  years.   The
applicant did not complete basic training.

Based on his duty performance and conduct, the applicant was referred  to  a
military  medical  facility  for  evaluation  on  6 September  2004.   In  a
psychiatric report dated 9 September 2004, the applicant’s DSM IV  diagnoses
were as follows:

      Axis I:  (Mental Disorder) (DSM IV  309.9)  Adjustment  Disorder  NOS.
Sleepwalking Disorder (EPTE)

      Axis IV:  (Psychosocial Stressors) Separation from Home.

The psychiatrists recommended the  applicant  for  discharge  from  the  Air
Force.  The examiners indicated that as  a  result  of  the  diagnoses,  the
applicant was  deemed  unsuitable  for  continued  military  service.   They
recommended expeditious administrative  separation  and  encouraged  him  to
seek mental health treatment as a civilian.  The applicant was  returned  to
his organization for administrative processing.

On 14 September 2004, the applicant’s commander notified the applicant  that
he was recommending the applicant be separated from the Air Force under  the
provisions of AFPD 36-32 and AFI 36-3208,  Involuntary  Convenience  of  the
Government, Conditions that Interfere with  Military;  specifically,  Mental
Disorders.   The  applicant  was  advised  of  his  rights.   The  applicant
acknowledged receipt of the notification and waived  his  right  to  consult
counsel or submit statements in his own behalf.   The  commander  thereafter
initiated a recommendation for the applicant’s separation.

In a legal review of the discharge case file dated  14  September  2004  the
Deputy Chief, Adverse Actions,  assigned  to  the  staff  of  the  discharge
authority, found the file was legally sufficient and  recommended  that  the
applicant be separated from the service with entry  level  separation.   The
recommended  separation  was  subsequently   approved   by   the   discharge
authority,  who  directed  that  the  applicant   be   separated   with   an
uncharacterized entry-level separation.

On 17 September 2004,  the  applicant  was  separated  with  an  entry-level
separation because  of  personality  disorder.  A  reenlistment  eligibility
(RE) code of 2C (Involuntarily separated  with  an  entry  level  separation
without characterization of service) and  a  separation  code  of  JFX  were
assigned.  The separation  code  is  directly  related  to  the  reason  and
authority for his separation.  He had served one month  and  eight  days  on
active duty, and 4 months and  28  days  of  total  prior  inactive  service
credit.

________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant is of the opinion that  although  the  narrative
reason is in accordance with established policy  and  procedure,  the  Board
may consider changing the narrative reason for discharge to “Conditions  Not
a Disability” with a SPD code of “JFV;” however, no change to  the  RE  code
is warranted.

The  BCMR  Medical  Consultant  notes  the  applicant  was  diagnosed   with
adjustment  disorder  that  psychiatrists  determined  was   unsuiting   for
military service.  The BCMR Medical Consultant explains 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.  BCMR Medical Consultants notes  psychiatrists  did
not render a diagnosis of Personality Disorder; however, on the  applicant’s
DD 214,  the  narrative  reason  for  discharge  is  listed  as  personality
disorder even  though  the  applicant’s  primary  diagnosis  was  Adjustment
Disorder.  The Department of Defense uses the  term  “personality  disorder”
administratively on the DD 214 to  refer  to  all  unsuiting  character  and
behavior disorders including  Adjustment  Disorder,  Personality  Disorders,
and impulsive Control Disorders.  The BCMR Medical  Consultant  opines  this
term  is  confusing  because  in  clinical  practice  as  deflected  in  the
Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders the  term  “personality
disorder” is  used  in  a  specific  defined  manner  to  classify  specific
disorders of  personality  that  do  not  include  Adjustment  Disorder  (or
sleepwalking).  The BCMR Medical Consultant’s evaluation is at Exhibit C.

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to  the  applicant  on  6
October 2005 for review and comment.  As  of  this  date,  this  office  has
received no response (Exhibit D).

________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided  by  existing  law  or
regulations.

2.  The application was timely filed.

3.  Sufficient relevant  evidence  has  been  provided  to  demonstrate  the
existence of injustice that  would  warrant  a  change  in  the  reason  for
separation.  After reviewing his submission and the evidence of  record,  we
are persuaded that some relief is warranted.  We note  that  the  separation
action taken against the applicant was in  accordance  with  the  applicable
instruction.  However, after reviewing the evidence of record and  the  BCMR
Medical Consultant’s assessment of this case, it is  our  opinion  that  the
narrative reason  improperly  labels  the  reason  for  his  discharge.   It
appears to us that the current reason could be misconstrued  to  infer  that
his separation was due to  actual  “personality  disorders”  instead  of  an
unsuiting physical or mental condition.  Therefore, in order to  correct  an
injustice of improperly labeling the applicant,  his  narrative  reason  for
separation should be corrected to accurately reflect  the  circumstances  of
his separation, and recommend that the narrative reason for  his  separation
and corresponding separation code be changed to reflect  “Conditions  Not  a
Disability.”

________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air  Force  relating
to APPLICANT be  corrected  to  show  that  on  17 September  2004,  he  was
separated under the provisions of AFI 36-3208,  paragraph  5.11  (Conditions
Not a Disability) with a separation code of JFV.

________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number  BC-2004-
03541 in Executive Session on 9 November 2005, under the provisions  of  AFI
36-2603:

                 Mr. Christopher D. Carey, Panel Chair
                 Ms. Barbara R. Murray, Panel Member
                 Mr. James A. Wolffe, Panel Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

      Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 2 Dec 04, with attachments.
      Exhibit B.  Applicant’s Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Med Consultant, dated 5 Oct 05.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 Jan 05.



      CHRISTOPHER D. CAREY
      Panel Chair


AFBCMR BC-2004-03541





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 17 September 2004, he
was separated under the provisions of AFI 36-3208, paragraph 5.11
(Conditions Not a Disability) with a separation code of JFV.




            JOE G. LINEBERGER
            Director
            Air Force Review Boards Agency