RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2005-00324
            INDEX CODE:  100.03
      xxxxxxxxxxxx     COUNSEL:  NOT INDICATED

      xxxxxxxxxxxx     HEARING DESIRED:  NO

MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  29 JUL 2006

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His  reenlistment  eligible  (RE)  code  and  narrative   reason   for
separation be changed to enable him to reenter the military.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He does not have a personality disorder and would like to reenlist  in
the Armed Forces.

In support of his appeal he submitted a personal  statement,  DD  Form
214 Certificate or Release or Discharge  from  Active  Duty  and  four
copies of DD Form 307 Request for Reference.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force as an airman basic  on
23 October 2001, for a term of 4 years.

On 12 March 2002, 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 an adjustment disorder with  depressed
mood as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual  of  Mental
Disorder, which is so severe that his ability to function  effectively
in the military environment is significantly impaired.   His  disorder
was evidenced by depression and  poor  performance  in  his  technical
training program.

He acknowledged receipt of  the  notification,  waived  his  right  to
consult with counsel and elected not to submit statements on  his  own
behalf.  The package was reviewed by the Deputy Staff  Judge  Advocate
and found to be legally sufficient to support discharge.

On 18  March  2002,  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 4 months and 26 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.

The BCMR Medical Consultant states on the applicant’s DD Form 214, the
narrative reason for discharge is listed as personality disorder  even
though the applicant was not diagnosed with a personality disorder  or
maladaptive personality traits.

The DoD uses the term “personality disorder” administratively  on  the
DD Form 214 to include all unsuiting character and behavior  disorders
including adjustment  disorder,  personality  disorders,  and  impulse
control disorders.  This term is confusing because the Diagnostic  and
Statistical Manual of Mental  Disorders  uses  the  term  “personality
disorder” in a specific, defined manner to classify specific disorders
of personality that do not  include  adjustment  disorder  or  impulse
control disorder.

The fact that he  feels  well  at  this  time  at  home  confirms  his
diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder, however it does not predict that  he
will respond well to the stresses of military operations,  deployment,
or combat when he is separated  from  his  familiar  surroundings  and
usual support system of family and friends.  His  past  experience  of
inability to cope with the military training environment is predictive
of recurrence of adjustment disorder if re-exposed to  the  rigors  of
military training and service and the reenlistment code should not  be
changed.

Since the applicant was not diagnosed with a personality disorder, and
was further not noted to demonstrate maladaptive traits or  misconduct
suggestive of 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 recommended.  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
19 Dec 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 that 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  applicant’s
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 the applicant 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 18 March 2002,  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-2005-
00324 in Executive Session on 8 February 2006, under the provisions of
AFI 36-2603:

                 Mr. Thomas S. Markiewicz, Chair
                 Ms. Dorothy P. Loeb, Member
                 Ms. Barbara R. Murray, Member

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


      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 11 Feb 05, w/atchs.
      Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C. Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 15 Dec 05.
      Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 19 Dec 05.





      THOMAS S. MARKIEWICZ
      Chair
AFBCMR BC-2005-00324




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  18  March
2002, 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