RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2005-00513
            INDEX CODE:  110.02

      XXXXXXXXXXXX     COUNSEL: NONE


      XXXXXXXXXXXX     HEARING DESIRED:  YES

MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  10 AUG 2006

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His reenlistment  eligibility  (RE)  code  and  narrative  reason  for
separation be changed.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was briefly interviewed by a psychiatrist and later told he had  an
adjustment disorder and would be going  home.   He  does  not  have  a
mental problem and  did  not  have  one  when  he  reported  to  basic
training.

In support of his request, the applicant submits a personal statement,
DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active  Duty,  a
Psychological  Examination  from  the   Greater   Johnstown   Regional
Municipal Police Academy and a copy of a letter from his Congressman.

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
6 August 2002.

On 13 August 2002, the applicant was notified by his commander that he
was recommending he be discharged from the Air Force for  a  condition
that  interferes  with  military  service;  specifically  for   mental
disorders.  The basis for  the  action  was  on  7  August  2002,  the
applicant was diagnosed with mental  disorder,  which  was  determined
severe enough that  his  ability  to  function  in  the  military  was
significantly impaired.

He was advised of his rights in this matter.   He  consulted  counsel,
and elected not to submit statements in his own behalf.  The discharge
authority approved the discharge and directed an uncharacterized entry-
level separation.  On 22  August  2002,  he  was  discharged  with  an
uncharacterized entry-level separation, under the provisions of AFI 36-
3208, Administrative Separation of Airmen, (personality disorder).

He received  an  RE  code  of  2C  “Involuntarily  separated  with  an
honorable   discharge;   or    entry    level    separation    without
characterization of service”.

He served 17 days total active service.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant recommends changing the  narrative  reason
for separation to Secretarial Authority, but no change in the RE  code
should be made.

The BCMR Medical Consultant states  the  applicant  was  diagnosed  in
August 2002 as having  adjustment  disorder  with  mixed  anxiety  and
depressed  mood.   This   condition   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  are  typically  in  excess  of
those  normally  expected  given  the   nature   of   the   stressors.
Manifestations can include depressed mood, anxiety,  and  disturbances
of conduct.  One of the key features of adjustment  disorder  is  that
the condition resolves with relief of the stressors.

There is, however, a  significant  risk  of  recurrence  with  renewed
stress, as may occur with military operations, deployment, combat,  or
when separated from familiar surroundings and usual support system  of
family and friends.   Therefore  individuals  who  develop  adjustment
disorder due to the stress of the routine rigors of  military  service
with or  without  concomitant  personal  issues  are  not  suited  for
military service.

The fact that he is functioning 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 basic training is predictive of an unacceptable
risk for recurrence of debilitating adjustment disorder if  re-exposed
to the rigors of military training and service  and  the  reenlistment
code should not be changed.

It is noted that personality testing over two  years  after  discharge
revealed personality traits associated  with  coping  mechanisms  that
predispose to development of  symptoms  of  adjustment  disorder  when
under stress of military training and operations.  It should be  noted
that personality disorders are frequently exacerbated  by  stress  and
may present with symptoms consistent with adjustment disorder.

The diagnosis of personality disorder is  typically  established  with
observation over time, so often individuals with personality disorders
may first  receive  a  diagnosis  of  adjustment  disorder.   In  some
instances, individuals with personality  disorders  may  present  with
symptoms  and  be  diagnosed  as   adjustment   disorder,   undergoing
administrative separation before the underlying  personality  disorder
can be formally diagnosed.

According to the Medical Consultant, there is no evidence in the  case
file that indicates the applicant  has  a  personality  disorder  even
though some traits indicating a restricted range of coping skills have
been noted on testing.

The Medical Consultant opined that  the  entry  level  separation  and
characterization of service correctly reflect the regulatory  guidance
as applied in this applicant’s case.

Although action and disposition in this case are proper and  equitable
reflecting compliance with Air Force  directives  that  implement  the
law, it is medically inaccurate  to  list  the  narrative  reason  for
separation as personality disorder, even though administratively it is
correct.  Change of the narrative reason for separation to Secretarial
Authority is recommended.

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
23 Jan 2006, 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  the  applicant’s
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  sufficient  evidence,  which
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 his 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  him  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 22 August 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-
00513 in Executive Session on 8 March 2006, under  the  provisions  of
AFI 36-2603:

                 Ms. Kathy L. Boockholdt, Panel Chair
                 Ms. Cheryl V. Jacobson, Member
                 Mr. August Doddato, Member

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


      Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 10 Feb 05, w/atchs.
      Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
      Exhibit C. Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 18 Jan 05.
      Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 23 Jan 06.




      KATHY L. BOOCKHOLDT
      Panel Chair