RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS


IN THE MATTER OF:            DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2005-03297
                 INDEX CODE: 100.06, 110.02
      XXX        COUNSEL:  NONE

                 HEARING DESIRED:  NO

MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  29 Apr 07

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her reenlistment eligibility (RE) code be changed so  she  can  rejoin
the Air Force.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She was very immature at the time of her  discharge.   She  has  since
recognized her mistakes and regrets leaving the Air Force.   Based  on
the Mental Health Evaluation she submits, she  does  not  believe  she
deserves to remain ineligible for reenlistment.

In support of her request, the  applicant  provided  a  Mental  Health
Evaluation, dated 28 Jun 06, from the Life Skills Support  Center,  90
MDOS/SGOH, F.E. Warren AFB, WY, recommending a waiver for reenlistment
because her  adjustment  disorder  had  resolved  and  “there  was  no
evidence of a mental health condition or  a  personality  disorder  at
this time.”

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on  24 Feb  04  for  a
period of four years.

According to  a  12 May  04  Mental  Health  Evaluation  from  the  82
MDOS/SGOHO Life  Skills  Support  Center  at  Sheppard  AFB,  TX,  the
applicant was seen on 11 May 04 for a non-emergency commander-directed
evaluation to determine her fitness for continued military duty  as  a
result of  mental  distress  leading  to  poor  ability  to  function,
unremitting depressed mood, poor ability to focus  appropriately,  and
frequent involvement with Life Skills with little change in  emotional
function.  Results of the evaluation revealed  prominent  symptoms  of
personality disturbance and significant coping skills  deficits.   She
was  likely  to  respond  to  environmental  demands  with   increased
emotional distress, increased feelings of dependency  on  others,  and
increased difficulty with being able to focus  on  task  requirements.
These symptoms were sufficient to interfere with her training and  not
expected to resolve while she remained on active duty.  Diagnosis  was
adjustment disorder with disturbance of mood, and personality disorder
not otherwise specified (NOS); a  medical  evaluation  board  was  not
warranted.  She was  found  unsuited  for  further  military  service;
prompt administrative discharge was recommended.

The applicant was eliminated on 19 May 04 from the  Aerospace  Medical
Service Apprentice Course pending separation.

On 26 May 04, the applicant was notified of her commander’s intent  to
recommend an entry level separation (ELS) for a mental disorder.   The
applicant waived her right to consult counsel and  submit  statements.
The commander  subsequently  recommended  the  applicant  for  an  ELS
without probation and rehabilitation (P&R) due to her mental disorder.

A  27 May  04  medical  assessment  found  the   applicant   worldwide
qualified.

Legal review on 2 Jun 04 found the case sufficient for  discharge  and
recommended an ELS without P&R.  On 8 Jun 04, the discharge  authority
approved the applicant’s ELS.

On 9 Jun 04, the applicant was given an uncharacterized  ELS  after  3
months and 16 days of active service.  She was issued an RE code of 2C
(involuntarily separated with an honorable discharge or an ELS).   The
separation  program  designator  code   (SPD)/narrative   reason   was
JFX/Personality Disorder.

The 28 Jun 06 Mental Health Evaluation the applicant submits with  her
appeal reports psychological testing in Feb 05  revealed  that,  while
her  adjustment  disorder  had  resolved,  she   continued   to   show
significant personality traits that were concerning.  Further, it  was
unclear whether these  traits  were  related  to  immaturity  or  were
consistent  with  long-term  maladaptive  coping.   In  Mar  05,   the
psychiatrist could not support a waiver.  After short term therapy  in
Jun 05, the applicant presented as  more  mature,  determined  in  her
goals, and appeared  to  have  overcome  her  earlier  concerns  about
separation from her husband.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The  AFBCMR  Medical  Consultant  recommends   denial.    He   advises
adjustment and personality disorders are  conditions  that,  alone  or
together, when severe enough may render an individual  unsuitable  for
military service and be cause for administrative  discharge.   One  of
the key features of adjustment disorder is the condition resolves with
relief of the stressors.   As  personality  disorders  are  frequently
exacerbated by stress, they may present with symptoms consistent  with
adjustment disorder (and may also be so diagnosed in addition  to  the
personality disorder as in this  case).   Personality  disorders  also
predispose individuals to development of  depression  or  anxiety  and
other difficulties.  The preponderance  of  evidence  in  the  records
clearly shows the applicant was unsuited for military service based on
an emotional, psychological, and behavioral  pattern  consistent  with
personality and adjustment disorders.  The  fact  she  is  functioning
well at this time is  consistent  with  the  diagnosis  of  adjustment
disorder; however, it does not predict she will respond  well  to  the
stresses of military operations, deployment, or  combat  when  she  is
separated from her familiar surroundings and usual support  system  of
family and friends. Her manifestations of  personality  disorder  have
also diminished in the setting of reduced stress.  Her past experience
of inability to cope  with  military  service,  even  at  age  18,  is
predictive of an unacceptable risk for recurrence of  difficulties  if
re-exposed to the rigors of military training and service.  A  history
of an adjustment disorder and/or personality disorder severe enough to
warrant administrative  discharge  is  permanently  disqualifying  for
reenlistment into the military.

The complete AFBCMR Medical Consultant evaluation is at Exhibit C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A complete copy of the Air  Force  evaluation  was  forwarded  to  the
applicant on 6 Oct 06 for review and comment within 30  days  (Exhibit
D).  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.  After  careful  review  of  the  applicant’s  submission  and  her
military records, including the 14 May 04 and 28 Jun 06 Mental  Health
Evaluations, we agree with the  analysis  and  recommendation  of  the
AFBCMR Medical Consultant.  As indicated in his  advisory  opinion,  a
history of an adjustment disorder and/or personality  disorder  severe
enough to warrant administrative  discharge,  as  in  the  applicant’s
case, is permanently disqualifying for reenlistment into the military.
Indeed, as recently as Mar 05, nearly 10 months after her  separation,
the 90 MDOS/SGOH psychiatrist could not  support  a  waiver.   Removed
from the stressors of the military environment and within a supportive
circle of therapy, family and friends, the applicant may be doing well
now.  However, we are not convinced her symptoms  would  not  reappear
should she again be exposed to the rigors  of  active  duty.   In  our
view, this poses an unacceptable risk to  the  applicant,  her  fellow
members, and the Air Force. In view of the above and absent persuasive
evidence to the contrary, we find no  compelling  basis  on  which  to
recommend granting 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  this  application  in
Executive Session on 28 November 2006 under the provisions of AFI  36-
2603:

                 Ms. Cathlynn B. Novel, Panel Chair
                 Ms. Judith B. Oliva, Member
                 Mr. Don H. Kendrick, Member

The following documentary evidence relating to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-
2005-03297 was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 15 Nov 05, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, AFBCMR Medical Consultant, dated 2 Oct 06.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 Oct 06.




                                   CATHLYNN B. NOVEL
                                   Panel Chair