RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:                       DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2005-03826
                                             INDEX CODE:  110.00
      XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX               COUNSEL:  NONE

                                             HEARING DESIRED:  NO


MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  18 June 2007


________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His Reenlistment Eligibility (RE) code be changed to  one  that  will  allow
him to re-enter  the  military  and  that  Item  28,  Narrative  Reason  for
Separation, of his DD Form 214, be changed to remove Personality Disorder.

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

During the past year,  he  has  seen  two  psychologists,  one  a  licensed,
civilian Clinical  Psychologist  and  the  other  a  Veterans  Affairs  (VA)
Psychologist, who have stated that he does not have a  Personality  Disorder
or anything that would interfere with military service.

Although his recruiters enlisted him in the “open  general”  category,  they
assured him that, due to his high test scores, he had a very good chance  of
being  selected  for  the  radiology  technician  career  field  and,   upon
completion of basic and  technical  training,  receiving  an  assignment  to
Scott AFB, IL, which was near his home  and  girlfriend.   Instead,  he  was
assigned  to  Peterson  AFB,  CO,  with  an  assignment   in   the   medical
administration  section  filing   medical   paperwork   rather   than   more
interesting duties involving computers.

He realizes he was immature and made a lot of mistakes and has learned  that
the grass is not always greener on the other side of the  fence.   He  knows
what dedication is and  again  wishes  to  put  this  back  to  use  in  the
military.   He wishes to serve his country and will not let anyone  down  if
he is given a second chance.

Since his discharge, he has started going  to  college  full  time  and  has
served his local community as a volunteer firefighter.

In support of his appeal, applicant submits copies  of  personal  statements
dated 2 December 2005 and 15 October  2005,  a  memorandum  from  SAF/LL  to
Senator  Durbin  (IL),  dated  21  November  2005,  his  DD  Form   214,   a
Psychological Evaluation Report, dated 12  February  2005,  from  Sheila  L.
Kleinman, Ph.D., P.C., his memorandum to Senator Durbin,  dated  15  October
2005,  his  response  to  his  Commander’s  Discharge  Notification,   dated
26 August 2004, a memorandum from his mother, a retired USAF Captain,  dated
5 October 2005, and numerous character references, to include  a  letter  of
support to approve his application signed by  Senator  Durbin  and  dated  7
December 2005.

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

________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant entered active duty on 29 July 2003 and, upon completion of  basic
and technical training, served as a health  services  management  technician
at Peterson AFB, CO.

In January 2004, he presented to the Life Skills Support Center (LSSC)  with
anxiety,  concentration   problems,   restlessness,   and   sleep   problems
associated with dissatisfaction with his job.  The LSSC provided  counseling
on two occasions.

On 9 February 2004, he presented to the  emergency  room  after  verbalizing
suicidal thoughts.  The emergency room  physician  recorded  that  applicant
hated his job, had  been  feeling  homesick  and  tearful  since  coming  to
Colorado, and that his girlfriend of three years  had  broken  up  with  him
that week.  Applicant stated that he had no thoughts or plans of  committing
suicide and had simply voiced this out of frustration  with  his  situation.
Evaluation in the LSSC resulted in a diagnosis of Adjustment  Disorder  with
mixed emotions of  depression  and  anxiety,  and  narcissistic  personality
traits and features.

On 19 July 2004, he was brought to the LSSC for an acute  appointment  after
he left a message on his  mother’s  answering  machine  reflecting  suicidal
thoughts.  His diagnosis was again Adjustment Disorder with  depressed  mood
and narcissistic traits.
He was hospitalized in a civilian psychiatric  hospital  from  19 July  2004
through 26 July 2004  due  to  recurring  suicidal  thoughts/verbalizations.
Discharge diagnosis from the civilian hospital included Adjustment  Disorder
with mixed features of anxiety and depression, rule  out  major  depression,
and he was prescribed an anti-depressant medication.

Following release from the civilian hospital, he followed  up  at  the  LSSC
and reported doing better (and  no  suicidal  thoughts)  and  expressed  his
desire to remain in the Air Force.  The psychologist  had  doubts  regarding
his suitability for continued military service and  his  diagnosis  included
Adjustment Disorder, with depressed  mood,  and  Personality  Disorder,  not
otherwise  specified,  with   narcissistic,   borderline,   and   antisocial
features.
He  was  discharged  on  9 September   2004   under   the   provisions   for
unsuitability due to a  diagnosis  of  Adjustment  Disorder  with  depressed
mood, and Personality Disorder.  He received an Honorable  characterization,
a Narrative Reason for Separation  of  Personality  Disorder,  a  Separation
Program Designator of “JFX”, and a Reentry Code  of  “2K”.   The  Air  Force
Personnel Center (AFPC), Air Reserve Personnel Center (ARPC),  and  National
Personnel Records Center (NPRC) do not have  records  or  a  discharge  case
pertaining to applicant.

________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant recommends changing  the  narrative  reason  for
applicant’s separation to “Secretarial Authority,” but recommends denial  of
his request to change his RE code to “3K.”

The BCMR Medical Consultant advises, in part, that the  DoD  uses  the  term
Personality Disorder on the DD Form 214 to include all  unsuiting  character
and  behavior  disorders,   including   Adjustment   Disorder,   Personality
Disorders, and Impulse Control Disorders.  This term as used on the DD  Form
214 may be 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.  Although he was  diagnosed
with an  Adjustment  Disorder  and  a  Personality  Disorder  while  in  the
service, there is no evidence of misconduct, his duty  performance  appeared
to be excellent, and it appears he  worked  well  with  others.   Thus,  the
principal diagnosis unsuiting for military service, and the main reason  for
his discharge, was Adjustment Disorder, not Personality Disorder.   Although
administratively  correct,  the   Narrative   Reason   for   Separation   of
Personality Disorder is not the most accurate reflection of his  reason  for
discharge. Therefore, although the action and disposition in this  case  are
proper  and  equitable  and  reflect  compliance  with  AF  directives  that
implement the law, a change  of  the  Narrative  Reason  for  Separation  to
“Secretarial Authority” is  recommended  since  there  is,  at  present,  no
provision for listing Adjustment Disorder on the DD Form 214  as  the  basis
for discharge.

The BCMR Medical Consultant further advises, in  part,  that  manifestations
of personality and adjustment disorders wax and wane over time depending  on
the nature and degree of stressors present at any  given  time.   Regardless
as to whether his personality characteristics,  consistently  identified  by
mental health professionals, rise to the level  warranting  a  diagnosis  of
Personality  Disorder,  these  character/personality  traits   significantly
contributed to the development of Adjustment  Disorder  when  he  was  under
stress while in military service. The fact that he is  functioning  well  at
this time at home is consistent with the 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, or  is
assigned duties that do not suit him.  His past experience of  inability  to
cope with  military  service  is  predictive  of  an  unacceptable  risk  of
recurrence of Adjustment Disorder if re-exposed to the  rigors  of  military
training and service.  Additionally, the history of  diagnosed  narcissistic
personality traits substantially increases the risk.   Therefore,  it  would
be inappropriate to change his RE code.

The BCMR Medical Consultant evaluation is at Exhibit C.

________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A complete copy of the evaluation was  forwarded  to  the  applicant  on  15
December 2005 and again on 8 January 2007, for review  and  comment,  within
30 days.  However, 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.  Sufficient relevant evidence  has  been  presented  to  demonstrate  the
existence of an injustice to  warrant  changing  the  applicant’s  Narrative
Reason for Separation.  After reviewing the evidence of record,  it  appears
that his separation was  proper  and  in  compliance  with  the  appropriate
regulations in effect at the time.  However,  evidence  has  been  presented
that,  although  he  was  diagnosed  with  an  Adjustment  Disorder  and   a
Personality  Disorder  while  in  the  service,  there  is  no  evidence  of
misconduct, his duty performance appeared to be excellent,  and  it  appears
he worked well with others.  Thus, the principal diagnosis  causing  him  to
be unsuitable for military service, and the main reason for  his  discharge,
was Adjustment Disorder, not Personality Disorder.  However,  there  is,  at
present, no provision for listing Adjustment Disorder on the DD Form 214  as
the basis for discharge.  In view of this, we believe it is  not  proper  to
apply  an  erroneous  label  to  an  individual  because  of  a   recognized
administrative shortfall.  In order to correct the injustice  of  improperly
labeling the applicant’s disorder, the BCMR  Medical  Consultant  recommends
that his reason for discharge be changed to “Secretarial Authority” and  the
SPD be changed to “KFF.”  We agree.  Therefore, we recommend  his  Narrative
Reason for Separation and SPD be corrected to the extent indicated below.

4.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been  presented  to  demonstrate  the
existence of error or injustice to warrant changing his RE  Code.   In  this
respect, we note the applicant’s discharge appears to be in compliance  with
the governing Air Force Instruction in effect at the time of his  separation
and that he was afforded all the rights to  which  entitled.   Although  the
diagnosis of Personality Disorder may have been questionable,  there  is  no
doubt he manifested an adjustment disorder.  While he  is  functioning  well
at this time at home, it does not predict that he would respond well to  the
stresses of military operations, deployment, or combat when  separated  from
his familiar surroundings and usual support system of  family  and  friends.
In view of the foregoing, and in the absence of evidence  to  the  contrary,
we find no compelling basis to upgrade his RE Code to an eligible  code  for
enlistment.

________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air  Force  relating
to APPLICANT be corrected to show that at the time of  his  discharge  on  9
September 2004, the narrative reason  for  his  discharge  was  “Secretarial
Authority,” with a Separation Program Designator (SPD) code of “KFF.”

________________________________________________________________

The following members of the Board considered  Docket  Number  BC-2005-03826
in Executive Session on 15 February 2007, under the provisions  of  AFI  36-
2603:

                       Mr. James W. Russell, III, Panel Chair
                       Ms. Dee Reardon, Member
                       Mr. Jeffery R. Shelton, Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

   Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 4 Jan 06, w/atchs.
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
   Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 11 Dec 06.
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 15 Dec 06
   Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 8 Jan 07.




                                   JAMES W. RUSSELL, III
                                   Panel Chair
AFBCMR BC-2005-03826




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 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, be corrected  to  show  that  at
the time of his discharge on 9 September 2004, the narrative reason for  his
discharge was “Secretarial Authority,” with a Separation Program  Designator
(SPD) code of “KFF.”







  JOE G. LINEBERGER

  Director