RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
             AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:      DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2007-00126
            INDEX CODE:  110.02

            COUNSEL:  NONE
            HEARING DESIRED:  YES

MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE:  18 JULY 2008

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His records be corrected to remove “Personality Disorder” as the reason  for
separation on his DD Form 214, Certificate  of  Release  or  Discharge  from
Active Duty.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

The reason for separation listed on his DD Form 214 is preventing  him  from
getting a job.

In support of his request, applicant provided a  personal  statement  and  a
copy of his DD Form 214.

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

_________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 19 Apr 00, for  a  period  of
six years in the grade of airman basic.  His highest grade held  was  airman
first class.

On 30 May 01, applicant was notified by his squadron commander that  he  was
recommending  he  be  discharged  from  the  Air  Force  for  a  personality
disorder.  He recommended an honorable discharge based on  a  Mental  Health
Evaluation reflecting the following diagnosis:  Axis I:  None, and Axis  II:
 Schizoid Personality Disorder.  It  was  determined  that  his  ability  to
function in a military environment was significantly impaired  and  that  he
was unsuitable for continued military service.

On 4 Jun 01, applicant acknowledged receipt of  the  discharge  notification
and, after consulting with counsel, submitted statements in his own behalf.

The Wing Staff Judge Advocate found the case  file  legally  sufficient  and
recommended the applicant be separated with an honorable  discharge  without
probation and rehabilitation.  On     21 Jun  01,  the  discharge  authority
approved the discharge.

Applicant was honorably discharged on 26 Jun 01,  in  the  grade  of  airman
first class, under the provisions of AFI 36-3208, by reason of  “Personality
Disorder,” with separation code “JFX.”  He  served  on  active  duty  for  a
period of one year, two months and eight days.

_________________________________________________________________

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR  Medical  Consultant  opines  that  no  change  in  the  record  is
warranted.  The applicant was administratively discharged for a  personality
disorder.   Personality  Disorders  are  enduring  patterns  of  perception,
coping, emotions, and behavior that deviate from  the  expectations  of  the
individual’s culture (including occupational),  and  leads  to  distress  or
impairment.   Due  to  pervasive  and   inflexible   features,   personality
disorders significantly predispose individuals to development of  depression
or anxiety and other  difficulties.   Often  the  nature  of  military  duty
places greater pressures on the individual  than  on  civilians  in  similar
duties, and these disorders frequently become  more  manifest.   Personality
Disorders are not medically disqualifying or unfitting but  may  render  the
individual unsuitable for further military service  and  may  be  cause  for
administrative action by the individual’s  unit  commander.   Manifestations
(symptoms and behavior) of personality  and  adjustment  disorders  wax  and
wane over time depending on the nature and degree of  stressors  present  at
any given time.  The fact that he  may  be  functioning  well  at  times  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 manifested by the  inability  to  cope
with outside stressors is predictive of an unacceptable risk for  recurrence
of Personality Disorder if re-exposed to the  rigors  of  military  training
and service.  A history of Personality Disorder  severe  enough  to  warrant
administrative  discharge  is  disqualifying  for  reenlistment   into   the
military.

While the  listing  Personality  Disorder  on  the  DD  Form  214  may  have
prevented  the  applicant  from  obtaining  employment,  it  is   the   most
appropriate reason that could be given for his administrative separation.

The preponderance of evidence of  the  record  shows  that  the  applicant’s
separation due to Personality Disorder was  appropriately  managed.   Action
and disposition in this case are proper and equitable reflecting  compliance
with Air Force directives that implement the law.

A complete copy of the BCMR Medical Consultant’s evaluation  is  at  Exhibit
C.

_________________________________________________________________

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

On 6 Aug 07, a copy of  the  Air  Force  evaluation  was  forwarded  to  the
applicant for review and comment within 30 days.  To date,  a  response  has
not been received.

_________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

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

2.  The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the interest  of
justice to excuse the failure to timely file.

3.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been  presented  to  warrant  providing
the applicant a measure of relief.  Notwithstanding  the  recommendation  of
the BCMR Medical Consultant to deny the requested relief,  the  Board  notes
the applicant has based his request for a change of the separation code  and
corresponding narrative  reason  on  his  DD  Form  214  on  his  desire  to
eliminate their negative effect on his  quest  for  employment.   While  the
evidence of  record  does  not  show  that  his  discharge  for  personality
disorder was in error, we believe it would be appropriate to provide  relief
to the extent necessary to eliminate the negative effects of the  discharge.
 The Board notes that at the  time  of  the  applicant’s  discharge  he  had
several letters of support for retention in the  Air  Force.   Additionally,
his personality disorder did not manifest itself in the form of any  serious
misconduct.  The Board believes it would  be  inappropriate  to  change  the
applicant’s record to allow his  reentry  into  military  service  and  thus
believes  his  reenlistment  eligibility  code  should   remain   unchanged.
However, under our broader mandate to effect changes in records  because  of
potential injustice, we  recommend  the  applicant’s  narrative  reason  for
separation be changed to “Secretarial Authority” with the corresponding  SPD
code of KFF.

4.  The applicant's case is adequately documented and it has not been  shown
that a personal appearance with or without counsel will  materially  add  to
our understanding of the issues involved.   Therefore,  the  request  for  a
hearing is not favorably considered.

________________________________________________________________

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS 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  26
June 2001, his DD Form  214,  “Certificate  of  Release  or  Discharge  from
Active Duty,” be changed in Block 28, “Narrative Reason for Separation,”  to
“Secretarial Authority,” with a Separation Program Designator (SPD) code  of
“KFF.”

________________________________________________________________

The following members of the  Board  considered  Docket  Number     BC-2007-
00126 in Executive Session on 13 September 2007,  under  the  provisions  of
AFI 36-2603:

      Ms. Patricia J. Zarodkiewicz, Vice Chair
      Ms. Patricia R. Collins, Member
      Mr. Mark J. Novitski, Member

All members voted to correct the records,  as  recommended.   The  following
documentary  evidence  pertaining  to  Docket   Number   BC-2007-00126   was
considered:

    Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 9 Jan 07, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  Memorandum, AFBCMR Medical Consultant,
                dated 3 Aug 07.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 Aug 07.





                                   PATRICIA J. ZARODKIEWICZ
                                   Vice Chair



AFBCMR BC-2007-00126




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 at the time of his
discharge on 26 June 2001, his DD Form 214, “Certificate of Release or
Discharge from Active Duty,” be changed in Block 28, “Narrative Reason
for Separation,” to “Secretarial Authority,” with a Separation Program
Designator (SPD) code of “KFF.”





            JOE G. LINEBERGER
            Director
            Air Force Review Boards Agency