RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2009-00449 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

Her narrative reason for separation be changed. 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

Her narrative reason for discharge, Personality Disorder, is 
improper and has branded her for life. A second medical opinion 
indicates this diagnosis was improper; however, the Air Force did 
not complete further testing to satisfy this judgment upon her. 

 

In support of her appeal, the applicant submits copies of a 
Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) decision; a copy of her DD 
Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty; a 
civilian medical evaluation; and a DD Form 293, Application for 
the Review of Discharge from the Armed Forces of the United 
States. 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 1 March 2000 
in the grade of airman basic (E-1). She was progressively 
promoted to the grade of airman first class (E-3) effective and 
with a date of rank of 1 July 2001. 

 

The applicant received two Letters of Reprimand (LOR), five 
Letters of Counseling (LOC), and a traffic citation between the 
periods of 31 October 2000 and 21 March 2002. A Mental Health 
Evaluation, dated 23 July 2002, indicates the applicant was 
diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and suggests she 
was unsuitable for continued military service on the basis of 
that diagnosis. The author of the report indicates she would 
continue to have chronic emotional instability and impulsive 
behavior and was considered to be potentially dangerous based on 
a history of self-harming behavior. 

 

On 6 August 2002, the applicant was notified of her commander’s 
intent to recommend that she be discharged for a personality 
disorder that significantly impairs her ability to function in a 


military environment, under the provisions of Air Force Policy 
Directive 36-32 and Air Force Instruction 36-3208, paragraph 
5.11.9. The applicant acknowledged receipt of her commander’s 
intent and submitted a statement in her own behalf. On 15 August 
2002, the Staff Judge Advocate found the discharge case file to 
be legally sufficient and recommended she be honorably discharged 
without probation or rehabilitation. On 19 August 2002, the 
discharge authority approved the discharge as recommended and 
directed the applicant be discharged with an honorable 
characterization of service. 

 

On 22 August 2002, the applicant was honorably discharged with a 
reentry code of “2C” (Involuntary separated with an honorable 
discharge), a separation code of “JFX,” and a narrative reason 
for separation of “Personality Disorder.” She served 2 years, 
5 months and 22 days on active duty. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The BCMR Medical Consultant recommends granting relief to the 
applicant in the form of changing her narrative reason for 
separation to “Secretarial Authority” with the corresponding 
separation code; however, recommends no change in her reentry 
code. The BCMR Medical Consultant indicates the full mental 
health records, upon which the applicant’s diagnoses were made, 
were not available for review, including the records from an 
external provider. Even though it is evident she exercised poor 
judgment, as indicated by the derogatory information in her 
record, these incidents do not indicate a mental health disorder 
in and of themselves. The nomenclature assigned to a given set 
of symptoms may change, when under the care of a single provider 
over a progressive period of observation and treatment; or, when 
concurrently under the care of multiple providers. In this case, 
the applicant’s diagnosis bounced from “rule out” Personality 
Disorder, to a period of treatment for depression, to Dysthymia, 
to Borderline Features, to “mild borderline/histrionic 
characteristics.” Since her discharge, the applicant has 
received a diagnosis of Dysthymia by the DVA. The DVA Rating 
Decision, dated, 16 September 2006, indicates there was no 
evidence to substantiate a diagnosis of a personality disorder as 
listed on her DD Form 214. Based on the aforementioned, it is 
the BCMR Medical Consultant’s opinion the applicant has provided 
sufficient evidence that brings doubt upon the accuracy of the 
diagnosis resulting in her discharge. 

 

The complete BCMR 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 June 2009 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit D). 
This office has received no response as of this date. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

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 
demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice warranting a 
change in the applicant’s reason for separation and separation 
code. After reviewing the available evidence of record, it 
appears the applicant’s discharge was appropriate, given her 
record of disciplinary infractions; however, the inconsistency in 
her medical diagnosis over a period of several months, brings 
doubt upon the accuracy of the reason for discharge listed on her 
DD Form 214 Therefore, in the interest of justice, we concur 
with the opinion of BCMR Medical Consultant and adopt his 
rationale as the basis for our conclusion that the applicant has 
been the victim of an error or injustice. Therefore, we 
recommend her record be corrected as indicated below. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: 

 

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force 
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that on 22 August 
2002, she was discharged with a narrative reason for separation 
of “Secretarial Authority” and a separation code of “KFF.” 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered this application in 
Executive Session on 10 September 2009, under the provisions of 
AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

 , Member 

 , Member 

 


All members voted to correct the records as recommended. The 
following documentary evidence for AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2009-
00449 was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dtd 25 Mar 09, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dtd 19 Jun 09. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 23 Jun 09 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair 

 

 


 

 

AFBCMR BC-2009-00449 

 

 

 

 

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 22 August 2002, she was discharged with a narrative 
reason for separation of “Secretarial Authority” and a separation code of “KFF.” 

 

 

 

 

 

 Director 

 Air Force Review Boards Agency