RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-01562 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His reentry (RE) code and separation code be changed to allow him 
to reenter the military. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He believes he was misdiagnosed by the Air Force as having 
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD is 
something you develop early in life and would still affect a 
person throughout their life. However, he did well in high 
school, graduating with honors and received the Presidential 
Academic Excellence Award. While attending technical school he 
drank 3-4 energy drinks to stay awake in class and failed two 
academic tests. Because he drank these drinks, he became 
jittery; unfocused, and wired. After he failed these tests, he 
was referred to the mental health clinic for an evaluation. It 
was determined he had severe ADHD and was recommended for 
discharge. Upon returning home, he spoke with a recruiter about 
reenlisting; however, the recruiter told him he would have to be 
reevaluated and seek proper treatment, if needed. After a 
civilian doctor tested him, the tests results did not show any 
signs of him having ADHD. The test results stated that the 
original diagnosis was likely due to caffeine. As such, he 
believes his discharge was invalid. He has held and maintained 
two jobs over the past four years; at times working both jobs in 
the same day. 

 

In support of his request, the applicant provides a personal 
statement, a copy of a letter from his supervisor, excerpts of 
his civilian medical records, excerpts from his master personnel 
records, and a copy of his congressional request. 

 

His complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

 

 


STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

The applicant enlisted into the Regular Air Force on 19 May 09 in 
the grade of airman first class (E-3). He received an honorable 
discharge on 17 Dec 09 after serving 6 months and 29 days on 
active duty. 

 

On 21 Apr 10, the applicant sent a letter to his Congressman 
requesting assistance in changing his RE code. 

 

Additional relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
contained in the letter prepared by the BCMR Medical Consultant. 
Accordingly, there is no need to recite these facts in this 
Record of Proceedings. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The BCMR Medical Consultant recommends denial. The Medical 
Consultant states the applicant was prescribed at least a single 
daily dosage of medication, which he elected to discontinue and 
replaced it with his own treatment strategy of high-energy 
drinks. This would lead one to believe that the applicant has 
observed disorder symptoms preceding the caffeine usage. The 
applicant has been discharged from the Air Force for 
26 cumulative months. The Medical Consultant is unaware of any 
post-service education pursuits or whether he has been further 
prescribed medications for a cumulative period of 24 months. The 
applicant was a member of the service and did not complete the 
Service-specific training period although he was prescribed 
medication for ADHD. Therefore, the Medical Consultant struggles 
with returning him to duty so soon after leaving military 
service, during a period in which he did not follow his doctor’s 
recommended treatment; his commander’s orders to follow-up, and 
he disclosed “difficulty adjusting to military life.” 
Nevertheless, the Medical Consultant opines the applicant’s 
character of service of “Mental Disorder” overstates his 
condition and ADHD does not fall under Mental Disorders. 
Therefore, the Medical Consultant recommends changing it to 
Secretarial Authority. However, the applicant has not met the 
burden of proof of an error or injustice that warrants a change 
of his RE code. 

 

The BCMR Medical Consultant’s complete evaluation is at Exhibit 
C. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

 

 

 

 

 


APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

The applicant responded by requesting his reason for separation 
be changed to Secretarial Authority because he feels he has made 
a convincing argument that his RE code should be changed to 
something that will allow him to reenlist into at least a Reserve 
Component. His doctor’s statement shows that he did not have 
ADHD, at least from birth to 18 years of age. He believes the 
Air Force physicians did not accomplish appropriate ADHD testing. 
When testing for ADHD the person must have had at least 6 hours 
of sleep. Other information must be considered when diagnosing 
ADHD, such as data on one’s developmental, educational, 
behavioral functioning, third-party observation (e.g., parent or 
teacher reports), and additional testing that rules out other 
mental health problems (e.g., depression and anxiety) as causes 
for the attention and impulsive difficulties; none of this was 
accomplished when they diagnosed him with ADHD. He notes the 
Medical Consultant’s advisory points out he had a hard time 
adjusting to military life. However, the only way that could 
have been misinterpreted is when he said “I’m not happy with 
working all night, sleeping during the day and just being sent 
around to appointments in his off duty time for months on end is 
insane and the comment was just a personal comment and can’t be 
held to me as a personal label”. He does not believe his family 
problems should be held against him as a reason for not being 
able join the Armed Forces again; his family problems are under 
control. He believes plenty of time has gone by since he was 
discharged. He also believes his discharge was based on false 
accusations and false labels of having ADHD. As for his post-
service education pursuits, he provides a transcript from UNCG 
with a 3.5 grade point average that proves he can test well, 
especially in a condensed 5-week semester during the summer while 
maintaining a part-time job. He has not used any prescribed 
drugs for ADHD because he does not have ADHD. He hopes his 
request, along with the supporting documentation, will be looked 
at based on what actually applies to him that will give him a 
better chance at getting his RE code and reason for separation 
changed. 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

 

 

 

 

ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 


The BCMR Medical Consultant recommends approval. In an Addendum 
advisory, the Medical Consultant states he recommends changing 
the applicant’s narrative reason for separation to Secretarial 
Authority. The Medical Consultant did not originally recommend a 
change in RE code largely based upon the relative short period of 
time since the applicant’s discharge, notwithstanding the 
potentially doubtful diagnosis he received. However, although 
the applicant did not provide a more detailed mental health 
evaluation, the Medical Consultant does not wish to hinder his 
opportunity to re-apply for entry into the military, with a 
possible waiver if required by AETC/SGP. Even if the applicant’s 
RE code is changed, his entry into the military will ultimately 
be determined by the Military Entrance processing Station 
officials and most likely require the same or additional medical 
documentation as presented in this forum. 

 

The BCMR Medical Consultant’s evaluation is at Exhibit F. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 

 

A copy of the BCMR Medical Consultant’s evaluation was forwarded 
to the applicant on 6 May 2011 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. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of an injustice. After reviewing the 
evidence of record, it appears the RE code assigned to the 
applicant, at the time, was technically correct and in accordance 
with regulation. However, we agree with the opinion and 
recommendation of the BCMR Medical Consultant and adopt his 
rationale expressed in his Addendum advisory as the basis for our 
decision that the applicant’s separation (SPD) code with 
corresponding narrative reason be changed to “Secretarial 
Authority” and the RE code be changed to “3K.” Whether or not 
he is successful in rejoining the military will depend on the 
needs of the respective military services at the time and our 
recommendation in no way guarantees he will be allowed to serve 
in the military again; this will simply afford him the 
opportunity to apply for a waiver to enlist in the armed 
services. Therefore, we recommend that his records be corrected 
as 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 December 17, 
2009 he was honorably separated under the provisions of AFI 36-
3208, paragraph 1.2 (Secretarial Authority) with a separation 
code of JFF and a reentry code (RE) code of 3K. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2010-01562 in Executive Session on 5 May 11, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

 , Panel Chair 

, Member 

 , Member 

 

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

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 22 Apr 10, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 17 Mar 11. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 21 Mar 11. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, undated, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit F. Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant Addendum, dated 

 28 Apr 11. 

 Exhibit G. Letter, AFBCMR, dated 6 May 11. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair