DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 

BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 
Application for the Correction of 
the Coast Guard Record of: 
 
                                                                                BCMR Docket No. 2005-084 
 
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX 
xxxxxxxxxxxx, FN (former)  
   

 

 
 

FINAL DECISION 

 
Author: Ulmer, D. 
 
 
This  proceeding  was  conducted  according  to  the  provisions  of  section  1552  of 
title 10 and section 425 of title 14 of the United States Code.  The Chair docketed the 
case  on  March  25,  2005,  upon  receipt  of  the  applicant’s  completed  application  and 
military records. 
 
 
members who were designated to serve as the Board in this case. 
 

This final decision, dated January 5, 2006, is signed by the three duly appointed 

APPLICANT’S REQUEST 

 
 
 The  applicant  asked  the  Board  to  upgrade  his  RE-4  (not  eligible  to  reenlist) 
reenlistment code to RE-1 (eligible to reenlist).   The military record indicates that the 
applicant  enlisted  in  the  active  duty  Coast  Guard  on  September  28,  1999.  He  was 
honorably discharged on January 13, 2003, by reason of personality disorder, with a JFX 
(personality disorder) separation code and an RE-4 reenlistment code. 1  
 

APPLICANT’S ALLEGATIONS 

The applicant alleged that he was "medically cleared [of a] personality disorder" 

 
 
and discharged with six months left on his enlistment.   
                                                 
1   The applicant's military record does not contain a copy of the DD Form 214.  However, the discharge 
review  board  confirms  in  its  review  of  the  applicant's  record  on  April  14,  2004  that  he  was  honorably 
discharged,  by  reason  of  personality,  with  a  JFX  (personality  disorder)  separation  code,  and  an  RE-4 
reenlistment on January 13, 2003.  The DRB did not make any corrections to the applicant's record.      

 
 
part: 
 

 

In support of his application, he submitted the following statement in pertinent 

I believe that my discharge was unjust to the degree that I only had eight 
months left in my initial four-year enlistment contract.  The reason I was 
discharged  was  a  JFX  personality  disorder.    I  was  admitted  twice  to  [a 
hospital] and spent several days at the Walter Reed Army Medical Clinic, 
after which I was released.  I was not happy at my unit because of some of 
the  immature  and  unprofessional  deportment  of  some  of  the  petty 
officers, some of which were in my department  . . . My being admitted 
was a combination of outside issues and work issues meshing together at 
the wrong time.  I did want to leave and  voiced it on several occasions.  
When I met with the Coast Guard psychiatrist he put down on this report 
that  all  I  needed  was  a  "leadership  milieu  highly  responsive  to  my 
requirements." The CO thought differently so I was discharged.    

SUMMARY OF THE RECORD 

On February 15, 2002, the applicant was counseled on an administrative remarks 

 
 
The applicant enlisted in the Coast Guard on September 28, 1999.    The record 
indicates that in January 2002, the applicant reported to the unit from which he would 
be discharged.   
 
 
page (page 7) about his inability to qualify as a Coast Guard station watchstander.   
 
 
On September 12, 2002, a page 7 documented the applicant's lack of respect for 
his  chain  of  command  on  two  separate  occasions.    On  September  6,  the  applicant 
challenged  the  authority  of  his  supervisor  to  order the  applicant  to  clean  a  bathroom 
and on September 10, he challenged the authority of his section leader to order him to 
conduct morning boat checks.    The applicant was advised that  such  behavior would 
not be tolerated. 
 
On September 23, 2002, a page 7 documented the applicant's failure to re-certify 
 
as  a  communications  watchstander  and  his  failure  to  demonstrate  to  an  examining 
board  that  he  was  qualified  for  crewman.    The  applicant  was  placed  on  a  modified 
work schedule to allow him more time to train for crewman.   
 
 
On September 25, 2002, the applicant was referred to the psychiatry department 
at  the  Coast  Guard  Academy  hospital.    The  referral  noted  that  the  applicant  was 
discharged that day from another facility where he had been treated for a depressive 
mood disorder. 
 

 
On  September  26,  2002,  a  psychiatrist  evaluated  the  applicant  and  issued  a 
medical  report.    The  psychiatrist  made  the  following  diagnosis:    "Axis  I  Adjustment 
Disorder  with  depressed  Mood  .  .  .  Axis  II  Passive  Aggressive  and  Narcissistic 
Personality  Traits  [and]  Axis  III  occasional  mild  headaches."      The  psychiatrist  stated 
that the applicant was immature especially with respect to his insight into what he was 
doing and the capacity to see beyond to the long-term consequences of his actions.  The 
psychiatrist felt that the applicant had the capacity to develop into the kind of member 
who  would  be  at  least  minimally  acceptable  to  the  command,  provided  he  had  a 
leadership milieu highly responsive to his requirements.  He further stated,  "Should the 
command elect not to continue to expend effort to develop [the applicant] into a reliably 
useful member, it would be justifiable  . . . to move to an Administrative Discharge." 

  

 
 
On October 28, 2002, the applicant was advised by his commanding officer (CO) 
that  the  CO  had  initiated  action  to  discharge  him  from  the  Coast  Guard  due  to  a 
diagnosed personality disorder and that his marks warranted an honorable discharge.  
The  applicant  acknowledged  the  proposed  discharge,  objected  to  it,  and  submitted  a 
statement  in  his  own  behalf.    The  applicant  wrote  in  his  statement  that  his  parents 
pressured him into joining the Coast Guard.  He stated that he should not have been in 
the Coast Guard.  He further stated that he wanted to complete his four-year obligation 
and join one of the other branches of the military.   
 
 
On October 28, 2002, the CO recommended that the Commander, Coast Guard 
Personnel Command (CGPC) discharge the applicant by reason of unsuitability due to 
personality disorder.  The CO acknowledged that the applicant's diagnosed adjustment 
disorder with depressed mood was not itself justification for discharge, but stated "I feel 
that there are mitigating circumstances and sufficient documentation to show that his 
condition is not improving, even with medication and counseling. "   
 
 
 

The applicant was discharged on January 13, 2003. 

VIEWS OF THE COAST GUARD 

 
 
On  August  9,  2005,  the  Judge  Advocate  General  (JAG)  of  the  Coast  Guard 
submitted an advisory opinion recommending that the Board grant partial relief to the 
applicant.  In this regard, he agreed with CGPC that the applicant's record should be 
corrected by issuing a new DD Form 214 to show that he was discharged by reason of 
convenience  of  the  government,  due  to  a  condition  not  a  disability,  with  a  JFV 
(condition not a disability) separation code and an RE-3G (eligible to enlist with waiver) 
reenlistment code.  
  
CGPC  stated  that  the  Coast  Guard's  discharge  of  the  applicant  on  the  basis  of 
 
personality disorder when he was diagnosed with only an adjustment disorder was an 
error.  CGPC further stated: 

 

 

Based  on  the  information  provided  in  the  applicant's  records  and 
applicable Coast Guard policy, I believe [the applicant] is harmed by the 
continued assignment of Separation code JFX and RE code RE-4, in that it 
unjustly prevents the applicant from even being considered for service in 
any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.  Changing the Applicant's RE code 
to  RE-3G,  with  proper  corrections  to  the  applicant's  record,  will  at  least 
afford the Applicant the opportunity to be considered for future service.   

APPLICANT’S RESPONSE TO THE VIEWS OF THE COAST GUARD 

On August 9, 2003, the BCMR sent the applicant a copy of the views of the Coast 

 
 
Guard and invited him to respond.  The Board did not receive a reply. 
 
 

APPLICABLE LAW 

 
Personnel Manual (COMDTINST M1000.6A) 
 
 
for a convenience of the government discharge.  
 

Article 12.B.12 of the Personnel Manual lists condition not a disability as a basis 

Article  12.B.16  provides  for  discharge  by  reason  of  unsuitability  due  to 

personality disorders as listed in the Medical Manual. 
   
Medical Manual (COMDTINST M6000.1B)  
 
 
Chapter  5.B.2.  lists  the  following  as  personality  disorders:    Paranoid,  Schizoid, 
Schizotypal,  Obsessive  Compulsive,  Histrionic,  Dependent,  Antisocial,  Narcissistic, 
Avoidant, Borderline, and Personality disorder NOS (includes Passive-aggressive). 
 
Separation Program Designator Handbook 
 
The  Separation  Program  Designator  (SPD)  Handbook  authorizes  either  JFV  or 
 
KFV  as  the  separation  code  for  a  discharge  by  reason  of  condition  not  a  physical 
disability  that  interferes  with  the  performances  of  duties.    The  JFV  separation  code 
means that the separation was involuntary as directed by established directive and the 
KFV  separation  code  means  the  discharge  was  voluntary  as  allowed  by  established 
directive.  It also authorizes the assignment of an RE-3G or an RE-4 reenlistment code 
with either the JFV or KFV separation code.   
 

FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS 

 

 
The  Board  makes  the  following  findings  and  conclusions  on  the  basis  of  the 
applicant's  military  record  and  submissions,  the  Coast  Guard's  submissions,  and 
applicable law: 
 

1. 

The Board has jurisdiction concerning this matter pursuant to section 1552 

of title 10 of the United States Code.  The application was timely. 

 
2.  The Coast Guard admitted, and the Board finds, that it committed an error by 
assigning  "personality  disorder"  as  the  narrative  reason  for  the  applicant's  DD  Form 
214. The applicant was diagnosed as suffering from an adjustment disorder. Chapter 5 
of  the  Medical  Manual  identifies  the  various  personality  disorders  and  does  not  list 
adjustment disorder as a personality disorder.  

 
3.    In  light  of  the  error,  the  Board  agrees  with  the  Coast  Guard  that  the  most 
accurate reason for the applicant's discharge is condition, not a disability that interferes 
with the performance of duty, and that such discharge should be for the convenience of 
the government, pursuant Article 12.B.12. of the Personnel Manual. 

 
4.    The  Board  also  agrees  with  the  Coast  Guard  and  finds  that  the  RE-4 
reenlistment  code  constitutes  an  injustice  under  the  circumstances  of  this  case  and  
should  be  changed  to  RE-3G.  While  the  applicant  presented  some  administrative 
challenges for the command, the Board is persuaded that his behavior resulted in part 
from  an  inability  to  adjust  to  Coast  Guard  life.      Moreover,  the  Separation  Program 
Designator Handbook permits an RE-3G reenlistment code as well an RE-4.  The RE-4 
reenlistment  code  should  not  be  assigned  to  members  who  exhibit  a  legitimate  and 
possibly temporary inability to adjust to Coast Guard life.  An RE-3G does not allow for 
automatic reenlistment; it requires the applicant to obtain a waiver to reenlist.  In this 
regard, the applicant would be required to submit proof and convince a recruiter that 
he is no longer suffering from the adjustment disorder.  
 

5. 

Accordingly, the applicant is entitled to the partial relief directed below.  

 
 
 

 
 
 
 

[ORDER AND SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE] 

ORDER 

 

The application of former FN xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx USCG, for correction 
of his military record is granted in part.  Specifically, his DD Form 214 shall be corrected 
to show the following: 

 
Block 25 shall be corrected to show Article 12.B.12. of the Personnel Manual as 

separation authority. 
 
 
code. 
 
 
 
 
reason for separation. 
 

Block 26 shall be corrected to JFV (condition, not a disability) as the separation 

 
Block 27 shall be corrected to show RE-3G as the reenlistment code. 
 
Block 28 shall be corrected to show “CONDITION, NOT A DISABILITY” as the 

The  Coast  Guard  shall  issue  the  applicant  a  new  DD  Form  214  with  these 

corrections, rather than issuing him a DD 215 or making the corrections by hand. 
 

All other requests for relief are denied.   

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

______________________________  
 Stephen H. Barber 

______________________________ 
 Harold C. Davis, M.D. 

______________________________ 
 David Morgan Frost