DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 

BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 
Application for the Correction of 
the Coast Guard Record of: 
 
                                                                                BCMR Docket No.  2011-250 
 
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 
  

FINAL DECISION 

 
 
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  application  upon 
receipt  of  the  applicant’s  completed  application  on  September  6,  2011,  and  subsequently 
prepared the final decision as required by 33 C.F.R. § 52.61(c). 
 
 
appointed members who were designated to serve as the Board in this case. 
 

This  final  decision,  dated  June  7,  2012,  is  approved  and  signed  by  the  three  duly 

APPLICANT’S REQUEST AND ALLEGATIONS  

 
 
 The applicant asked the Board to correct his military record by upgrading his RE-4 (not 
eligible to reenlist) reenlistment code to RE-1 (eligible to reenlist) and by changing the narrative 
reason  for  his  discharge  from  personality  disorder  to  a  more  favorable  reason.    The  applicant 
enlisted in the Coast Guard on October 6, 2003 and was discharged on April 13, 2005.   
 

The  applicant  stated  that  the  RE-4  reenlistment  code  is  preventing  him  from  reentering 
the service and from becoming a civilian police officer.  He questioned the personality  disorder 
diagnosis that he was given in December 2004.  In this regard, he stated that the military doctor 
diagnosed him as having a personality disorder after only one  visit  and he has been told that a 
diagnosis cannot be made from just one visit.  He stated that another psychiatrist mentioned that 
he could have been suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder or an imbalance related to certain 
medications that he was taking.  The applicant stated that his command referred him for a mental 
evaluation  after  he  had  a  breakdown  due  to  personal  problems.    He  stated  that  he  has  matured 
since his  discharge  and that even though he does not  believe he has any  disorder, he has taken 
steps to learn different coping mechanisms to deal with stress and unexpected events.   
 

BACKGROUND 

 

Prior to his discharge, the applicant was evaluated by a civilian Army psychiatrist  based 
upon a referral from his command.  In December 2004, the psychiatrist diagnosed the applicant 

 

 

as  having  an  adjustment  disorder  with  depression  on  AXIS  I  and  as  having  a  depressive 
personality disorder of long standing manifested by emotional instability and chronic feelings of 
emptiness on AXIS II.  The applicant’s prognosis was poor for returning to full duty and he was 
recommended for administrative separation.    

 
On February 23, 2005, the applicant’s commanding officer (CO) informed the applicant 
that  the  CO  was  initiating  action  to  discharge  the  applicant  from  the  Coast  Guard  because  of 
unsuitability due to an adjustment disorder diagnosis.  The CO noted that the applicant had been 
diagnosed with an adjustment disorder, as well as a personality disorder.   

 
On  February  23,  2005,  the  applicant  acknowledged  the  proposed  discharge,  waived  his 
right to attach a statement, waived his right to consult with a military attorney, and did not object 
to being discharged. 

 
On  February  28,  2005,  the  CO  recommended  to  Commander,  Coast  Guard  Personnel 
Command  (CGPC)  that  the  applicant  be  discharged  by  reason  of  unsuitability  due  to  an 
adjustment disorder.  The CO noted the psychiatrist evaluation diagnosing the applicant with an 
adjustment disorder as well as a personality disorder.   

 
On  March  29,  2005,  CGPC  directed  that  the  applicant  be  discharged  by  reason  of 
unsuitability due to personality disorders, with a JFX (personality disorder) separation code, and 
with an RE-4 reenlistment code.  The applicant was discharged on April 13, 2005 

 

Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies with the Discharge Review Board (DRB) 
 

Prior  to  filing  an  application  with  the  BCMR,  the  applicant  applied  to  the  DRB  and 
requested to have his reenlistment code and narrative reason for discharge changed.  On February 
1, 2010, the DRB denied the applicant’s request.  The DRB stated that the applicant’s reason for 
separation  and  his  reenlistment  code  are  appropriate  and  that  the  applicant  did  not  substantiate 
any error or inequity in his discharge or reenlistment code.   
 

VIEWS OF THE COAST GUARD 

 
 
On January  11, 2012, the Judge Advocate General  (JAG) of the Coast  Guard submitted 
an  advisory  opinion  recommending  that  the  Board  grant  partial  relief,  in  accordance  with  a 
memorandum from the Commander, Personnel Service Center (PSC).   
 
 
PSC  concurred  in  part  with  the  DRB  findings  and  stated  that  since  the  release  of  its 
decision,  the  Coast  Guard  has  updated  its  guidance  relating  to  the  type  of  separation  code  and 
narrative  reason  for  separation  that  members  should  receive  who  are  to  be  discharged  for  an 
inability to adapt to military life.  In this regard, PSC stated the following: 
 

 

 

In accordance with ALCOAST 252/09,1 the applicant’s record should be corrected 
to  show  that  he  received  the  separation  code  of  JFY  [adjustment  disorder,  not 
amounting to  a disability] with the corresponding narrative reason of adjustment 
disorder.  According to this guidance, for a separation code of JFY, a reentry code 
of  either  RE-3G  or  RE-4  is  authorized.    The  applicant’s  reentry  code  of  RE-4 
should be corrected to show RE-3G, as the applicant did not have any disciplinary 
basis that contributed to his reason for separation.   

 
 
In  light  of  the  above,  PSC  recommended  that  the  applicant’s  DD214  be  corrected  by 
changing the separation code to JFY, the reenlistment code to RE-3G, and the narrative reason for 
separation to adjustment disorder.   
 

APPLICANT’S RESPONSE TO THE VIEWS OF THE COAST GUARD 

On  January  17,  2012,  the  Board  sent  a  copy  of  the  views  of  the  Coast  Guard  to  the 

 
 
applicant for a response.  The Board did not receive a reply from the applicant.   
 

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 submission 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  because  the  applicant  submitted  his 
application  to  the  Board  within  3  years  of  his  February  1,  2011  DRB  decision.    See  Ortiz  v. 
Secretary of Defense, 41 F.3d 738, 743 (D.C. Cir. 1994). 

                                                 

1 PSC submitted a copy of ALCOAST 252/09 (Addition of the Adjustment Disorder Narrative Reason and 
Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes to the Separation Program Designator Handbook), which  was issued 
on April 29, 2009.  The ALCOAST stated the following in pertinent part: 

 
3.  The  Department  of  Defense  recognized  the  need  for  the  additional  narrative  reason  and  SPD 
codes that better fit the cause for discharge when a member is unable to adapt to military life.  The 
FY  series  was  created  with  the  narrative  reason  adjustment  disorder,  specifically  for  members 
diagnosed with an adjustment disorder not amounting to a disability.   

 

4. Effective immediately, one of the following narrative reasons and SPD codes will be used when 
a member is diagnosed with an adjustment disorder in accordance with Chapter 5 [of the Medical 
Manual].    

 

 

  # 

# 

# 

D.    SPD  code  JFY,  narrative  reason  adjustment  disorder.    Involuntary  discharge  directed  by  an 
established  directive  when  an  adjustment  disorder  exists,  not  amounting  to  a  disability,  which 
significantly impairs the member’s ability to function effectively in the military environment.   

 

5.  The discharge separation authorities and member entitlements will remain in accordance with  . 
. . 12.B.16 . . .  For enlisted personnel, the re-entry code assigned can be either an RE-3G or RE-4. 
. . .  

 

 

 

 
 
2.      Although  the  applicant  was  diagnosed  with  both  an  adjustment  disorder  and  a 
personality  disorder,  the  advisory  opinion  recommended  changing  the  narrative  reason  for  the 
applicant’s discharge based upon the adjustment disorder diagnosis.   The Board has no objection 
to this change because it is consistent with the basis for discharge provided to the applicant in the 
CO’s letter notifying him  that he was being discharged.     The applicant  was never told  by  his 
command that the basis for his discharge was personality disorder.  Therefore, the applicant has 
suffered  an  injustice  by  having  his  DD  214  note  that  he  was  discharged  due  to  a  personality 
disorder instead of an adjustment disorder.  
 
  
3.    In  light  of  the  above,  the  Board  agrees  with  the  advisory  opinion  and  finds  that  the 
applicant’s narrative reason for discharge and his separation code should be changed to show that 
his  discharge  was  due  to  an  adjustment  disorder,  in  accordance  with  ALCOAST  252/09.  
Although  ALCOAST  252/09  was  issued  after  the  applicant’s  discharge,  the  advisory  opinion 
indicated that as a matter of equity, the applicant should be treated the same as current members 
who are discharged due to an adjustment disorder.  (Prior to the issuance of ALCOAST 252/09 
adjustment disorders and personality disorders, in most cases, received the same separation code 
and narrative reason for separation.) 
 
 
4.    The  Board  also  agrees  with  the  advisory  opinion  that  the  applicant’s  RE-4 
reenlistment code should be changed to RE-3G.  As the advisory opinion states, the applicant’s 
record contains no misconduct that would justify the RE-4 code. Moreover, ALCOAST 252/09 
authorizes  either  an  RE-3G  (condition,  not  a  disability)  or  an  RE-4  (not  eligible  to  reenlist) 
reenlistment  code  for  an  adjustment  disorder  discharge.    Changing  the  applicant’s  reenlistment 
code  to  RE-3G  will  allow  him  the  opportunity  to  seek  reenlistment  in  another  branch  of  the 
service if he can persuade his recruiters that he has overcome his adjustment disorder.   
 
 
 
 

5.  Accordingly, the applicant should be granted partial relief.  

[ORDER AND SIGNATURES APPEAR ON NEXT PAGE] 

 

 

 

 

ORDER 

 

The  application  of  former  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX,  for  correction  of  his  military 
record is granted in part as follows.  The Coast Guard shall issue him a new DD 214 containing 
the following corrections: 

 

  Block 26 shall be changed to JFY. 
  Block 27 shall be changed to RE-3G.  
  Block 28 shall be changed to “adjustment disorder”. 
  Block 18 shall contain the comment “Action taken pursuant to order of BCMR.”    

No other relief is granted. 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 
 Donna M. Bivona 

 

 

 
 Randall J. Kaplan 

 

 

 
 
 Paul B. Oman