RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
         AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  01-01231
		INDEX CODE:  100.00

		COUNSEL:  NONE

		HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

He be reinstated to the Air Force or his reenlistment eligibility (RE) code changed so that he can reenter another branch of service.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He is psychologically sound.  The incident was because of being away from home at an early age.  He will provide psychological documentation if needed.

Applicant’s complete submission is attached at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 17 Aug 94, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force (RegAF) for a period of four years in the grade of airman basic.

On 23 Aug 94, while in basic military training, the applicant was evaluated by the Inpatient Psychiatry Service and he was found to have a Mental Condition that Interfered with Military Duty - Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Emotional Features, as contained in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IIIR) for Mental Disorders.

On 1 Sep 94, applicant was notified that his commander was recommending that he be discharged from the Air Force for a Condition that Interfered with Military Service - Mental Disorder.  The reason for the commander’s action was that the applicant was diagnosed by the Department of Mental Health, Wilford Hall Medical Center, as having a Mental Disorder as contained in the DSM.

On 8 Sep 94, the applicant was separated from the Air Force with an entry level separation under the provisions of AFR 39‑10 (Personality Disorder) with an uncharacterized character of service, an RE code of 2C (Involuntarily separated with an honorable discharge; or entry level separation without characterization of service), and a separation code of JFX (Personality Disorder).  He was credited with 22 days of active service.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant reviewed this application and indicated that while the applicant claims youth and immaturity as the reason for his behavior that led to his separation, it is noted that he was treated as a youth of 10 years for behavioral problems also and that further exposure to the rigors of military life may well not be in his best interest or that of the military service.  However, the current Air Force Instruction (AFI) regulating separations for mental health problems does not allow coding for other than “Personality Disorder,” an entirely different DSM‑IIIR code sequence from that with which the applicant was diagnosed.  It is not proper to apply an erroneous label to an individual because of a recognized administrative shortfall as occurred in this case.  The BCMR Medical Consultant is of the opinion that, in order to correct an injustice of improperly labeling the applicant’s disorder, his request for change of reason for discharge be granted.  Item 28, Narrative Reason for Separation, of the applicant’s DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty) should be changed to read:  Secretarial Authority, the corresponding Separation Program Designator (SPD) being KFF, in accordance with AFI 36‑3208, paragraph 1.2.  His RE code should not be changed.

A complete copy of the Air Force evaluation is attached at Exhibit C.

The Assistant Noncommissioned Officer-in-Charge (NCOIC), Separation Procedures Section, AFPC/DPPRS, reviewed this application and indicated that based on the documentation in the file, the discharge was consistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of the discharge regulation.  Additionally, the discharge was within the sound discretion of the discharge authority.  DPPRS concurs with the BCMR Medical Consultant’s statement that the adjustment disorder was incorrectly labeled on the applicant’s discharge form.  Accordingly, they recommend that his separation code and narrative reason for separation be changed to “JFF - Secretarial Authority.”  Airmen are given entry level separation/uncharacterized service characterization when separation is initiated in the first 180 days of continuous active service.  The Department of Defense (DOD) determined if a member served less than 180 days of continuous active service, it would be unfair to the member and the service to characterize their limited service.  Therefore, applicant’s uncharacterized character of service is correct and in accordance with DOD and Air Force instructions.  An entry level separation should not be viewed as negative or less than honorable and should not be confused with other types of separation.

A complete copy of the Air Force evaluation is attached at Exhibit D.

The Assistant Chief, Skills Management Branch, AFPC/DPPAE, also reviewed this application and indicated that applicant’s RE code of 2C is correct.

A complete copy of their evaluation is attached at Exhibit E.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to applicant on 27 Jul 01 for review and response.  As of this date, no response has been received by this office.

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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 probable error or injustice to warrant granting the applicant some form of relief.  We found no evidence that responsible officials applied inappropriate standards in effecting the applicant’s discharge, that pertinent regulations were violated or that the applicant was not afforded all the rights to which entitled at the time of discharge.  Therefore, we do not believe favorable consideration of the applicant’s stated request would be appropriate on the basis of the evidence provided.  Nevertheless, in view of the fact that the applicant was diagnosed as having an “adjustment disorder” rather than a “personality disorder” as reflected in the narrative reason for separation, we believe some form of relief is warranted.  Based on careful consideration of the circumstances surrounding the applicant’s discharge, we believe it would be an injustice for him to continue to suffer the adverse effects of the narrative reason for discharge.  Therefore, we agree with the recommendation of the BCMR Medical Consultant that the reason for separation should be amended to reflect the correct diagnosis that was made in this case.  However, since the governing directives do not provide for a narrative reason of “adjustment disorder,” we recommend that the reason for separation be changed to “Secretarial Authority,” with a corresponding separation code of “JFF.”  While the BCMR Medical Consultant recommended a separation code of “KFF,” we note that effective 1 Jun 99, KFF no longer exists.  Therefore, we recommend his records be corrected to reflect the correct separation code of “JFF.”

4.	Applicant’s request that he be reinstated in the Air Force is duly noted.  However, based on the severity of his adjustment disorder, we find no basis upon which to recommend favorable action on the applicant’s request that he be reinstated.

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THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that on 8 Sep 94, he was discharged by reason of “Secretarial Authority,” with SPD code JFF.

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The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 30 August 2001, under the provisions of AFI 36‑2603:

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

     Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 23 Apr 01.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 25 Jun
                   01.
     Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPRS, dated 20 Jul 01.
     Exhibit E.  Letter, AFPC/DPPAE, dated 20 Jul 01.
     Exhibit F.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 27 Jul 01.

                                   
                                   Panel Chair

AFBCMR 01-01231

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 , be corrected to show that on 8 September 1994, he was discharged by reason of “Secretarial Authority,” with Separation Program Designator (SPD) code JFF.

                                     				
                                     				Director
                                     				Air Force Review Boards Agency