RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2007-01582
		INDEX CODE:  110.02
	 	COUNSEL:  NONE
		HEARING DESIRED:  YES

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His reenlistment code of 4D (ineligible to reenlist; grade is senior airman or sergeant, completed at least 9 years total active federal military service {TAFMS}, but fewer than 16 years TAFMS, and has not been selected for promotion to staff sergeant)  and narrative reason of Personality Disorder be changed to allow him entry into the Army Reserves.

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He does not have a Personality Disorder and has been refused employment and re-entry into the military.

He did not appreciate his former spouse’s infidelity and his chain of command’s lack of action on that matter.  He did not feel that as a noncommissioned officer and military policeman that it was right to enforce rules selectively.  He could not in good conscious enforce rules when his wife was allowed to commit adultery.

He sought counseling and could not get an assignment or change his Air Force Specialty, and the only way out of a bad situation was to agree to have a Personality Disorder.  One does not all of a sudden develop a Personality Disorder after ten years of military service.  

He signed all his discharge papers under extreme duress.

He has been psychologically evaluated to be a Memphis police officer and to work at a nuclear power plant.

He has been an asset to society and changing his discharge would vastly improve his life and productivity to society.

It is becoming very difficult to gain employment with his current DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.

He seeks to pursue a career in law enforcement and his discharge is hampering his efforts.

He has been turned down for several good jobs which he needs to earn a living.

In support of his request, the applicant provided a statement, a copy of his DD Form 214, and a copy of an evaluation from the Life Skills Support Center conducted during his separation process. 

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

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant entered the active duty Air Force on 14 Sep 94 and was progressively promoted to the grade of staff sergeant.

On 23 Aug 01, the applicant received a Letter of Counseling for an unauthorized purchase with his Government Travel Card.

On 23 Feb 02, the applicant received a Letter of Counseling for failure to report for duty at the prescribed time.

On 6 Jul 04, the Life Skills Center provided an evaluation which diagnosed the applicant with Axis I:  Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent, Severe, Without Psychotic Symptoms, Partner Relational Problems; Axis II:  Personality Disorder not otherwise specified with Borderline features.  After the evaluation, the applicant was returned as psychiatrically fit for duty with the exception of handling weapons or ammunition and not requiring a medical board.  However, it was noted that although he was not imminently suicidal, he was a continuing risk to do harm to himself and others.  The Life Skills recommendation was for an expeditious administrative separation due to unsuitability for further military service.

On 15 Jul 04, the applicant received an Article 15, Record of Nonjudicial Punishment, physically controlling a vehicle while the alcohol concentration in his breath was .133 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath or greater.

On 5 Aug 04, the applicant’s commander notified him of pending discharge actions. The applicant waived his right to a discharge board, declined to submit statements in his own behalf, and submitted an unconditional waiver. 

The staff judge advocate found the case legally sufficient, and on 13 Aug 04, the discharge authority accepted the applicant’s waiver and directed that he be discharged prior to the expiration of his term of service for a condition that interferes with military service-mental disorder.  The commander further directed the applicant’s service be characterized as honorable and he not be offered a period of probation and rehabilitation.

The applicant was discharged on 2 Sep 04 with an honorable discharge and a narrative reason of Personality Disorder.

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant recommends denial of the request.  The service medical records indicate extensive involvement with mental health providers spanning approximately 8 years.

Personality Disorders are lifelong patterns of maladjustment in the individual’s personality structure which are not medically disqualifying or unfitting but may render the individual unsuitable for further military service and may be cause for administrative action by the individual’s unit commander.  Personality Disorders are frequently exacerbated by stress and may present with symptoms consistent with Adjustment Disorder.

Adjustment Disorder and Personality Disorder are conditions that alone or together may render an individual unsuitable for military service and subject to an administrative discharge.  During periods of stress, the manifestations of Personality and Adjustment Disorders including the maladaptive coping mechanisms typically become more apparent and thus more readily identified by mental health professionals.  Manifestations (symptoms and behavior) of personality and adjustment disorders wax and wane over time, depending on the nature and degree of stressors present at any given time.  The fact that he may be functioning well at this time at home is consistent with the diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder.

A history of Personality Disorder severe enough to warrant administrative discharge is disqualifying for reenlistment into the military.    However, it does not predict that he will respond well to the stresses of military operations, deployment, or combat when he is separated from his familiar surroundings and usual support system of family and friends, or is assigned duties that do not suit him.

At the time of discharge, there were no options available to commanders to separate individuals for Adjustment Disorder.  Individuals with Adjustment Disorders were usually separated with Personality Disorder given as the reason for discharge.  On 2 Feb 07, Adjustment Disorder was approved as a valid separation code.  While the option to use this code was not available at the time of the applicant’s discharge, the need for a separate code for adjustment disorder has long been recognized by medical authorities, to lessen the stigma of this type of discharge.  In this case, the applicant exhibited many signs of Personality Disorder and although not specifically identified by mental health providers while on active duty, his combination of depression, relationship problems, and adjustment disorder approximates a Personality Disorder diagnosis, which was frequently used at that time for those who had adjustment disorder alone.  The mental health providers at that time also noted that the applicant was capable of performing his duties and hence, no Medical Evaluation Board was indicated for the applicant’s recurrent depression.

The preponderance of evidence of the record shows that the applicant’s discharge was appropriately handled from a medical point of view.  Action and disposition in this case are proper and equitable reflecting compliance with Air Force directives that implement the law.

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

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 10 Oct 07 for review and comment within 30 days.  As of this date, this office has not received a response.

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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 timely filed.

3.  Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice.  We note that at the time of his discharge, the narrative reason of Adjustment Disorder was not available; however, an individual separating today with the same condition would be assigned a narrative reason of Adjustment Disorder.  Accordingly, we conclude it would be unfair and an injustice for him to continue to suffer the adverse effects of the characterization of Personality Disorder and further conclude that, in the interest of justice, the applicant’s narrative reason should be changed to Secretarial Authority and his separation code should be changed to “KFF”.  Therefore, we recommend his records be corrected to the extent indicated below.

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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 2 September 2004, he was separated under the provisions of AFI 36-3208, paragraph 1.2 (Secretarial Authority) with a Separation Program Designator code of KFF.

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The following members of the Board considered Docket Number BC-2007-01582 in Executive Session on 29 November 2007, 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, w/atchs, dated 26 Jun 07.
     Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
     Exhibit C.  BCMR Medical Consultant Memorandum, dated 3 Oct 
                 07.
     Exhibit D.  SAF/MRBR Letter, dated 10 Oct 07.