RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2007-03988
	INDEX CODE:  110.00
	COUNSEL:  NONE

	HEARING DESIRED:  NO

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Block 28, Narrative Reason for Separation on her DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, be changed from "Alcohol Rehabilitation Failure" to read "Administrative Separation."

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APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She completed Alcohol Rehabilitation at a Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital in 2005 and has been alcohol free since.  The Narrative Reason for Separation has had a negative impact on employment possibilities.

In support of her application, she submits her DD Form 214.  

Her complete submission, with attachment, is at Exhibit A.

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 18 Jun 97.  She was progressively promoted to the grade of Staff Sergeant effective and with a date of rank of 1 Feb 02.

The following information was extracted from a mental health/substance abuse evaluation and ADP program failure letter written by a military medical director, dated 15 Jul 05.  

On 8 Jan 04, the applicant self-referred to the Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment (ADAPT) program.  On 11 May 05, she was referred to ADAPT after driving to a medical appointment while under the influence of alcohol (0.6 approximate Blood Alcohol Content Equivalent).  It was determined that she returned to her drinking habits which started with moderate use of alcohol during a deployment and routine, heavy, use of alcohol on a daily basis after her return from deployment.  

ADAPT reengaged with treatment; however, she was referred to the next higher level of care, intensive out-patient (IOP services), provided at the VA hospital.  Due to poor communication and follow through by the applicant, on or about 7 Jul 05, she was deemed an ADAPT program failure and diagnosed with Alcohol Dependence, Adjustment Disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, post deployment.  The medical director opined, among other things, that the applicant "was functioning with a degree of impairment in judgment or reliability that will likely result in a negative impact upon her career and will likely hinder the successful accomplishment of her squadron's mission."  He recommended she be administratively separated due to program failure in her alcohol abuse treatment.  

On 9 Dec 05, the applicant was notified by her commander that she was recommending her discharge because she had failed the ADAPT program.  The applicant submitted a conditional waiver to a board hearing, contingent on receiving no worse than an honorable discharge.  On 22 Dec 05, the discharge authority approved the waiver.  She was honorably discharged and released from military service on 27 Dec 05, for Alcohol Rehabilitation Failure.  She had served eight years, six months and nine days on active duty. 

The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application, extracted from the applicant’s military records, are contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate offices of the Air Force at Exhibits C & D. 

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AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

HQ AFPC/DPSOS recommends denial.  DPSOS states that based on the documentation on file in the applicant’s master personnel records, the discharge was consistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of the discharge regulation and was within the discretion of the discharge authority.  Additionally, the applicant did not submit any evidence or identify any errors or injustices that occurred in the discharge processing, and she provided no facts warranting a change to her narrative reason for separation.  

The complete DPSOS evaluation is at Exhibit C.

The BCMR Medical Consultant recommends granting the applicant relief by changing the record to reflect a change in reason for discharge to Secretarial Authority.  He  considered the totality of the available evidence, to include the initiative taken by the applicant to self-refer to the ADAPT program, her initial successes in the program, the possible contributory effects of a deployment, a lack of associated recurring misconduct, and her well-established track record of exceptional duty performance.

The applicant demonstrated evidence suggestive of possible alcohol induced liver disease in Jan 03, as suspected by her elevated serum liver enzyme levels and history of alcohol ingestion.  After confirming the presence of liver enlargement, she was advised to abstain from alcohol consumption.  On 26 Jun 03, she reported an improvement in her clinical symptoms, as well as demonstrated a progressive improvement in her liver enzyme studies towards normal levels.  Several months later, however, she self-referred to the alcohol rehabilitation program.  

The BCMR Medical Consultant opines events leading up to the applicant's discharge are related primarily to her return to the use of alcohol and poor compliance with treatment measures offered to her.  She had a long-standing history of alcohol dependence to the point of adversely affecting her liver function.  She also carried a diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood for at least the eight months preceeding the date of her discharge.  There is no substantial evidence of record to support that her case should have been referred to a Medical Evaluation Board for a determination of her fitness to serve or to form an alternative medical basis for her discharge.  Despite her clinical issues, she appears to have continued to perform the duties assigned her in a satisfactory manner with no evidence of misconduct.  

The BCMR Medical Consultant's complete evaluation is at Exhibit D.

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APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on 18 Apr 08 for review and comment within 30 days.  As of this date, this office has received no 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 provided to persuade the Board that a measure of relief is warranted.  It appears that the actions taken to effect the applicant’s separation from the Air Force were in accordance with the governing instruction.  However, after reviewing the evidence of record it is our opinion that the narrative reason improperly labels the reason for her discharge and inaccurately reflects the circumstances of her separation.  Therefore, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the BCMR Medical Consultant that the reason for her separation should be changed to “Secretarial Authority.”  Thus, we recommend her records be corrected as 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 27 December 2005, she received an honorable discharge under the provisions of AFI 36-3208, paragraph 1.2, (Secretarial Authority), with a Separation Program Designator (SPD) code of “KFF.”

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The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2007-03988 in Executive Session on 19 Jun 2008, under the provision of AFI 36-2603:

The following documentary evidence was considered in AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2007-03988:

	Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 4 Dec 07, w/atch.
	Exhibit B.  Applicant’s Master Personnel Records.
	Exhibit C.  Letter, HQ AFPC/DPSOS, dated 8 Jan 08.
	Exhibit D.  Letter, BCMR Med Consultant, dated 10 Apr 08.
	Exhibit E.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 18 Apr 08.

	

AFBCMR BC-2007-03988

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 APPLICANT be corrected to show that on 27 December 2005, she received an honorable discharge under the provisions of AFI 36-3208, paragraph 1.2, (Secretarial Authority), with a Separation Program Designator (SPD) code of “KFF.”