RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:	BC-2008-01573 INDEX CODE:	128.05
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL:	NONE HEARING DESIRED:	NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
His narrative reason  for separation and separation program designator (SPD) code be changed to allow him to reenter the military.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
His wife, at the time, fell into depression and had been hospitalized because of a suicide attempt. He went absent without leave (AWOL) because he needed to see her, and subsequently accepted the discharge he was given in order to care for her.  He is now divorced and wishes to join the Navy.

In support of his appeal, the applicant submits several personal statements, a copy of his DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, correspondence from Senator DeWine, a supporting memorandum for record, police record, notice of permanent residency,  court bankruptcy document, and divorce decree.

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 17 September 2002 at the age of 26. He was promoted to the grade of airman first  class  (E-3)  effective  and  with  a  date  of  rank  of
30 September 2002.
On 19 September 2002, the applicant requested self-referral to the Behavioral Analysis Service (BAS) because he was not progressing with the rest of his flight. He was diagnosed with Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety and recommended for an expeditious administrative separation in accordance with Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-3208. He was again evaluated by BAS after being seen by Emergency Room services when he experienced

increased anxiety accompanied by fatigue, paralysis of the legs, and chest pain on 21 September 2002. The examiner concurred with the earlier assessment of Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety and the recommendation for an expeditious administrative separation. The applicant was again evaluated by BAS after being referred to Emergency Room services following an apparent panic attack on
24 September 2002. The BAS evaluation indicates he was diagnosed with Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety and recommended for an expeditious administrative separation.

On 28 October 2002, the applicant received non-judicial punishment under Article 15 for being AWOL from on or about
27 September 2002 to on or about 9 October 2002. His punishment consisted of a forfeiture of $319. The applicant chose not to appeal the Article 15 or the punishment.

On 30 October 2002, the applicant was notified of his commander’s intent to recommend he be discharged under the provisions of Air Force Policy Directive 36-32 and AFI 36-3208, Chapter 5, Section B, Involuntary Convenience of the Government, Paragraph 5.11, Conditions that Interfere with Military Service, specifically, Paragraph 5.11.9, under Mental Disorders.

The applicant acknowledged receipt of his commander’s intent and waived his right to consult counsel and submit statements in his own behalf. On 30 October 2002, the discharge case file was found to be legally sufficient by the Chief of Adverse Actions. The discharge authority approved the discharge as recommended and directed the applicant be discharged with an entry-level separation and an uncharacterized service characterization.

The applicant was discharged with an uncharacterized entry-level separation effective 1 November 2002 with a narrative reason for separation as “Personality Disorder.”  He had served 1 month and
15 days on active duty.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPSOS recommends changing the applicant’s SPD code to “KFF” and his narrative reason for separation to “Secretarial Authority.” DPSOS states the applicant’s separation for a personality disorder was in error. The proper terminology for the applicant’s diagnosis is “adjustment disorder.” Prior to 2003, the Services characterized all separatees discharged due to a mental disorder under a blanket Separation Program Designator (SPD) Code of “_FX” (Personality Disorder). The SPD Code did not distinguish whether the service member was being separated for a personality disorder, adjustment disorder, impulse control disorder, or other disorders as referenced in AFI 36-3208, Paragraph 5.11.9. In December 2003, the Services met with the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and requested the establishment of additional, more specific SPD codes to more

clearly designate the various types of mental disorders.   On
21 September 2004, OSD released the updated SPD codes including the additional codes for the more specific mental disorders. However, since the applicant’s separation for adjustment disorder occurred before the establishment of the expanded SPD codes and narrative reasons, they recommend the Board correct the applicant’s SPD Code to “KFF” with a narrative reason for separation of “Secretarial Authority. This does not infer that the applicant’s separation from the Air Force was unjust or improper; rather the SPD code entered on the applicant’s DD Form
214 at the time of his separation did not accurately reflect the specific mental disorder cited by the separation authority for discharge.

DPSOS indicates the applicant’s uncharacterized character of service resulting in the reentry code of “2C” on his DD Form 214 is correct and in accordance with DoD and Air Force Instructions.

The DPSOS evaluation is at Exhibit C.
AFPC/DPSOA recommends denying the applicant’s request to change his RE code. DPSOA states there is no evidence of error or injustice; nor has he submitted evidence of any.

The DPSOA evaluation is at Exhibit D.

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to  the applicant on 9 June 2008 for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit E). The applicant responded with a personal statement concurring with the recommendation to change his narrative reason to “Secretarial Authority” as it implies a discharge  under clerical decision and because he never had a mental condition.

The applicant’s response, with attachments, is at Exhibit F.

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 an injustice warranting a change in the reason for separation. We note that the discharge action taken against the applicant was in accordance with the applicable instruction.  However, after reviewing the applicant’s request
1.	
and the evidence of record, we find the narrative reason for his entry-level separation, “Personality Disorder,” to be inappropriate. We believe that since the applicant was never diagnosed with a personality disorder, it is inaccurate to list his narrative reason for separation as such. Therefore, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of the Air Force office of primary responsibility and recommend his narrative reason for separation and the corresponding SPD code be changed to reflect “Secretarial Authority” and “KFF” respectively.

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:
The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that 1 November 2002, he was discharged under the provisions of AFI 36-3208, paragraph 1.2, (Secretarial Authority), with a Separation Program Designator code of “KFF.”

The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 9 December 2008, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

Panel Chair 
Member
Member
All members voted to correct the records as recommended. The following documentary evidence for AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2008- 01573 was considered:

Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 8 Oct 07, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSOS, dated 6 Jun 08.
Exhibit D.	Letter, AFPC/DPSOA, dated 9 Jun 08. Exhibit E.	Letter, AFBCMR, dated 27 Jun 08
Exhibit F. Applicant’s Letter, dated 2 Jul 08, w/atchs.