RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:	BC-2008-02897 INDEX CODE:	112.10
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL:	NONE
HEARING DESIRED:	NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
His	narrative	reason	for	separation,	personality	disorder,	be changed.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He doesn’t understand how he was discharged for a personality disorder. He only told his supervisor that he was no longer able to perform the duties of his job and that he didn’t want to carry a gun.

In support of his appeal, the applicant submits a personal statement, copies of medical records, and a copy of a special order for temporary duty in Saudi Arabia.

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

STATEMENT OF FACTS:
The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 19 March 1997 at the age of 21 in the grade of airman basic (E-1). He was progressively promoted to the grade of airman first class (E-3) effective and with a date of rank of 19 July 1998.

On 13 January 1999, the applicant was referred to the Life Skills Office subsequent to notifying his supervisor that he didn’t need to be carrying a weapon because he was experiencing anger issues and didn’t want to harm anyone. He was seen on several occasions by a Board Certified Psychiatrist and a Licensed Psychologist. The physician’s report, dated 7 April 1999, indicates the applicant met diagnostic criteria for an adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features, as well as personality disorder. Based on the results of the psychological evaluation of the applicant, his physicians recommended he be separated from the Air Force.

On 7 April 1999, his commander initiated discharge proceedings against the applicant. The applicant was advised of his rights, acknowledged receipt, consulted counsel, and waived his right to submit statements in his own behalf. In a legal review of the discharge case file, the assistant staff judge advocate found it legally sufficient and recommended that the applicant be honorably discharged from the Air Force without offering probation and rehabilitation. On 23 April 1999, the discharge authority directed that the applicant be discharged from the Air Force under the provisions of Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36- 3208, Paragraph 5.11, for conditions that interfere with military service. The applicant was separated with an honorable discharge effective 27 April 1999 by reason of “Personality Disorder” with a Separation Program Designator (SPD)of “JFX” and a Reenlistment Eligibility (RE) code of “2K” (formally notified by unit commander of initiation of involuntary separation action). The applicant served two years, one month, and nine days on active duty.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPSOS recommends the applicant’s separation code be changed to “KFF” and the narrative reason for separation be corrected to “Secretarial Authority.” DPSOS states that prior to 2003, the Services characterized all service members discharged due to mental disorders under a blanket SPD code “JFX” with a narrative reason of “Personality Disorder.” The SPD code and narrative reason did not properly distinguish the other mental disorders, i.e., adjustment disorder, impulse control disorder, etc., as referenced in AFI 36-3208, paragraph 5.11.9, for which a service member could be separated. In December 2003, the Services met with the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and requested establishment of additional, more specific SPD identifiers to more clearly designate the type of mental disorders as defined above. On 21 September 2004, OSD released the updated standardized SPD codes including the additional codes for the more specific mental disorders. Since the applicant’s current SPD code of “JFX” does not accurately reflect his primary diagnosis of an adjustment disorder, it should be changed to “KFF.”

The DPSOS evaluation is at Exhibit C.

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on	19	September	2008	for	review	and	comment	within	30	days

(Exhibit	D).	As	of	this	date,	this	office	has	received	no response.

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 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 RECOMMENDS THAT:
The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that on 27 April 1999, he was discharged under the provisions of AFR 39-10, 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 30 October 2008, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603:

Panel Chair 
Member
Member

All members voted to correct the record as indicated. The following documentary evidence was considered in connection with AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2008-02897:

Exhibit A.	DD Form 149, dated 19 Jun 08, w/atchs. Exhibit B.	Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C.	Letter, AFPC/DPSOS, dated 10 Sep 08.
Exhibit D.	Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 19 Sep 09.