RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-01705 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 1. Her Entry Level Separation (ELS) with uncharacterized service be upgraded to an honorable discharge. 2. “Personality Disorder” be removed as the reason for separation from her DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: The diagnosis that led to her discharge does not reflect “Personality Disorder”. In support of her request, the applicant provides a personal statement, a copy of an Air Force memo describing her diagnosis, and her DD Form 214. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. _______________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: The applicant entered the Air Force on 20 Mar 2007. On 24 Mar 07, she was evaluated at the 59th Medical Wing for anxiety and panic attacks. She was diagnosed with “Generalized Anxiety Disorder,” a Mental Disorder (Axis I), and recommended for immediate separation. Her evaluation results reflect “None” for Personality Disorder (Axis II).” On 5 Apr 07, her commander notified her of his intent to discharge her; she waived her right to counsel and to submit a statement; and, the case was found to be legally sufficient. On 10 Apr 07 she was furnished an entry-level separation with uncharacterized service for “Personality Disorder” after serving 21 days of active service. The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are described in the letters prepared by the Air Force offices of primary responsibility (OPR) which are attached at Exhibits C and D. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: HQ AETC/SGPS does not support a change to her re-entry code because she does not meet medical criteria for military duty. Her notes show she had been on Zoloft for a year and a half prior to her entry onto active duty. A complete copy of the AETC/SGPS evaluation is at Exhibit C. AFPC/DPSOS recommends denial with respect to the applicant’s request for an honorable discharge, indicating there is no evidence of an error or injustice. Airmen are given entry-level separation with uncharacterized service when separation is initiated within the first 180 days of continuous active service. The Department of Defense (DoD) determined it would be unfair to the member and the service to characterize a member’s limited service when separation is initiated within the first 180 days of active service. Notwithstanding the above, the applicant’s separation program designator (SPD) code is erroneous as she was diagnosed with generalized anxiety and not a personality disorder. Therefore, the applicant’s SPD code should be corrected to “JFE” and the narrative reason for separation should be corrected to reflect “Mental Disorder (Other).” Additionally, there is no evidence to support a change to the applicant’s RE code. A complete copy of the AFPC/DPSOS evaluation is at Exhibit D. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: The applicant reiterates her claim that her medical diagnosis does not reflect a Personality Disorder because Axis II shows “None.” In support of her response, the applicant submits documentation already included in her original submission. A complete copy of the applicant’s response, with attachments, is at Exhibit E. ________________________________________________________________ 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. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice with respect to the applicant’s type of separation and character of service. In this respect, we note the comments by AFPC/DPSOS indicating that she was appropriately furnished an entry-level separation with uncharacterized service because her separation was initiated within the first six months of continuous active service in accordance with established DoD and Air Force policy. Therefore, we find no basis to recommend granting her request for an honorable discharge. Notwithstanding the above, sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice with respect to her narrative reason for separation and separation program designator (SPD) code. AFPC/DPSOS further advises that the applicant was assigned an erroneous SPD code and narrative reason. They recommend the applicant’s SPD code be corrected to reflect “JFE” with the associated narrative reason of “mental disorder (other).” While we agree the erroneous SPD code and narrative reason should be corrected, we believe the recommended corrections could possibly be considered adverse to the applicant. We believe it would be in the interest of equity and justice and in keeping with our charge to not correct a record in a manner adverse to an applicant to correct the record to reflect an SPD code of “JFF” with the associated narrative reason of “Secretarial Authority.” Therefore, we recommend the record be corrected as indicated below. ________________________________________________________________ THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the applicant be corrected to show that she was issued a separation program designator (SPD) code of “JFF” and a narrative reason for separation of “Secretarial Authority” in conjunction with her 10 April 2007 entry-level separation with uncharacterized service. ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2011-01705 in Executive Session on 2 Feb 12, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: All members voted to correct the records as recommended. The following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2011-01705 was considered: Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 2 May 11, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, HQ AETC/SGPS, dated 8 Aug 11. Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPSOS, dated 31 Oct 11. Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 18 Nov 11. Exhibit F. Letter, Applicant, dated 8 Dec 11.