RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2004-02296
		INDEX NUMBER: 100.00

	XXXXXXX	COUNSEL:  NONE

	XXXXXXX	HEARING DESIRED:  YES

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APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His Reenlistment Eligibility (RE) code be changed to “3K” and the narrative reason for his separation be changed to “Secretarial Authority.”

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THE APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

His records be corrected based on clemency, propriety, and equity.

Prior to his discharge, he discovered his wife was cheating with a fellow airman he worked with.  He was young and immature at the time and felt that if he went back to his parents all of his problems would go away.  He also felt that getting out of the military would help him leave the situation of his wife’s cheating behind.  In the 17 years following his discharge, he has remarried, stayed married for 15 years, has an 8-year-old son, is active in his local church, and has received an Associate Degree in aviation studies.

In support of the appeal, applicant submits letters of character reference, statements from his current employer, members of his former Air Force rating chain, a civilian psychologist, and his minister, a credit report, and various other documents regarding his post-service activities.

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

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STATEMENT OF FACTS:

Applicant contracted his initial enlistment in the Regular Air Force on 1 April 1985.  On 2 June 1987, he received notification that he was being recommended for discharge for the convenience of the government for conditions that interfere with military service (personality and adjustment disorder).  The commander’s reason for the action was a psychological evaluation that resulted in the diagnosis of an adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features and a mixed personality disorder with dependent and passive aggressive personality features.  The discharge authority approved the discharge and he received an honorable discharge on 26 June 1987, under the provisions of AFR 39-10 (Conditions that interfere with military service - not disability - character and behavior disorder), and was issued RE code 2C (Involuntarily separated with an honorable discharge).  He had completed a total of 2 years, 2 months, and 26 days of active service and was serving in the grade of senior airman (E-4) at the time of discharge.

On 30 May 2001, the Air Force Discharge Review Board (AFDRB) considered and denied applicant’s requests to change the narrative reason and authority for his separation and to change his RE code (Exhibit C).

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AIR FORCE EVALUATIONS:

AFPC/DPPRS recommends the application be denied and states, in part, that applicant’s discharge was consistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of the discharge regulation and was within the discretion of the discharge authority.  Applicant has not submitted evidence of any errors or injustices that occurred in the processing of his discharge, nor provided facts warranting a change to the narrative reason for his separation or RE code.

The AFPC/DPPRS evaluation is at Exhibit D.

AFPC/DPPAE recommends the application be denied and states, in part, that documentation submitted by the applicant clearly reflects post-service accomplishments; however, there is no evidence of injustice relevant to the period of service under review.

The AFPC/DPPAE evaluation is at Exhibit E.

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APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATIONS:

The evaluations fail to address his request for clemency, but rather whether procedures were followed.  He is not contesting the reasons for his discharge or circumstances surrounding his discharge.  He contends it is unjust for him to continue to suffer the adverse effects of the narrative reason for his discharge, which tarnishes his otherwise outstanding citizenship and civilian career.  He has already had to suffer the negative narrative reason for his separation for over 18 years.  He has provided numerous documents regarding his post-service accomplishments in support of his request for clemency.  Currently, he is hindered during any promotion process and his supervisors, many of which are veterans, do not trust him in a supervisory role.

Applicant’s complete response is at Exhibit G.

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ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The BCMR Medical Consultant recommends changing the narrative reason for applicant’s separation to “Secretarial Authority,” but recommends denial of his request to change his RE code to “3K.”  The BCMR Medical Consultant states, in part, that although the action and disposition in the applicant’s case were proper, the Board should consider changing the narrative reason for his discharge based on corrections provided to more recently discharged members and on the merits of his case including the many years of social and occupational stability.  Further in view of his history before and after extremely stressful marital events toward the end of his Air Force service, it can no longer be concluded that he had, or has a personality disorder.  Although the diagnosis of personality disorder is questionable, there is no doubt he manifested an adjustment disorder.  While he submits evidence of excellent occupational functioning since his discharge, 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.  Therefore, it would be inappropriate to change his RE code.

The BCMR Medical Consultant’s evaluation is at Exhibit H.

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APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF ADDITIONAL AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

A complete copy of the additional Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant on 18 October 2004 for review and response within 30 days.  However, 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 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  error or injustice to warrant changing the narrative reason for the applicant’s separation.  In this respect, it appears the action and disposition in the applicant’s case were proper.  However, based on corrections provided to more recently discharged members in cases similar to the applicant’s, and noting the applicant’s many years of social and occupational stability, the BCMR Medical Consultant recommends his narrative reason for discharge be changed.  In view of this, and since his history before and after extremely stressful marital events toward the end of his Air Force service suggest he did not have a personality disorder, we believe it is not proper to apply an erroneous label to an individual because of a recognized administrative shortfall.  In order to correct the injustice of improperly labeling the applicant’s disorder, the Medical Consultant recommends that his reason for discharge be changed to “Secretarial Authority.”  We agree.  Therefore, we recommend his records be corrected to the extent indicated below.

4.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice to warrant upgrading the applicant’s RE code.  In this respect, we note that applicant’s discharge appears to be in compliance with the governing Air Force Regulation in effect at the time of his separation and that he was afforded all the rights to which entitled.  Although the diagnosis of personality disorder may have been questionable, there is no doubt he manifested an adjustment disorder.  While he submits evidence of excellent occupational functioning since his discharge, it does not predict that he would respond well to the stresses of military operations, deployment, or combat when separated from his familiar surroundings and usual support system of family and friends.  In view of the foregoing, and in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no compelling basis to upgrade his RE code.

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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 26 June 1987, he was discharged under the provisions of AFR 39-10, paragraph 1-2, (Secretarial Authority), with Separation Program Designator (SPD) Code “JFF.”

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The following members of the Board considered Docket Number BC-2004-02296 in Executive Session on 7 December 2004, 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, dated 10 Jul 04, w/atchs.
    Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records.
    Exhibit C.  AFDRB Hearing Record, w/atchs.
    Exhibit D.  Letter, AFPC/DPPRS, dated 5 Aug 04.
    Exhibit E.  Letter, AFPC/DPPAE, dated 17 Aug 04.
    Exhibit F.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 27 Aug 04.
    Exhibit G.  Letter, Applicant, dated 18 Sep 04.
    Exhibit H.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 24 Sep 04.
    Exhibit I.  Letter, AFBCMR, dated 18 Oct 04.

AFBCMR BC-2004-02296

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 XXXXXXX, XXXXXXX, be corrected to show that on 26 June 1987, he was discharged under the provisions of AFR 39-10, paragraph 1-2, (Secretarial Authority), with Separation Program Designator (SPD) Code “JFF.”