RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2010-00631 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: YES 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

Character and Behavior Disorder be removed from the Narrative 
Reason for Separation on her DD Form 214, Certificate of Release 
or Discharge from Active Duty. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

She believes this type of judgment does not belong on a record of 
military service that she must use as a reference. She also 
believes it is a punitive action that was taken without giving 
her the benefit of due process, and it is a violation of Health 
Insurance Privacy Act (HIPA) and privacy standards. 

 

In support of her request, the applicant provides a copy of her 
DD Form 214, and a document extracted from her military personnel 
record. 

 

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

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

On 5 Dec 83, the applicant contracted her enlistment in the 
Regular Air Force. 

 

On 26 Sep 84, her commander notified her that he was recommending 
her discharge from the Air Force for a mental disorder. The 
specific reason for the discharge action was that she was 
diagnosed with an adjustment disorder on 3 Nov 97. 

 

She acknowledged receipt of the notification of discharge and was 
advised of her rights in this matter. The legal office reviewed 
the case and supported separation with an honorable discharge 
without probation and rehabilitation. The discharge authority 
directed an honorable discharge without probation and 
rehabilitation. She was discharged on 28 Sep 84. She served 9 
months and 24 days of active service. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

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 error or injustice warranting a 
change in the reason for the applicant’s discharge. We note that 
prior to 2003, all Services characterized all Service members 
separated for a mental disorder the same, regardless of the 
actual diagnosis. Although the applicant’s DD Form 214 reflects 
“Character and Behavior Disorder,” she was actually diagnosed 
with an “Adjustment Disorder.” On 21 September 2004, the office 
of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) released an update of 
standardized separation codes, which included additional, more 
specific codes for conditions such as adjustment disorder. This 
was intended to more accurately reflect the actual circumstances 
for a member’s discharge. Although the applicant was discharged 
prior to the Air Force’s implementation of use of the new codes 
in 2007, we believe it would be in the interest of justice to 
change the applicant’s narrative reason for separation to 
“Secretarial Authority” with the corresponding separation code of 
“KFF.” We believe this change will remove the stigma associated 
with the applicant’s current narrative reason. Therefore, we 
recommend the applicant’s records be corrected as indicated 
below. 

 

4. The applicant's case is adequately documented and it has not 
been shown that a personal appearance with or without counsel 
will materially add to our understanding of the issue involved. 
Therefore, the request for a hearing is not favorably considered. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: 

 

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force 
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that she was 
discharged on 28 September 1984 with a narrative reason for 
separation of "Secretarial Authority" rather than "Conditions 
that Interfere with Military Service – Character and Behavior 
Disorder", and a separation code of "KFF" rather than "JFX". 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 


The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2010-00631 in Executive Session on 11 Dec 10, 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 Feb 10, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records.