RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2012-05746 COUNSEL: NONE HEARING DESIRED: NO ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: Her DD Form 214, Certificate of Discharge or Release from Active Duty, be corrected to remove Item 26, Separation Code, “JFX,” Item 27, Reentry Code, “2C” and Item 28, Narrative Reason for Separation, “Personality Disorder.” ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 1. She suffered with depression while in service and still does to date. The “Personality Disorder” code is affecting her life. She is an aspiring teacher, but is afraid to get the degree because her local school district has denied her a position due to her military records. She is a single mother raising her child alone with no assistance. She is in fear of doors continually being slammed in her face because of the “Personality Disorder” code. She requests this code to be removed from her DD-214. 2. Since her release from the Air Force, she has applied for and been denied employment as a school safety officer. The School Board officer told her that, due to confidentiality, he could not tell her why she could not get the position but it had something to do with her military background. While serving in the Air Force, she received awards for being an outstanding Airman when her squadron deployed. Her supervisor wrote a letter indicating her performance, professionalism, quality of work, and care and concern for her fellow co-worker was beyond the standard set by her peers. In support of her request the applicant submits a personal statement and copies of copy 1 and 4 of her DD Form 214. The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A. ________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF FACTS: 1. The applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force on 11 February 2001. 2. On 15 October 2002, the applicant was notified by her commander that he was recommending her for discharge from the Air Force under the provisions of AFPD 36-32 Military Retirements and Separations and AFI 36-3208, Administrative Separation of Airmen, Chapter 5, Section 5B, Involuntary Convenience of the Government, paragraph 5.11, Conditions that Interfere with Military Service, paragraph 5.11.9., under Mental Disorders. The specific reason for this action was that on 14 May 2003, the applicant was diagnosed by an Air Force psychologist as suffering from an “Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood and Dysthymic Disorder.” According to the psychologist, the applicant’s history and functioning indicated a pattern of difficulty in adjusting to the demands of her environment. The psychologist opined that her poor adjustment skills and depression symptoms were so severe that her ability to function effectively in the military environment was significantly impaired and he therefore, recommended that it was in the best interest of both the Air Force and that of the applicant, that she be discharged as expeditiously as possible. 3. On 15 October 2003, the applicant acknowledged receipt of the notification of discharge and her right to consult counsel and submit a statement in her own behalf. She opted to consult counsel but waived her right to submit a statement in her behalf. 4. Subsequent to the file being found legally sufficient, the discharge authority approved the recommendation and directed the applicant be separated with an honorable character of service and without probation and rehabilitation. The applicant was discharged on 30 October 2003, and was credited with 2 years, 8 months and 23 days of active duty service. ________________________________________________________________ AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 1. AFPC/DPSOR recommends partial approval. DPSOR states that prior to 2003, the Services characterized all separated discharges due to the mental disorder under a blanket Separation Program Designator (SPD) Code “JFX” with a narrative reason of “Personality Disorder.” The SPD Code and narrative reason did not properly distinguish other mental disorders (adjustment disorder, impulse control disorder or other disorders) 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 OSD and requested the establishment of additional, 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 more specific mental disorders. 2. Since the current SPD code of “JFX” does not accurately reflect the applicant's diagnosis of an “Adjustment Disorder” as discussed above, they recommend the applicant's discharge separation code be corrected to “KFF” and the narrative reason for separation be corrected to reflect “Secretarial Authority.” They do not recommend a change to the applicant's re-entry code. The complete AFPC/DPSOR evaluation is at Exhibit C. ________________________________________________________________ APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: A copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded to the applicant in care of the Los Angeles Veterans Services Division on 12 March 2013, for review and comment within 30 days, and a request to provide the applicant’s mailing address (Exhibit D). To date, a response has not been received. ________________________________________________________________ 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 an injustice that would warrant relief of the applicant’s request to remove her re-entry (RE) code. We took notice of the applicant’s complete submission in judging the merits of the case; however, the applicant has not provided sufficient evidence to establish that the RE code which was assigned at the time of her separation is inaccurate. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we find no compelling basis to recommend granting this portion of the relief sought in this application. 4. Notwithstanding our decision above, sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of error or injustice with respect to the applicant’s Separation Code, and Narrative Reason for Separation. After a review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s submission we believe that relief is warranted. The Board notes that the Air Force office of primary responsibility states the current SPD code of “JFX” does not accurately reflect the applicant’s reason for separation and recommends correcting the SPD code to “KFF,” and narrative reason to reflect “Secretarial Authority.” We agree with the recommended correction proposed by the Air Force OPR. Therefore, we recommend that the records be corrected as indicated below. ________________________________________________________________ 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 30 October 2003, with a Narrative Reason for Separation of “Secretarial Authority” rather than “Personality Disorder” and a Separation Code of “KFF” rather than “JFX.” ________________________________________________________________ The following members of the Board considered this application in Executive Session on 24 September 2013, under the provisions of AFI 36-2603: , Panel Chair , Member , Member The following documentary evidence was considered in AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2012-05746: Due to the unavailability of the Panel Chair, is signing as the Acting Panel Chair Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 14 December 2012, w/atchs. Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPSOR, dated 25 February 2013 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 12 March 2013.