RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2016-03349

	COUNSEL: NONE

	HEARING: YES

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His general (under honorable conditions) discharge be upgraded to an honorable.

His narrative reason for separation of “Misconduct (Drug Abuse) be changed to reflect a medical separation.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was falsely accused of using marijuana and erroneously enlisting into the Air Force by not disclosing a pre-existing medical condition.  He avoided drugs his entire life and never had any known medical issues prior to his enlistment.  At the time of the accusations, he was in a treatment center for depression, anxiety disorder, panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  He was forced to go through the discharge process.  He was taken advantage of because he was weak and unable to fight for himself.  The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant is a former Air Force senior airman (E-4).

On 19 January 2016, the applicant was notified of his commander’s intent to recommend that he be discharged from the Air Force under the provisions of Air Force Policy Directive 36-32, Personnel Military Retirement and Separations, and Air Force Instruction 36-3208, Administrative Separation of Airmen, for Drug Abuse and Erroneous Enlistment.  The reasons for the action were due to his wrongfully use of marijuana and failure to disclose mental health concerns, particularly depression and anxiety, prior to enlisting in the Air Force.  

On 22 January 2016, the applicant acknowledged receipt of the action, consulted counsel, and elected not to submit a statement on his behalf.  

On an undated memorandum, the discharge authority directed the applicant be furnished a general (under honorable conditions) discharge, without probation and rehabilitation, as soon as he was medically cleared for separation.  On 11 February 2016, the applicant received a general (under honorable conditions) discharge with a narrative reason for separation of “Misconduct (Drug Abuse).”

On 12 June 2017, AFBCMR notified the applicant that he failed to exhaust other administrative avenues of relief prior to requesting relief from the AFBCMR.  Specifically, the Air Force Discharge Review Board (AFDRB) was his first level of review for seeking a change to the characterization of his service and narrative reason for discharge.  If not satisfied with the results of the AFDRB, he could submit a DD Form 149, Application for Correction of Military Record, to the AFBCMR.  (See Exhibit C).  For more information, see the excerpt of the applicant’s record at Exhibit B.

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The application was timely filed.

2.  The applicant did not exhaust all available avenues of non-judicial relief before applying to the Board.  The Board does not consider applications without documentation showing exhaustion of such avenues of relief.

3.  The applicant’s case is adequately documented and it has not been shown a personal appearance with or without counsel will materially add to the Board’s understanding of the issues involved.  

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The applicant be informed all available avenues of administrative relief have not been exhausted, and the application will only be reconsidered upon receipt of documentary evidence indicating that such avenues of administrative relief have been exhausted.

The application was adjudicated without a personal appearance.  

CERTIFICATION:

The following quorum of the Board, as defined in Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2603, Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR), paragraph 1.5, considered Docket Number BC-2016-03349 in Executive Session on 29 May 2018.

, Panel Chair
, Panel Member
, Panel member

All members voted not to correct the record.  The panel considered the following documentary evidence pertaining to AFBCMR Docket Number BC-2016- 03349:

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 12 August 2016.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Letter, AFBCMR, dated 12 June 2017.

Taken together with all Exhibits, this document constitutes the true and complete Record of Proceedings required by AFI 36-2603, paragraph 4.11.9.