RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2016-04817

	COUNSEL: NONE

	HEARING: YES

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, reflect:

1)	His 1994 deployment to Africa in support of Operation SUPPORT HOPE (partial administrative relief);

2)	His decorations earned for this deployment (administratively corrected); and, 

3)	His General (Under Honorable Conditions) discharge upgraded to Honorable.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

After all these years, he now realizes something was wrong with him following the deployment and believes he was wrongfully discharged because of his Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  He served proudly until his return from his deployment in 1994.  He has been homeless for years and never knew he could request an upgrade.  He would like his discharge upgraded in order to receive health care and disability from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). 

In support of his request, the applicant provides a letter from his former supervisor indicating he and the applicant deployed to Uganda for approximately 45 days.   The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant entered active duty on 12 Aug 93.  

The applicant’s AF Form 910, Enlisted Performance Report (AB thru TSGT), reporting period 12 Aug 93 – 11 Apr 15, block V states, “Deployed to Rwanda, Africa, in support of Operation SUPPORT HOPE, humanitarian relief effort.”

Over a five-month period of time (from Sep 94 – Mar 95), the applicant received three Article 15s, four letters of reprimand, two memos for the record, one letter of counseling, two records of individual counseling, two outstanding on-base debt memorandums, and several traffic violations/citations.  

On 18 Apr 95, the applicant was notified by his commander that he was being recommended for discharge.  

On 19 Apr 95, the applicant’s commander recommended to the wing commander that he receive a general discharge for a pattern of misconduct.  

On 25 Apr 95, the applicant’s discharge action was found to be legally sufficient.  

On 28 Apr 95, the wing commander approved the applicant’s involuntary discharge.  

On 2 May 95, the applicant received a general (under honorable conditions) discharge as an airman basic with a narrative reason for separation of misconduct.  He served 1 year, 8 months, and 21 days of active duty and was not credited with any foreign service time.  

On 9 Nov 17, AFPC/DP3AM provided the applicant a boots on ground memorandum for Rwanda; however, they were unable to determine the amount of time served during his temporary duty assignment and therefore, unable to correct his foreign service on his DD Form 214 (Exhibit C).  

For more information, see the excerpt of the applicant’s record at Exhibit B and the advisories at Exhibit D – F.

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFPC/DP1SSP administratively corrected the applicant’s record to award the Humanitarian Service Medal in support of Operation SUPPORT HOPE. Based on the documentation provided by the applicant and analysis of the facts, there is evidence of an error or injustice. It appears as though the applicant served approximately 45 days in support of Operation SUPPORT HOPE. The complete advisory is at Exhibit D.

AFPC/DP2STM-214 recommends denying the applicant’s request to indicate deployment to Africa for Operation SUPPORT HOPE.  The guidance for the applicant’s DD Form 214 would have been AFI 36-3202, dated 20 May 1994, “Separation Documents and General Separation Procedures,” with Table 4 providing authorized entries for blocks of the DD Form 214. The authorized entries for block 18 do not indicate any mention of deployment operations. A message from 1997 does indicate that listing “Operation DESERT SHIELD/STORM” was authorized to be listed but did not seem to indicate listing other operations.  Based on lack of policy guidance to allow listing Operation SUPPORT HOPE this request could not be supported.   Using the Form 6 provided by AFPC Recognitions office a DD Form 215 can be accomplished to include the “Humanitarian Service Medal” as part of his original DD Form 214. AFPC/DP3AM’s advisory recommends denying the applicant’s request to change the “Foreign Service” data on the applicant’s 214 so no action will be taken on this area.

The AFBCMR Psychological Advisor recommends upgrading the applicant’s discharge to honorable based on liberal consideration.  The applicant believes his PTSD issues were a mitigating factor leading to his misconduct and discharge.  After returning from his deployment, he began having problems coping with PTSD and reported to his chain of command his struggles.  A review of the applicant’s military records does provide some support for his contention.  Prior to his deployment in 1994, the applicant only had one misconduct infraction for parking in a no parking zone and all the remaining numerous misconduct occurred after his deployment.  Thus, there is a possible nexus between his misconduct and mental health issues.  On 9 Nov 16, he was formally diagnosed with PTSD by the DVA and is currently receiving psychiatry services. 

Based on the information available in his records, the Advisor applied the liberal consideration guidance to his request and situation.  Veterans are afforded the opportunity to appeal to the AFBCMR for an upgrade consideration based on if a condition or experience may mitigate the discharge.  The guidance outlines evidence that may be considered and used to establish the existence of a condition or experience may include the veteran’s testimony alone.  The complete advisory is at Exhibit F and the liberal consideration guidance is at Exhibit G.  

APPLICANT’S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

The Board sent a copy of the Air Force evaluation to the applicant on 18 Sep 18 for comment (Exhibit H), but has received no response.

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The application was not timely filed, but it is in the interest of justice to excuse the delay.

2.  The applicant exhausted all available avenues of non-judicial relief before applying to the Board.

3.  After reviewing all Exhibits, the Board finds no basis to change the applicant’s DD Form 214 to reflect his 1994 deployment to Africa in support of Operation SUPPORT HOPE. The Board agrees with the opinion and recommendation of AFPC/DP2STM-214 and adopts its rationale as the basis for its conclusion the applicant is not the victim of an error or injustice,  The Board notes the applicant provides a memorandum from his former supervisor stating they deployed to Africa for approximately 45 days.  However, the exact amount of time served during this temporary duty assignment cannot be determined.  Should the applicant provide additional evidence, such as a travel voucher, the Board may be willing to reconsider this portion of his request.   

4.  As for the applicant’s request to upgrade his discharge, having carefully reviewed this application, the Board agrees with the recommendation of the AFBCMR Psychological Advisor and adopts the rationale expressed as the basis for their decision that the applicant has been the victim of either an error or an injustice.  Therefore, in addition to the administrative corrections to provide a boots on ground memorandum for Rwanda and the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Board recommends correcting the applicant’s records as indicated below.

5.  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 the Board’s understanding of the issues involved.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that on 2 May 1995, he was honorably discharged with a narrative reason for separation of “Secretarial Authority” and a separation code of “JFF.”

However, regarding the remainder of the applicant’s request, the Board recommends the applicant be informed the evidence did not demonstrate material error or injustice beyond the relief provided administratively and the application could only be reconsidered upon receipt of relevant evidence not already considered by the Board.

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-2016-04817 in Executive Session on 20 Nov 18.

Panel Chair
Panel Member
	Panel Member

All members voted to correct the record.  The panel considered the following:

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 13 Nov 16.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Letter to Applicant, AFPC/DP3AM, dated 9 Nov 17.
Exhibit D:	Memorandum, AFPC/DP1SSP, w/atch, dated 15 May 18.
Exhibit E:	Advisory, AFPC/DP2STM-214, dated 16 May 18.
Exhibit F:	Advisory, AFBCMR Psychological Advisor, dated 5 Jul 18.
Exhibit G:	Liberal Consideration Guidance, w/atchs, dated 25 Aug 18.
Exhibit H:	Notification of Advisory, SAF/MRBC to applicant, dated 18 Sep 18.

Taken together with all Exhibits, this document constitutes the true and complete Record of Proceedings of Docket Number BC-2016-04817 required by AFI 36-2603, paragraph 4.11.9.