AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVI EW BOARD  H EARING RECORD
NAME Of SCRVJCE MEMBER (I.AST, FIRST MIDDLE INITIAL)	GRADE
(b)(6)
TYPE  BCD	x	I	PERSONAL  APPEARANCE	I	RECORD  REVIEW
COUNSEL	NAME OFCOUNSEL ANO OR ORGANIZATION	ADDRESS ANO OR ORGMIZATION Of COUNSEL
YES	No
x
VOTE OF THE BOARD
MEMBER  SITTING	HON	GEN	UOTHC	OTHER	DENY
(b)(6)	X #*
-
x #*

-

-
-

ISSUES	A94.0S	INDF.X    NUM0£R	A67.70	EXHIBITS SUBMfITED TO THE BOARD
J ORDER APPOINTING HIE BOARD
2 APPLJCATJON FOR REVIEW OF DISCHARGE
3 LETTER OF NOTLFICATION
4 BRIEF OF PERSONNEL FILE
COUNSEL'S RELEASE TO THE BOARD
ADDITIONAL EXHIB ITS SUBMITTED AT TIME OF PERSONAL APPEARANCE

x #* x #* x #*

TAPE RECORDING OF PERSONAL APPEARANCE HEARING

H eARJNG DATE	CASE NUMBE R

08 Jun 2015	FD-2013-00493
Al'PUCMrr'S ISSUE AND TiiE DOl'JU>'S DECISIONAL l\ATIONALE NW OISCUSS6D ON nt6A1TACHED AJR FORCE DlSCHARGe REVIEW OOl'JU> Dl::CISIONAI.- AATIONA.\.E.	:
Case heard in Washington , D.C.

Advise applicant of the decision of the Board, and the right to submit an application to the AFBCMR.

# RE
* Narrative

(b)(6)

INDORSEMENT	DATE:  611912615

SAF/MRBR	or

TO:	!'ROM:
SECRETARY	THE Al R FORCE PERSONNEL COU:-ICIL AJR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD
550 C STREET WEST, SUITE 40	1535 COMMAND DR.EE WIN(;, JRD fl,,OOR
RANDOLPH AFB, TX 78150-4742	ASOR£WSAf'B. M02076Z..700 1

AFHQ FORM  0-2077, JAN 00	(EF-V2)	Previous

AIR FORCE DISCHARG E REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL RATIONALE	CASE NUMBER

FD-2013-00493	

GENERAL:   The applicant appeals for upgrade of discharge to Honorable a change to the reason and authority for the discharge and to change the reenlistment code.

The  applicant  appeared  and  testified  before  the  Discharge  Review  Board  (DRB),  without  counsel, at Andrews AFB on June 08, 2015.

There were no additional exhibits submitted at the hearing.

The attached brief contains available pertinent data on the applicant and the factors leading to the discharge.

FINDING :  The Board  denies the upgrade of the discharge,  change of reason and authority for discharge, and the change of reenlistment code.

ISSUE: The applicant received a Bad Conduct Discharge - Special Court Martial (Drug use)

The Air Force Discharge Review Board, under its responsibility to examine the propriety and equity of an applicant's discharge, is authorized to change the characterization of service and the reason for discharge if such change is warranted. In reviewing discharges, the Board presumes regularity in the conduct of governmental affairs unless there is substantial credible evidence to rebut the presumption , to include evidence submitted by the applicant. The Board completed a thorough review of the circumstances that led to the discharge and the discharge process to ensure the discharge met the pertinent standards of equity and propriety .  The applicant's record of service included a Special Court Martial for use of cocaine.

The applicant cited his desire to receive the G.I. Bill benefits and being unable to procure gainful employment as justification for upgrade.  The DRB noted that when the applicant applied for these benefits, he signed a statement (DD Form 2366, on August 27, 2002) that he understood he must receive an Honorable discharge to receive future educational entitlements.  The Board was sympathetic to the impact from the loss of these benefits to the applicant; however, this is not a matter of clemency which would warrant an upgrade.  Under the provisions of Section 1553, 10 USC, the onJy basis for a change of a Bad Conduct discharge is clemency.  Clemency is based on post service actions provided by the member.  The applicant did not present any post service actions for the Board to review.  The DRB concluded that the applicant's punitive discharge by Special Court-Martial is appropriate under the facts and circumstances of
this case and there is insufficient basis, as an act of clemency, to warrant an upgrade of the discharge, change to the narrative reason or reenlistment code.

CONCLUSION: The Discharge Review Board concludes that the discharge was consistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of the discharge regulation , was within the discretion of the discharge authority, and that the applicant was provided full administrative due process.

In view of the foregoing findings, the Board further concludes that there exists no legal or equitable basis for upgrade of discharge and determines the discharge should remain unchanged.

Attachment:
Exa miner's Brief