AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD HEARING RECORD	
NAME OF SERVICE ME.\.1BER (LAST, FlRST MIDDLE INITIAL)
(b) (6)	GRADE	
TYPE GEN	I	PERSONAL     APPEARANCE	x	I	RECORD    REVIEW	
	NAME or COUNSEL AND OR ORGANIZATION	ADDRESS AND OR ORGAN17.ATION or COUNSEL	
YES	No			
	x			

MEMBER SITTING	VOTE or 111[80ARD	
	HON	GEN	UOTHC	OTHER	DENY	
(b) (6)		X+					
		
X+					
		X+					
		X+					
					
+	x	
ISSUES	A57.03	INDtx NUMBER
A66.00	EXHIBITS SUBMITnDTO THI: BOARD	
		l	ORDER APPOINTING THE BOARD	
		2	APPLICATION FOR REVIEW OF DISCHARGE	
		3	LEITER OF NOTIFICATION	
		4	BRIEF OF PERSONNEL Fll.E	
			COUNSEL'S RELEASE TO THE BOARD	
			ADDITIONAL EXHIBITS SUBMITTED AT TIME OF PERSONAL  APPEARANCE	
			TAPE RECORDING OF PERSONAL APPEARANCE HEARJNG	
HEARING DATI!:

22 Jun 2016	CASE NUMBER

FD-2015-00331			
NrUCAIG"S ISllU!Al'ID 1lll!DOAIUTS DllCISIOtW. JtAl10Nl\L6 AltEDISCUSSIP otiTHB A'JTAOllDAa-.a? oaatAllOl!lllMllW llOA&D 1ll!CISlllNALUTIDNAUl.	
Case heard in Washington,D.C.

Advise applicant of the decision of the Board, the right to a personal appearance with/without counsel, and the right to submit an application to the AFBCMR.

+ CHANGE REASON  AND AUTHORITY  TO SECRETARIAL AUTHORITY	---	
(b) (6)

-	INDORDMENI'	DATE:	

TO:
SAflMRBR
550 C STREET WEST, SUITE 40 RANDOLPH AFB, TX 7815742	FROM'
SECIUITARY OPTHE AIR FORC1! PERSONNtL COUNCIL AIR FORCE DISCllARGE REVIEW BOARD
1535 COMMAND DR, EE WING, 3RD fLOOR
ANDREWS AFB, MD l0762-7001	
AFHQ FORM 0-2077, JAN 00	(EF-V2)	Previous

AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL RATIONALE	CASE NUMBER

FD-2015-00331	

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

The applicant was offered a personal appearance before the Discharge Review Board (DRB) but declined and requests that the review be completed based on the available service record.

Pursuant to 10 USC 1553 this board included a member who is a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist , or a physician with training on mental health issues connected with post traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury and/or special training on mental health disorders.

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

FINDING: After a review of the record, the Board majority voted to grant the relief of the requested upgrade as discussed below.

DISCUSSION: The applicant received a General discharge for Misconduct - Drug Abuse. 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 : one Article 15 and three Letters of Reprimand. His misconduct included failing to follow orders from a Noncomissioned Officer (2x), dereliction of duty (2x), failing to report to place of duty on time, and wrongfully using an intoxicating substance known as Spice.

The applicant states that his discharge was inequitable because it was based on an isolated incident during his two years of service.  He also claims that his medical treatment, as it pertained to his prescribed medication, played a role in his decision to use Spice.  After a review of the record, it was determined that the applicant suffered from anxiety and panic disorders while on active duty.  The medical evidence on file
indicates that the prescribed medication was inconsistent with his diagnosis.  Therefore, the Board concluded that a nexus exists between the applicant's misconduct and his medical treatment that warrants a change to the discharge.

A discharge is upgraded only if it is established that an inequity or impropriety took place at the time of discharge.  After a thorough review of the record and advice from the mental health specialist, the Board found that the mental health issues along with improper medical treatment had an impact on the applicant's behavior.  Additionally, the Board found that these factors justify the applicant's claim of inequity, which warrants an upgrade of the discharge characterization and a change to the narrative reason.

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

However , in view of the foregoing findings, the Board concludes that the overall quality of applicant 's service is more accurately reflected by an Honorable discharge and the reason for the discharge is more accurately described as Secretarial Authority under the provisions of Title 10, United States Code, Section 1553.