AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD HEARING RECORD
NAME OF SERVICE l'tfEMBER (IAST,FIRST MIDDLE IN TIAL)	GRADE
(b)(6)

TYPE  GEN	I	PERSONAL  APPEARANCE	x	I	RECORD  REVIEW
00\JNSIL	NAM£ OFCOEL AND OR ORCA".112ATION	ADORESSAi'ID OR ORCANlZATIOl'I OFCOUNSEL
lt:S	No
x
VOTE OPTIIE BOARD
..

MEMBER SITTING

HON	GEN	UOTHC	On!ER	DENY

(b)(6)	x
x x x
x
ISSUES	A94.06	INDEX NUMBER	A69.00	EXJUJllTSSU8l\ttrrEDTO TJtE BOARD
1	ORDERAPPOINTING TIIE BOARD
2	APPLJCATION FOR REVIEW OF DISCHARGE
3	LETIER OF NOTIF CATION
4	BRIEFOF PERSONNEL FILE COUNSEL•s RELEASE TO THE BOARD
ADDITIONAL EXHIBITS SUBMITTED  AT TIMEOF PERSONAL APPEARANCE
TAPE RECORDING OF PERSONAL APPEARANCE HEARING

HEARING DATE	CASE NVMB£R

12 May 2016	FD-2015-00475
APPl.ICM'l1"$ JSSVE.u11>1l1Ji BOIJID'SJIECISJQNAI. MTIONAUlARE DISCUSSED ON lHEATTACHED Alli FORCE DlSCHARGEltEVIEW 80.UOD£0SIONAl.. IATIOIW.I>	...
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.

(b)(6)

...

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TO:	FROM:

SAF/MRBR

SECRETARV OF Tif£ AIR FORCE PERSOl'IN£L COUNCIL
AIR FORCE 01.SOIARCE R£\1EW BOARD
550 CSTREETWEST, SUITE 40	1535C'OMMAN1> DR, EE WlNC, lRD f'LOOR
RANDOLPHAFB,TX 78150-4742	A'.iJ>REWS AFB, MD li97U..-I

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

AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL RATIONALE	CASE NUMBER

FD-2015-00475	

GENERAL: The applicant appeals for upgrade of discharge characterization to Honorable.

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.

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

FINDING: The Board denies the request to upgrade the discharge characterization. The Board finds the applicant submitted no issues contesting the equity or propriety of the discharge, and after a thorough review of the record , the Board was unable to identify any that would justify a change of discharge.

ISSUE: The applicant received a General discharge for failure in alcohol abuse treatment (unwillingness to cooperate).

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 Letter of Reprimand, one Letter of Counseling, and one Record of Individual Counseling. His misconduct, which was not a basis for his discharge, but was considered in determining whether he should be discharged or retained, included dereliction of duty (failing to report to work on time) and failure to comply with a work-related checklist.

The applicant contends the discharge was inequitable because it was too harsh.  The documentation provided regarding his failure in ADAPT (Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment) indicates that the applicant's supervisor observed him purchasing  alcohol while in treatment.  The applicant initially denied drinking alcohol while in treatment, but, when confronted by his supervisor, admitted to buying and consuming alcohol.   This incident was the applicant's second relapse during treatment and demonstrated a pattern of unacceptable behavior.  The DRB opined that, through the administrative actions taken, the applicant had ample opportunities to change his negative behavior.  The Board concluded that the negative aspects of the applicant's service outweighed the positive contributions he made in his Air Force career.  The characterization of the discharge received by the applicant was found to be appropriate.

A discharge is upgraded only if the applicant and the Board can establish that an inequity or impropriety took place at the time of discharge. After a thorough review of the record, the Board found no evidence to justify an upgrade of the discharge characterization.

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:   Examiner's Brief