AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD HEARING RECORD
NAME OF SERVICE MEMBER (LAST, FIRST MIDOLE INITIAL)	GRADE

(b) (6)
TYPE   GEN	I	PERSONAL     APPEARANCE	x	I	RECORD    REVIEW
COUNSU	NAME or COUNSEL A, 0 OR ORGANIZATION	ADDRESS AND OR ORCANll.ATION OFCOUNSEL
y	No
x
VOTE OFTHE BOARD
MEMBER  SITTING	HON	GEN	UOTHC	OTHER	DENY
(b) (6)	x
x x x
x
ISSUES	A94.53	INDEX NUMBER	A67.10	EXHIBITS SUBMTITED TO TifE BOARD
1	ORDER APPOINTIN G THE BOARD
2	APPLICATION FOR R£YLEW OF DISCHARG E
3 LETTER OF NOTTFICATION
4   BRIEF Of PERSONNEL FILE
COUNSEL' S RELEASE TO THE BOARD
ADDITIONA L EXHIBITS SUBMfITED AT TIME OF PERSONAL APPEARANCE
TAPE RECORDING OF PERSONAL APPEARANCE HEARING

HEARING DATE	CASE N UMBER

13Jul 2016	FD-2015-00478
A'PLICAllTT"S  ISSUEAND'TllEBOAR.O'S DECISIONAL RATIONALE ARE DISCUSSED ON THE AlTACHEO AIR  FORCE OIS(:H>.RGEIU!VIEW  80ARO DECISIONAL RATIONALE

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)

_..,..

lNDORSEMENT	DATE:

TO:	rROM:

SAF/MRBR

SECRETARY OFTllEAJR FORCE PERSONNEL COUNCIL
AIR t"ORCf.DISCliARCE Rf.VIEW 60ARD
550 C STREET WEST, SUITE 40	ISJ5 COMMAND OR,Et WING.JRO FLOOR
RANDOLPH AFB, TX 78150-4742	ANOR£WS AfB. MD 20762 7001

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

AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW  BOARD DECISIONAL RATIONALE	CASE NUMBER

FD-2015-00478	

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.

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.

FINDING: The Board finds insufficient evidence of an inequity or impropriety that would warrant a change to the applicant's discharge.

DISCUSSION: The applicant received a General discharge for Misconduct - Minor Disciplinary Infractions. 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, four Letters of Reprimand, and two Letters of Counseling. His misconduct included: failing to maintain the cleanliness of a dormitory room (2x); failing to go to prescribed place of duty on time; failing to attend physical training (2x); reporting late for duty; having an unauthorized knife in a dorm room and failing to go a mandatory appointment.

As justification  for his request, the applicant claims he was told during his discharge out-processing briefing that his discharge would be automatically upgraded to Honorable if he did not commit a crime within one year of being discharged.   He also stated that at the time of his discharge, he was experiencing hardship because his father become extremely ill and he was responsible to care for him. The applicant also states that his military deployments had a "serious effect" on him mentally and that he turned to alcohol to ceipe with what he was dealing with.

The Board did not find evidence of an inequity or impropriety in the applicant's discharge.  A discharge is upgraded only if it is established that an inequity or impropriety took place at the time of discharge.  The Board noted the applicant's assertions regarding his mental health; however, did not find evidence that mental health issues had an impact on the applicant's misconduct and discharge.  The Board further found the seriousness of the willful misconduct offset any positive aspects of the applicant's duty performance.

CONCLUSION: The Discharge Review Board concludes 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 Bod 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