AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD HEARING RECORD
NAME OFSERVICE MEMBER (LAST, FIRST MIDDLE INITIAL)	GRADE
(b) (6)
TYPE GEN	I	PERSONAL    APPEARAN CE	x	I	RECORD   REVIEW
COON!llL	NAME Of cou:.sn.i\ND OR ORGA1'11ZATION	ADDRESS A".lJ> OR ORGANIZATION OF COUNS£L
Yll	No	I
x
VOTE OF THE BOARD
MEMBER   SITTlNG	HON	GEN	UOTHC	OTHER	DENY
(b) (6)	x

x
I
x x x
ISSUES	A93.19	INDEX NUMBER	A67.10	EXHIBITS SUBMI'ITED TO THE BOARD
1 ORDER APPOINTING THE BOARD
2	APPLJCATION FOR REVIEW OF DISCHARGE
3	LETTER OF NOTIFICATION
4	BRIEF OF PERSONNEL FILE COUNSEL'S RELEASE TO THE BOARD
ADDITIONAL EXHIBITS SUBMITTED AT TIME OF PERSONAL APPEARANCE
TAPE RECORDING OP PERSONAL APPEARANCE HEARING

HEARING DATE	CASE NUMBER

19 Aug 2016	FD-2015-00638
APPLICANTS i\ND1llBllOAltJ>'SD6CISIONAL RATIONAL!! ARE	USSED OIC n£AITACHED AlR FORCE OISCHARQE 1t.6V1EWBOAIU> J>llCISIONAL RAllOl/AU;.

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)

    ._	/	"

v	JNDORSEMENT

.......,

DATE:  8123/2016 	

TO:	FROM:

SAF/MRBR

SECIU:TARY OFTH£ AIR FORCE PERSONNEL COUNCIL
/\JR FORCK DISCHARGE JU:V!E:w BOARD
550 C STREET WEST,SUITE 40	15)5 COMMAND DR. EE WING, JRD FLOOR
RANDOLPH AFB, TX 78150-4742	ANDREWS MB. MD 2076l-'7001

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

AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL RATIONALE	CASE NUMBER

FD-2015-00638	

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 lhal the review be completed based on the available service record.

Pursuant to 10 USC 1553 this board included a member who is a clinical psychologis t 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 : The Board finds insufficient evidence of an inequity or impropriety that would warrant a change to the applicant's discharge.

DISCUSSION : The applicant was discharged for Misconduct - Minor Disciplinary Infractions with service characterized as Under Honorable Conditions (General). 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. lnreviewing 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 three Article l Ss, three Letters of Reprimand, and one Letter of Counseling. His misconduct included stealing three video games from the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, damaging commercial property without reporting it to the authorities or the owner, failing a sobriety test, failing to report to appointed place of duty (3x), being found drunk while on duty, and with the intent to deceive, making a false official statement to an investigator.

The applicant submitted no issues regarding the equity or propriety of his discharge.  The applicant states that he believes that his separation was a way for the Air Force to wash thei r hands of him.  He claims that he was suffering from alcoholism while in the Air Force and wasn't getting the proper help. The Board did not find evidence to support the applicant's contention that the commander or first sergeant was negligent in failing to assist him with his struggles with alcoholism.  The Board opined that, through the administrative actions taken, the applicant had ample opportunities to change his behavior.  They found the seriousness of the willful misconduct offset the positive aspects of the applicant's duty performance.   The Board reviewed the entire record and found no evidence of impropriety or inequity to warrant an upgrade of 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 no indication that any mental health or alcohol related issues had an impact on the applicant's misconduct or on his discharge. Additionally, 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 remai n unchanged.

Attachment: Examiner's Brief