AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

 FD-2016-00532	
					
GENERAL:  The applicant was discharged on 18 Nov 02 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with an Under Other Than Honorable Conditions discharge for Misconduct.  The applicant appealed for an upgrade of his discharge characterization to General or Honorable.  The board was conducted on 4 Oct 17.  

The applicant was offered a personal appearance before the Discharge Review Board (DRB), but declined and requested the board be completed based on a records only review.  The applicant was not represented by counsel.  
 
Pursuant to 10 USC §1553, the board included a member who is a clinical psychiatrist with training on mental health issues connected with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury (TBI), and training on mental health disorders.

The attached examiner’s brief (provided to applicant only), extracted from available service records, contains pertinent data regarding the circumstances and character of the applicant’s military service. 
  
FINDING:  The DRB voted 4 to 1 to approve the applicant’s request to upgrade his discharge characterization to General.  It did not vote to change his discharge narrative reason or reenlistment eligibility code.

DISCUSSION:  The DRB, under its responsibility to examine the propriety and equity of an applicant’s discharge, is authorized to change the characterization of service and the narrative reason for discharge if such changes are warranted.  If applicable, the board can also change the applicant’s reenlistment eligibility code.  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 determine if the discharge met the pertinent standards of equity and propriety.  

The applicant’s record of service included three Article 15s and a vacation of one of those Article 15s.  His misconduct included:  failure to go at the prescribed time to his appointed place to duty (x3), failure to obey a no contact order, violation of a lawful order, failure to maintain uniform standards, and failure to march with his class during technical training.

The applicant contended the stress he was under while serving contributed to his mental breakdown and he became depressed and started acting out.  He stated he was young and immature at the time of his misconduct and discharge.  

While the board majority did not condone the applicant’s misconduct, it determined the discharge was inequitable as it was inconsistent with the standards of discipline at the time.  More specifically, it believed an Under Other Than Honorable Conditions service characterization was too harsh based on the misconduct committed by the applicant.  The board majority also noted progressive discipline was not applied in this case.  The applicant never received a Letter of Counseling or Letter of Reprimand prior to any of his Article 15s.

After a thorough review of the service record and inputs from the board’s psychiatrist, the DRB found no conclusive indication that any mental health issues had a direct impact on the applicant's misconduct or discharge.

CONCLUSION:  The board found neither the evidence of record, nor that provided by the applicant substantiated an impropriety.  However, sufficient evidence existed to convince the board majority the discharge was inequitable.  Therefore, the board determined the overall characterization of the applicant’s service was more accurately reflected by a General discharge.  The board did not vote to change the discharge narrative reason or the reenlistment eligibility code.    

The DRB results were approved by the board president on 7 Nov 17.  If desired, the applicant can request a list of the board members and their votes by writing to:  SAF/MRBR (CITU), 550-C Street West, Suite 41, Randolph AFB, TX  78150-4743.
  
Attachment:
Examiner's Brief