RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2017-01998

	COUNSEL: NONE

	HEARING: NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

Her general (under honorable conditions) discharge be upgraded to honorable.

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

She was discharged after being pressured by friends to try marijuana at a concert.  It was the first time that she tried it and she fully cooperated with the military police.  During her military service, she was a good person and performed her duties in an expert manner.  She is embarrassed to show her DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, to anyone.  This mistake happened a long time ago and has haunted her ever since.

The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant entered the Regular Air Force on 18 June 1984.

On 17 April 1986, the applicant was notified of her commander’s intent to recommend that she be discharged from the Air Force under the provisions of AFR 39-10, Administrative Separation of Airmen, for misconduct (drug abuse).  The specific reason for this action is the applicant wrongfully used marijuana in the continental United States for which she received an Article 15.

On 17 April 1986, the applicant acknowledged receipt of the discharge notification and after consulting with counsel, on 25 April 1986, she provided a statement, with attachments, for the discharge authority’s consideration requesting that she be separated with an honorable rather than general discharge.

On 2 May 1986, the Staff Judge Advocate found the discharge legally sufficient and recommended the discharge authority approve the applicant’s separation with a general discharge, without probation and rehabilitation.  On 6 May 1986, the discharge authority approved the recommendation.

On 7 May 1986, the applicant received a general (under honorable conditions) discharge.  Her narrative reason for discharge is “Misconduct – Drug Abuse” and she was credited with 1 year, 10 months and 20 days of active service.

On 10 October 2017, a request for post-service information was forwarded to the applicant for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit C); as of this date, no response has been received by this office.

For more information, see the excerpt of the applicant’s record at Exhibit B.

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The application was not timely filed.

2.  The applicant exhausted all available avenues of non-judicial relief before applying to the Board.

3.  After thoroughly reviewing all Exhibits, it is the Board’s opinion that the applicant is not the victim of an injustice.  It appears the discharge was consistent with the substantive requirements of the discharge regulation and was within the commander’s discretion.  Nor was the discharge unduly harsh or disproportionate to the offenses committed.  In the interest of justice, the Board considered upgrading the discharge based on clemency; however, given the evidence presented, the Board finds no basis to do so.  Therefore, the Board recommends against correcting the applicant’s records.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The applicant be informed the evidence did not demonstrate material error or injustice, and the application will only be reconsidered upon receipt of relevant evidence not already considered by the Board.

CERTIFICATION:

The following quorum of the Board, as defined in Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2603, Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR), paragraph 1.5, considered Docket Number BC-2017-01998 in Executive Session on 28 June 2018:

All members voted not to correct the record.  The panel considered the following:

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, dated 11 April 2017.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Post Service Clemency Letter, w/atch, SAF/MRBC, dated 10 October 2017.

Taken together with all Exhibits, this document constitutes the true and complete Record of Proceedings required by AFI 36-2603, paragraph 4.11.9.