RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2017-02952

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX	COUNSEL: NONE

	HEARING: NO

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

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

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was proud to serve for several years as an enlisted member in the Air Force and the Air National Guard and took pride in being in the military.  His reckless actions caused his discharge, and he regrets not being able to continue serving and eventually retire from the military.  Since his discharge, he has led a responsible life and become a productive member of his community.

In support of his request for clemency, the applicant provides a college transcript, a certificate of ordination as deacon, an order appointing him as a probation and parole officer, character statements from two pastors, and various other documents related to his appeal.  The applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

The applicant entered the Regular Air Force on 26 March 1980.  He had prior active duty in the Regular Air Force from 4 October 1968 to 5 September 1977, and duty with the Air National Guard from 7 September 1977 to 25 March 1980.

On 30 January 1984, the applicant was notified of his commander’s intent to recommend that he be discharged from the Air Force for drug abuse, under the provisions of AFR 39-10, Administrative Separation of Airmen, and that he receive an under other than honorable conditions discharge.  The reason for the action was the applicant wrongfully used marijuana for which he received non-judicial punishment under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice; his punishment consisted of a $200.00 forfeiture and fourteen days extra duty.

On 30 January 1984, the applicant acknowledged receipt of the discharge notification.

On 6 February 1984, after consulting with counsel, he submitted a conditional waiver contingent on his receipt of no less than a general (under honorable conditions) service characterization.

On 15 March 1984, the staff judge advocate found the discharge action legally sufficient; recommended the conditional waiver be accepted; and recommended the applicant be separated with a general discharge, without probation and rehabilitation.

On 16 March 1984, the discharge authority approved the recommendation.

On 23 March 1984, the applicant received a general (under honorable conditions) discharge.

On 31 October 2017, the Board sent the applicant a request for post-service information (Exhibit C).  The applicant provided a background check from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, dated 25 March 2018 (Exhibit D).

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; however, it is in the interest of justice to excuse the delay.

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

3.  After thoroughly reviewing all Exhibits, the Board concludes that the applicant is the victim of an injustice.  The Board finds no error in the original discharge process.  However, on grounds of clemency, the Board concludes the applicant’s post-service information and the passage of time have rendered the original service characterization no longer suitable.  To avoid creating a discontinuity in the record, the Board also recommends correcting the separation code and narrative reason for separation along with the characterization of service.  Therefore, the Board recommends correcting the applicant’s records as indicated below.

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT:

The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force relating to the APPLICANT be corrected to show that on 23 March 1984, he was honorably discharged with a separation code and corresponding narrative reason for separation of JFF (Secretarial Authority).

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-2017-02952 in Executive Session on 26 July 2018:

, Panel Chair
, Panel Member
, Panel Member

All members voted to correct the record.  The panel considered the following:

Exhibit A:	Application, DD Form 149, w/atchs, dated 20 June 2017.
Exhibit B:	Documentary evidence, including relevant excerpts from official records.
Exhibit C:	Post Service Clemency Letter, w/atch, dated 31 October 2017.
Exhibit D:	Applicant’s response, dated 25 March 2018.

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