AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD HEARING RECORD

NAME OF SERVICE MEMBER (LAST, FIRST MIDDLE INITIAL)
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AFSN/SSAN

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PERSONAL  APPEARANCE
'  NAME OJI COUNSEL AND OR ORGANIZATION

X   RECORD REVIEW
ADDRESS AND OR ORGANIZATION OF COUNSEL

MEMBERS SITTING

INDEX NUMBER
A94.06, A94.12	A67.30

X* X* X* X* x*
1 ORDER APPOINTING THE BOARD
2	APPLICATION FOR REVIEW OF DISCHARGE
3	LEITER OF NOTIFICATION
2	
HEARING DATE
2 JUL 03

CASE NUMBER
FD2002-00536

4	BRIEF OF PERSONNEL FILE
COUNSEL'S RELEASE TO THE BOARD
ADDITIONAL EXHIBITS SUBMITTED AT TIME OF PERSONAL APPEARANCE

TAPE RECORDING OF PERSONAL APPERANCE HEARING

* Change Reason for Discharge to: Secretarial Authority SPD:JFF Case heard at Washington, D.C.
Advise applicant of the decision of the Board.

SAF/MJBR
550 C STREET WEST, SUITE 40 RANOOLPH AFB, TX 78150-4742

AFHQ FORM 0-2077, JAN 00

SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE PERSONNEL COUNCIL
AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD 1535 COMMAND DR, EE WlNG, 3RD FLOOR ANDREWS AFB, MD 20762-7002
(EF-V2)	Previous edition will be used.

AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL RATIONALE	CASE NUMBER

FD2002-00536		

GENERAL: The applicant appeals for upgrade of discharge to honorable.

The applicant was offered a personal appearance before the Discharge Review Board but declined to
,_ exercise this right.

The attached brief contains available pertinent data on the applicant and the factors leading to the discharge. FINDINGS:  The Board grants the requested relief.
The Board finds that neither the evidence of record nor that provided by applicant substantiates an impropriety that would justify upgrade of the discharge. However, based on the record, the Board finds that the applicant's character of discharge is inequitable.

Issue. Applicant received an under honorable conditions (general) discharge for commission of a serious offense. He had received an Article 15 for negligently failing to report the presence of foreign object damage which caused over $123,000.00 damage to a Bl-B aircraft engine, failing to follow general regulations and technical orders, and making a false statement about the incident. At the time of the discharge member consulted counsel, submitted statements in his own behalf, and requested an opportunity for probation and rehabilitation. Among the matters submitted were 18 character references of co-workers and supervisors ranging in rank from Staff Sergeant to Master Sergeant with between 6 and 20 years of active duty service. These statements uniformly indicated that member was a quality airman and outstanding aircraft crew chief who would be worth retaining in the Air Force in spite of his "mistake." In the absence of any further derogatory information in the record, and after a thorough and complete consideration of the information submitted by applicant and contained in the records, the Board concluded there was sufficient mitigation to substantiate upgrade of the discharge. Specifically, the Board found the characterization too harsh. However, they did not condone applicant's misconduct.

CONCLUSIONS: The Discharge Review Board concludes that the discharge was consistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of the discharge regulation and was within the discretion of the discharge authority and that the applicant was provided full administrative due process.

However, in view  of the foregoing findings, the Board further concludes that the overall quality of applicant's service is more accurately reflected by an Honorable discharge and the reason for the discharge is more accurately described as Secretarial Authority. The applicant's characterization and reason for discharge should be changed to Honorable and Secretarial Authority under the provisions of Title 10, USC 1553.

Attachment: Examiner's Brief