AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD HEARING RECORD

NAME OF SERVICE MEMBER (LAST, FIRST MIDDLE INITIAL)

GRADE

AFSN/SSAN

AMN	••llJ J . •
X	RECORD  REVIEW
ADDRESS AND OR ORGANIZATJON OF COUNSEL

MEMBER SITTING
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HON	GEN

UOTHC

OTHER

DENY
x x x
x x

ISSUES

A67.10

INDEX NUMBER

A93.09
A93.11

1	ORDER APPOINTING THE BOARD
2	APPLICATION 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 OF PERSONAL APPERANCE

HEARING DATE	CASE NUMBER

11 Feb 2004	FD-2003-00476

Case heard at 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.

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SAF/MRBR
550 C STREET WEST, SUITE 40 RANDOLPH AFB, TX 78150-4742

SECRETARY OF IBE AIR FORCE PERSONNEL COUNCIL AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD
1535 COMMAND DR, EE WING, 3RD FLOOR ANDREWS AFB, MD 20762-7002

AFHQ FORM 0-2077, JAN 00	(EF-V2)	Previous edition will be used

AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL RATIONALE	CASE NUMBER

FD-2003-00476	

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

The applicant was offered a personal appearance before the Discharge Review Board (DRB) but declined to exercise this right.

The attached brief contains available pertinent data on the applicant and the factors leading to the discharge.

FINDINGS: Upgrade of discharge is denied.

The Board finds that neither the evidence of record nor that provided by the applicant substantiates an inequity or impropriety that would justify a change of discharge.

Issue 1.  Applicant was discharged for minor disciplinary infractions.  The records indicated the applicant received two Articles 15, two Letters of Reprimand, a Letter of Admonishment, and a vacation of suspended punishment for misconduct.  Her infractions included financial irresponsibility in writing bad checks and failing to pay some of her debts, being late to work, showing disrespect to a noncommissioned  officer, providing alcohol to an underage military member who was drinking in the dormitory, being drunk and disorderly and communicating indecent language to another airman.  Applicant notes she took full responsibility for her actions and was having difficulty adjusting to military life.  She now also contends her behavior was negatively affected by her parent's divorce and grandfather's illness.  While the Board understands that a person experiencing personal problems has additional stress, the applicant's problems were not unique.  The board did not find these or her financial problems of sufficient mitigation to warrant  an upgrade.  The DRB opined that through the unit's administrative actions, the applicant had ample opportunities to change her negative behavior.  The Board concluded the misconduct was a significant departure from conduct expected of all military members and the characterization of the discharge received by the applicant was appropriate.

Issue 2.  The applicant cited her desire to receive the G.I. Bill benefits as justification  for upgrade.  The Board was sympathetic to the impact the loss of these benefits was having on the applicant, but this is not a matter of inequity or impropriety that would warrant an upgrade.

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.

In view of the foregoing findings the Board further concludes that there exists no legal or equitable basis for upgrade of discharge, thus the applicant's discharge should not be changed.

Attachment: Examiner's Brief