AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

 FD-2017-00114	
					
GENERAL:  The applicant was discharged on 9 Jan 15 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with an Under Other Than Honorable Conditions discharge for Pattern of Misconduct.  The applicant appealed for an upgrade of his discharge characterization to General.  The board was conducted on 2 Aug 18.  

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 assisted by Mr. John A. Canestaro II in preparing the DD293.    

Pursuant to 10 USC §1553, the board included a member who is a 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 unanimously to approve the applicant’s request to upgrade his discharge characterization to General.

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 two Article 15s, and two Letters of Reprimand.  His misconduct included:  unlawfully choked spouse; assaulted spouse by grabbing her by the throat and shoving her to the ground; failure to attend mandatory appointment; and committed domestic violence against spouse, and engaged in disorderly conduct while intoxicated.
 
Due to evidence of alcohol abuse, and a mental health condition found in the applicant’s medical record, the board considered the case based on the liberal consideration standards required by guidance from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and/or 10 USC §1553.

The applicant contended the discharge was inequitable because there is a reasonable nexus between his misconduct and PTSD.  The applicant stated that after being deployed twice, he began to abuse alcohol to self-medicate.  He insists that his leadership was aware of his difficulty to adapt and tried to help him.  The applicant accepts responsibility for his actions. 

The DRB determined that family and personal problems created matters in extenuation or mitigation of the reason for discharge that may have affected the applicant’s ability to serve satisfactorily.  The board concluded that the characterization of the discharge received by the applicant was deemed to be inappropriate.

After a thorough review of the service record and inputs from the board’s psychiatrist, the DRB found conclusive indication that 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 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 DRB results were approved by the board president on 9 Aug 18.  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