AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

 FD-2017-00262	
					
GENERAL:  The applicant was discharged on 30 Jun 07 in accordance with AFI 36-3206 with an Under Other Than Honorable Conditions discharge for Vol Retirement: Sufficient Service for Retirement.  The applicant appealed for an upgrade of his discharge characterization to Honorable.  The board was conducted on 16 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 not represented by counsel.    

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 Honorable.

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 contended the discharge was inequitable because there was no justification to receive anything less than Honorable.  The applicant insists that he did not receive any adverse actions during his career.  

The DRB did not find any disciplinary actions within the applicant’s record.  The board determined that discharge characterization was the result of a clerical error, and not that of misconduct.  

CONCLUSION:  The board found neither the evidence of record, nor that provided by the applicant substantiated any inequity.  However, sufficient evidence existed to convince the board the discharge was improper.  Therefore, the board determined the overall characterization of the applicant’s service was more accurately reflected by an Honorable.    

The DRB results were approved by the board president on 22 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