AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

 FD-2017-00495	
					
GENERAL:  The applicant was discharged on 14 Apr 17 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with an Under Other Than Honorable Conditions Discharge In Lieu Of Trial By Court Martial.  The applicant appealed for an upgrade of his discharge characterization to General Under Honorable Conditions.  The board was conducted on 25 Oct 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.    

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 one Article 15, and one Letter of Counseling.   His misconduct included:  Use Government Travel Card for unauthorized expenses and Failure to Report.

The applicant contended the discharge was inequitable because he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  In reviewing the applicant’s service records, there was a clearly discernable nexus between the PTSD and the applicant’s misconduct.  For this reason, the PTSD was found as mitigating to the misconduct.

Due to evidence of PTSD 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.

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 due to the applicant’s ability to serve satisfactorily.  Therefore, the board determined the overall characterization of the applicant’s service was more accurately reflected by a General under Honorable Conditions.

The DRB results were approved by the board president on 19 Nov 18.  If desired, the applicant can request a list of the board members and their votes by writing to:  
Air Force Review Boards Agency
Attn: Discharge Review Board
1500 West Perimeter Road, Suite 3700
Joint Base Andrews, NAF Washington, MD 20762-6602  
Attachment:
Examiner's Brief