AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

 FD-2017-00579	
					
GENERAL:  The applicant was discharged on 3 Oct 13 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a General discharge for Misconduct (Minor Infractions).  The applicant appealed for an upgrade of his discharge characterization to Honorable.  The board was conducted on 8 Nov 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 3 to 2 to approve the applicant’s request to upgrade his discharge characterization to Honorable and to change the RE code to 2C.

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, three Letters of Reprimand, and one Letter of Counseling.  His misconduct included:  failure to go to appointed place of duty; made a false official statement with intent to deceive; facilitated the purchase of illegal substances for another military member; failure to acquire a quarters notification letter; failure to obtain a satisfactory or above on physical fitness assessment; and failure to meet minimum required score on written duty position assessment. 

Due to evidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (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.

The applicant contended the discharge was inequitable because he was seeking assistance for mental health issues after returning from a deployment to Afghanistan.  He states he self-referred to mental health for counseling, began anger management classes, and was prescribed Zoloft to help cope with readjusting.  

The board gave consideration to whether the applicant met normal military standards of acceptability for military service and similar indicators of the applicant’s ability to serve satisfactorily, as well as ability to adjust to military service.  The DRB determined PTSD contributed significantly to the applicant’s inability to adjust to military service on his return from deployment.  The board concluded that PTSD mitigated the misconduct, and that relief is warranted.  

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 an Honorable.  The board did not change the discharge narrative reason.    

The DRB results were approved by the board president on 20 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