AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT CASE NUMBER FD-2019-00167 GENERAL: The applicant was discharged on 18 Jun 09 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a General discharge for Misconduct (Drug Abuse). The applicant appealed for an upgrade of his discharge characterization to Honorable and a change to the discharge narrative reason. The board was conducted on 5 Sep 19. 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 discharge narrative reason to Secretarial Authority. An administrative change to the reenlistment eligibility code to 2C will be made to match the upgraded characterization. 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 Letters of Reprimand and one Letter of Counseling. His misconduct included: failure to go, disobeying an officer and absence without leave. 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 stated the discharge was inequitable because it was based on one isolated incident. He contends that he suffered from an undiagnosed, untreated mental and physical disability that occurred after suffering from an injury that occurred during a mission. 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 based on the applicant's ability service satisfactorily. Therefore, the board determined the overall characterization of the applicant's service was more accurately reflected by an Honorable discharge and the discharge narrative reason was more accurately described as "Secretarial Authority." Additionally, the reenlistment eligibility code was administratively changed to "2C". The DRB results were approved by the board president on 10 Sep 19. 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