AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

 FD-2019-00459	
					
GENERAL:  The applicant was discharged on 04 Apr 14 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a(n) Honorable discharge for Personality Disorder.  The applicant appealed for a change to the discharge narrative reason and a change to the reenlistment eligibility code.  The board was conducted on 03 Oct 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 unanimously to approve the applicant’s request to change the discharge narrative reason to Secretarial Authority.

However, the board voted unanimously to deny a change to the reenlistment eligibility code to 3K.

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.  

Due to evidence of  mental health condition/s 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 made no contentions that the discharge was inequitable/improper.  He contends he does not have a personality disorder even though he had a rough time with anxiety.  He stated that he never experience the “disorder” getting in the way of any mission that was thrown his way.  He states that the discharge has made his life more complicated but he received his Bachelors and has been successful personally. The applicant believes he deserves a second chance to have the opportunity to serve in the military again since he is now better with handling stress and the rigors of the military environment.  However, the board reviewed the applicant’s entire service record and found no evidence of impropriety or inequity to warrant any changes to the RE code.  

The applicant also requested his Narrative Reason due to Adjustment/Personality Disorder.  Per guidance from the Department of Defense, applicant requests to change the narrative reason should be approved when the original narrative reason was Personality Disorder and there were no aggravating factors in the record, such as misconduct.  The board determined the facts in this case met the criteria and, therefore approved the applicant’s request to change the narrative reason.  

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 discharge narrative reason was more accurately described as “Secretarial Authority.”  The board did not change the discharge narrative reason or the reenlistment eligibility code.    

The DRB results were approved by the board president on 2 Dec 2019.  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
3351 Celmers Lane
Joint Base Andrews, NAF Washington, MD 20762-6602  

Attachment:
Examiner's Brief