AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

FD-2019-00462	
					
GENERAL:  The applicant was discharged on 13 Oct 2015 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a(n) General discharge for Pattern of Misconduct.  The applicant appealed for an upgrade of his discharge characterization to Honorable and change his narrative reasoning to “under Secretarial Authority”.  The board was conducted on 22 Oct 2019.  

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 deny the applicant’s request to upgrade his discharge characterization to Honorable and to change his narrative reason to Secretarial Authority.

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 Letter’s of Reprimand for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol & assaulting spouse.

The applicant contended the discharge was inequitable because based on the exception of the domestic violence incident and previous off base DUI he received when he first arrived at his duty station his service was otherwise honest and faithful.  He is asking for relief based on his post service accomplishments demonstrated by his good character and need for an upgrade.  He was enrolled in ADAPT & completed it successfully.  He is implementing strategies that he learning in rehab to life with honor and discipline.  He has become involve in religion with has given him a spiritual foundation.  He is seeking a discharge upgrade so he can receive the benefits of the GI bill, to which he paid into and worked to achieve.  

The DRB determined that, through the administrative actions taken by the chain of command in this case, the applicant had ample opportunities to change his negative behavior.  The DRB reviewed the applicant’s entire service record and found no evidence of impropriety or inequity to warrant an upgrade of the discharge.  The board understood the applicant’s present service characterization renders him ineligible for Department of Veteran Affairs education benefits.  However, this is not a matter of inequity or impropriety which would warrant an upgrade.  The board concluded the negative aspects of the applicant’s service outweighed the positive contributions he made during his Air Force career.

CONCLUSION:  

The board found insufficient evidence of an inequity or impropriety that would warrant a change to the applicant’s discharge.  Therefore, the discharge received by the applicant was deemed to be appropriate and his request was not approved. 

The DRB results were approved by the board president on 4 Apr 20.  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 (Applicant Only)