AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

FD-2019-00480	
					
GENERAL:  The applicant was discharged on 10 Jan 2018 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a(n) General discharge for Misconduct (Minor Infractions).  The applicant appealed for an upgrade of his discharge characterization to Honorable.  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.

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 numerous Letter’s of Counseling and Reprimand for failure to: adhere to housing policy, violating accountability policy for falsifying residence, bring chemical medication while deployed, properly document a known equipment discrepancy, adhere to prescribed technical order, go to appointed place of duty at the time prescribed, comply with dorm policy, complete flight line competency card refresher training, properly perform duties, provide/annotate a fitness education and intervention program on time.

The applicant contended the discharge was inequitable because it was too harsh and that it occurred close to his ETS.  The applicant insists that airmen who received a discharge for Misconduct (Minor Infractions), received an Honorable discharge.  He acknowledges that he had a difficult time adjusting to the military, but insists that he served Honorably, to include his deployments, and to the best of his abilities.  The applicant states that he was not provided additional training to overcome his deficiencies.  The applicant believes that the timing of the discharge was intentional in an effort to prevent him from receiving VA benefits.  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.  It also 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)