AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

 FD-2019-00495	
					
GENERAL:  The applicant was discharged on 17 Sep 2015 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a(n) Honorable discharge for Completion Of Required Active Service.  The applicant appealed for a change to the reenlistment eligibility code to a “1J”.  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 change the reenlistment eligibility code.  

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 made no contentions that the discharge was inequitable/improper.  Applicant states he was preparing to separate from the AF after many years of service when he was told he may have to go through an MEB.  Since he wasn’t planning to re-enlist he was given the option to forgo the MEB, but was told this wouldn’t affect his RE code.  He states that during his deployments medical condition was never an issue.  Since his discharge he’s completed his bachelor degree and the reenlistment code of “4K” is making it difficult for him to rejoin, although he never formally went through the MEB.  The applicant believed he deserved a second chance to have the opportunity to serve in the military again.  The “4K” reenlistment code is used for when an Airman is pending evaluation by MEB/PEB, which is what the applicant was under at the time of his separation.  The board reviewed the applicant’s entire service record and a medical advisor reviewed his medical record and found no evidence of impropriety or inequity to warrant any changes to the reenlistment code.  

CONCLUSION:  

The board found insufficient evidence of an inequity or impropriety that would warrant a change to the applicant’s request for a change in his reenlistment code.  The DRB only has the authority to change reenlistment codes for reentry to “3K”, which was considered and denied.  Therefore, the code 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 3 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)