AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT CASE NUMBER FD-2019-00546 GENERAL: The applicant was discharged on 13 Mar 2013 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a(n) General discharge for Misconduct (Minor Infractions). The applicant appealed for an upgrade of her discharge characterization to Honorable. The board was conducted on 24 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. Pursuant to 10 USC §1553, the board included a member who is a psychiatrist/ psychologist 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 deny the applicant's request to upgrade her 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 one Article 15 and several Letters of Reprimand and Counseling for fitness failures, failure to wear proper protective equipment and obey orders, wrongful sexual intercourse with another Airman not her spouse. Due to evidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) / 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 contended the discharge was inequitable because of her mental health condition. Applicant contends that she had problems with PTSD and anxiety. She states she was angry, crying and upset all the time. She was told she had a mental health condition and was hospitalized while in the military. She was given an Other Than Honorable Discharge against her better judgment. She feels that if more time was spent finding out what was wrong with her mental health, she wouldn't have been removed from the military. She feels that having the Honorable discharge would help her moved on with her life. The DRB took note of the applicant's duty performance as documented by her performance reports, awards and decorations, and other accomplishments. The board determined that, through the administrative actions taken by the chain of command in this case, the applicant had ample opportunities to change her negative behavior. The board concluded the negative aspects of the applicant's service outweighed the positive contributions she made during her Air Force career. After a thorough review of the service record and inputs from the board's psychiatrist/ psychologist, the DRB found no conclusive indication that any mental health issues had a direct impact on the applicant's misconduct or discharge. 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 her request was not approved. The DRB results were approved by the board president on 10 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)