AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT CASE NUMBER FD-2019-00569 GENERAL: The applicant was discharged on 10 Jul 2008 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a(n) General discharge for Misconduct. The applicant appealed for an upgrade of his 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 approve the applicant's request to upgrade his discharge characterization to Honorable, to change the discharge narrative reason to Secretarial Authority and to change the reenlistment eligibility code to 2C. 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 several Article 15's and Letters of Reprimand and one vacation of suspended nonjudicial punishment. His misconduct included: wrongful use of marijuana, assaulting a fellow Airman, dereliction of duty and disrespect towards an NCO. 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 contends that the discharge was inequitable/improper. He contends that he used marijuana to control his PTSD symptoms. He states that prior to his deployment he had no issues. During the deployment, he experienced numerous issues with the work environment, which worsened after he reported some of the situations. He noticed that he had made himself an outcast due to these actions. He had a traumatic encounter with someone he worked with and this is when the PTSD started, he was never the same since. He mentions that he was transferred to a different location for punishment, his weapon was taken and was verbally threatened by personnel above him. Feeling threatened for the second time and scared, he stopped caring about his job like he should have and utilized unauthorized items as a distraction from what he was going through. During this time, he also encountered mortar attacks that placed his life and those around him in danger and added trauma to his already worsened situation. On top of this, they also found out that their deployment were extended and he was being placed in a more dangerous location. He also came across discrimination and was defensive about the situation. He attempted suicide by taking pills weeks before going home because his leadership made him believe they had the power over his life and could make him stay longer and he just couldn't do it. He survived the attempt and was sent home. During his post-deployment checklist when asked the questions, he stated he didn't trust anyone to help him. He used marijuana to self-medicate and went to mental health to explain all of this. He was diagnosed with PTSD and states that he was found unsuitable for military service and would be entered into a program. He contends that when his unit found out, they ordered a random drug test, which he failed. Because of this, he received disciplinary action and was removed from the program. He accepts responsibility for his actions and understands that he should not have tried to self-medicate. He is currently taking his prescribed medications for the symptoms that he has been diagnosed with. 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 due to personal problems and arbitrary/capricious actions. Therefore, the board determined the overall characterization of the applicant's service was more accurately reflected by an Honorable discharge and the discharge narrative reason was more accurately described as "Secretarial Authority." Additionally, the reenlistment eligibility code was changed to "2C". 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)