AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

FD-2019-00587	
					
GENERAL:  The applicant was discharged on 16 Aug 2006 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 31 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 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 a Special Court Martial for wrongfully using mushrooms containing psilocybin. 

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 he suffered from an undiagnosed mental health condition while in military.  Since his discharge, he has been diagnosed with combat-related, service connected PTSD due to deployment.  He states the symptoms intensified during the deployment, which required him to always change his travel routines, be constantly vigilant for threats and deploy with a detached unit in dangerous environments.   He contends that he self-medicated after finding that there are clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy of treating mood and anxiety such as PTSD with mushroom.  He can confirm the relief he sought from his symptoms after using this product.  The undiagnosed PTSD led to multiple mental health issues that has affected his career and personal life but has improved since receiving the proper treatment for the condition.  He notes that he served honorably without infraction during his time in the service before this incident occurred, which provides reasoning to grant him relief.  After his discharge, he has had stable employment and is currently pursuing higher education to achieve his goals. 

After reviewing the service record, the DRB found no evidence to indicate the applicant was unaware of the Air Force policy of zero tolerance for illegal drug use.  The board also took note of the applicant's duty performance as documented by his performance reports, awards and decorations, and other accomplishments.  The DRB was pleased to see the applicant has been successful since leaving the Air Force.  However, the board reviewed the applicant’s entire service record and found no evidence of impropriety or inequity to warrant any changes to the discharge.  The board concluded the negative aspects of the applicant’s service outweighed the positive contributions he made during his 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 his request was not approved. 

The DRB results were approved by the board president on 22 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)