AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT CASE NUMBER FD-2019-00645 GENERAL: The applicant was discharged on 20 Jan 2017 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a General discharge for Misconduct (Other) (taken directly from the DD Form 214). The applicant appealed for an upgrade of her discharge characterization to Honorable. The board was conducted on 9 Jan 2020. 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. Pursuant to 10 USC §1553, the board included a member who is a Clinical 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 administrative counseling and nonjudicial punishment under Article 15, UCMJ. Her misconduct included: an unprofessional relationship with another Airman, adultery, and false official statement. The applicant contended the discharge was inequitable because she was a victim of military sexual trauma and her mental health struggles, as a result of the assault, were not taken into consideration when she was discharged. After an extensive review of the service record by the board's psychologist, the record showed the applicant had an inappropriate relationship with a married service member and that she communicated with this member over a long period of time, indicating that it was not an impulsive, sporadic act, but may be considered premeditated as the messages contained planning to continue and conceal the relationship. Furthermore, the applicant received treatment for PTSD developed by MST and her termination treatment notes reported her PTSD symptoms have remitted with support and treatment and she was using appropriate coping skills to manage her emotional distress. Thus, there was no indication of any concerns of her mental health at the time of her discharge. A review of her records found that her mental health condition did not mitigate her misconduct and precludes the liberal consideration policy, as directed by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and/or 10 USC §1553, be applied to her case. The board concluded the negative aspects of the applicant's service outweighed the positive contributions she made during her 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 her request was not approved. The DRB results were approved by the board president on 10 Feb 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