AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT CASE NUMBER FD-2019-00752 GENERAL: The applicant was discharged on 31 May 18 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a General discharge for Misconduct (Drug Abuse). The applicant appealed for an upgrade of her discharge characterization to Honorable. The board was conducted on 19 Mar 20. 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 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 3 to 2 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, one Letter of Reprimand. Her misconduct included: wrongful use of benzodiazepine; wrongful use of cannabinoids; and a civilian arrest for driving while drunk. Due to evidence of military sexual trauma (MST) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 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 it was an isolated incident that resulted from MST. The applicant states that she was drugged by a fellow airman, and sexually assaulted. The applicant insists that she lost 72 hours of her memory surrounding the incident due to being drugged multiple times. The applicant states that she was ashamed and afraid and never reported the sexual assault until after the discharge. She states that she has been receiving mental health treatment bi-weekly through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and substance abuse counseling to cope with the incident and the aftermath that resulted in the discharge. The DRB reviewed the applicant's entire record and found no evidence of a reported MST or that the applicant contended involuntary consumption of either substance. The board also found no evidence to indicate the applicant was unaware of the Air Force policy of zero tolerance for illegal drug use. The board found the negative aspects of the applicant's misconduct outweighed the positive aspects of her military service. After a thorough review of the service record and inputs from the board's psychiatrist, 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 23 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)