AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT CASE NUMBER FD-2020-00351 The applicant was discharged on 8 Aug 2017 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a General discharge for Misconduct (Minor Infractions). The applicant appealed for an upgrade of her discharge characterization to Honorable and a change to the reenlistment eligibility code. The board was conducted on 18 Jun 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. 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 and to change the reenlistment eligibility code. 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 an Article 15 and multiple Letters of Counseling and Reprimand. Her misconduct included: failure to obey orders, inappropriate relationship with an officer, disrespect towards senior non-commissioned officers, and violating a lawful order. Due to evidence of mental health conditions 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 improper because she should have been honorably discharged for medical and mental health conditions that she developed while on active duty. A review of the military record indicated that while attending technical training the applicant was involved in a relationship with an officer in the German Air Force that resulted in marriage. She states she knew the consequences of marrying the officer, but that the rules were unclear and she should not be punished because of them. She contends she was harassed and received harsh punishment from her leadership for marrying the officer. She also contends she developed a multitude of mental health problems as a result of the harassment. Finally, she claims to have been the victim of military sexual assault that she never reported until now. She claims to have been undergoing a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) at the time of her discharge and asked her commander to separate her without completing the medical review due to the harassment. She believes had she waited out the MEB process she would have been medically retired. After a thorough review of the service record and input from the board's psychiatrist/ psychologist, the DRB found that the applicant's mental health condition was a mitigating factor to the applicant's misconduct, however, it could not completely explain or excuse the misconduct sufficiently to warrant upgrading the discharge. The DRB 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 and her contentions of harassment were without merit. Finally, a request to change an administrative discharge to a medical discharge is outside the scope of authority of the DRB. Should the applicant elect to continue to pursue a medical discharge, she is encouraged to exercise her right to appeal the DRB's decision to the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records. 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 24 Jun 2020. 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)