AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  

CASE NUMBER

 FD-2020-00390
      					
GENERAL:  The applicant was discharged on 16 Mar 2011 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a  Honorable discharge for Adjustment Disorder (No Board Entitlement).  The applicant appealed for a change to the reenlistment eligibility code.  The board was conducted on 16 Jul 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 change the reenlistment eligibility. The board found that an administrative error was present and his DD 214 required a change of the characterization to "Honorable" and the narrative reasoning be changed to "Secretarial Authority".  

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.  

Due to evidence of a 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 made no contentions that the discharge was inequitable/improper.  

Per guidance from the Department of Defense, a change to the narrative reason should be approved when the original narrative reason was Adjustment/Personality Disorder and there were no aggravating factors in the record, such as misconduct.  The board determined the facts in this case met the criteria and, therefore approved a change to the narrative reason.  

CONCLUSION:  

The board found insufficient evidence of an inequity or impropriety that would warrant a change to the reenlistment eligibility code.  Therefore, his request was not approved. The board found that an administrative error was present and his DD 214 required a change of the characterization to "Honorable" and the narrative reasoning changed to "Secretarial Authority".  

The DRB results were approved by the board president on 21 Jul 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)