AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

FD-2020-00536	
					
GENERAL:  The applicant was discharged on 06 May 2013 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a(n) General discharge for Misconduct (Minor Infractions).  The applicant appealed for an upgrade of his discharge characterization to Honorable.  The board was conducted on 24 Sep 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 approve the applicant’s request to upgrade his discharge characterization to Honorable, to change the discharge narrative reason to Secretarial Authority, and to change the reenlistment eligibility code to 2C.

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 several Letters of Reprimand, and Letters of Counseling and Admonition.  His misconduct included:  failure to have proper document to take fitness assessment, failure to check in/report to roll call, failure to do a quality verification inspection, failure to do “Safe for Maintenance” properly, late to work, no-show to an appointment, 

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/improper due to his mental health conditions.  He states that it was inequitable since there was a degree of systemic racism/harassment/bullying that occurred during his service.  He reported his mental health conditions and the effects of this led to his multiple disciplinary actions.  He states that he was regularly made out to be a negative example by his leadership despite similar mistakes made by his peers, who reported they did not receive disciplinary actions.  He contends that he dealt with micro aggressions by being degraded in front of his peers, given disciplinary actions, denied promotion, accused of things that were not true.  The accumulation of this led to his several mental health issues.  He notes that he had filed a complaint regarding this prior to his discharge but did not see any results from this.

After a thorough review of the service record and input from the board’s psychiatrist/ psychologist, the DRB found that most of the applicant’s mental health condition was a mitigating factor to the applicant's misconduct.

CONCLUSION:  

The board found neither the evidence of record, nor that provided by the applicant substantiated an impropriety.  However, sufficient evidence existed to convince the board the discharge was inequitable due to capability to serve.  Therefore, the board determined the overall characterization of the applicant’s service was more accurately reflected by an Honorable discharge, the discharge narrative reason was more accurately described as “Secretarial Authority.”  Additionally, the reenlistment eligibility code was changed to “2C.”  

The DRB results were approved by the board president on 7 Dec 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)