AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

 FD-2020-00563	
					
The applicant was discharged on 29 Oct 2007 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a General discharge for Misconduct (Other). The applicant appealed for an upgrade of his discharge characterization to Honorable.  The board was conducted on 22 Oct 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 2 to 1 to deny 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, a Summary Court Martial, a few Letters of reprimand and a Letter of Counselling. His misconduct included: Late to work on diverse occasions; with the intent to deceive a SNCO, make an official statement know to be false on diverse occasions; Indebted for rent and damages, dishonorably failed to pay; indebted to Squadron for utilities, dishonorably failed to pay; made a false official statement to SNCO/NCOs; failed to notify supervision of being sent home as directed for suspected illness; failed to notify chain of command of illness being contagious; made false official statement; failed to pay rental agency for home; failed to complete PFR review.

Due to evidence of  post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and 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 inequitable. He states he’s requesting a change in discharge because it was connected to his PTSD. The member states he was not given the same level of mental health care as his white colleagues while on active duty or separation. He states he was left alone to deal with his mental illness while on active duty which cause him to get into minor infractions.  

The DRB determined that, through the administrative actions taken by the chain of command in this case, the applicant had ample opportunities to change his negative behavior. The DRB reviewed the applicant’s entire service record and found insufficient evidence to grant the applicant’s request. The board concluded the negative aspects of the applicant’s service outweighed the positive contributions he made during his Air Force career. The characterization of the discharge received by the applicant was deemed to be appropriate.

After a thorough review of the service record and input from the board’s psychiatrist/ psychologist, the DRB found that some of 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.

If the applicant can provide additional information to substantiate his contentions, the board recommends he exercise the right to make a personal appearance before the DRB or directly 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 his request was not approved. 

The DRB results were approved by the board president on 10 Nov 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)