AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

 FD-2020-00599	
					
The applicant was discharged on 17 Feb 17 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.  The board was conducted on 3 Dec 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/ 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 approve the applicant’s request to upgrade her discharge characterization to Honorable and to change the discharge narrative reason to Secretarial Authority. It voted unanimously to deny a change the reenlistment eligibility code to 2C.

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 a few Letters of Reprimand. Her misconduct included:  Reported late to work after drinking alcoholic beverages within 8 hours of duty; did not sleep/recuperate sufficiently to safely perform duties; failure to identify to supervisory personnel the inability to perform duties safely; tardiness and failure to go; fled scene of accident involving GOV; making a false official statement; failed to report accident

Due to evidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), military sexual trauma 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 made no contentions that the discharge was inequitable/improper. The member states that she was performing well within the first year of enlistment. She goes on to explain that after that time, she was sexually assaulted for the second time in her life. She states the first time, she was not believed so she didn’t report it the second incident. She goes on to state that over the following year, she became increasingly depressed and at times, thought of suicide. She states that at her first duty station, she began to see MH and was diagnosed with PTSD. She states that she then started to use alcohol to cope with her symptoms and that things weren’t improving for her. She states the meds decreased her sex drive which later led to trouble within her marriage which added more stress. She states that coping with alcohol led to coming in late after a night of drinking. The member states that her next LOR was for coming in late as well but this time because she was having sleep issues. She states the final LOR was because she backed into another car but did not see any damage so she left. She goes on to state that she feels all of these incidents were related to her PTSD. She states that without her PTSD, she believes she would have finished her enlistment and would’ve been discharged honorably.

CONCLUSION:  

The board found neither the evidence of record, nor that provided by the applicant substantiated any inequity.  However, sufficient evidence existed to convince the board the discharge was improper.  Therefore, the board determined the overall characterization of the applicant’s service was more accurately reflected as Honorable and the discharge narrative reason was more accurately described as “Secretarial Authority.” The board did not change the reenlistment eligibility code.    

The DRB results were approved by the board president on 14 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)