AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

 FD-2021-00282

The applicant was discharged on 3 August 2007 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with an Entry Level/Uncharacterized discharge for Failed Medical/Physical Procurement Standards.  The applicant appealed for an upgrade of her discharge characterization to Honorable.  The Board was conducted on 
4 January 2022.  

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, to change the discharge narrative reason to Secretarial Authority, and to change the reenlistment eligibility code to 2C or 3K.

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 the applicant’s contention of a mental health condition, 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 10 USC §1553.

The applicant made no contentions that the discharge was inequitable or improper.  She claimed she was lied to by her recruiter and MEPS about her physical preparedness for basic training following the cesarean birth of her child prior to attending training.  She sustained an injury while attending basic training that led to her removal from training and separation from the Air Force.  She further claimed she experienced long lasting effects from the injury that led to a disability rating from the VA. 
 
A review of the record revealed a medical evaluation was conducted on the applicant after she sustained an injury while attending basic training.  The medical evaluation determined the applicant did not meet minimal medical standards and should not have been allowed to enlist.  Furthermore, the applicant did not pursue a waiver to remain in the Air Force.  As the applicant had less than 180 days of service she was discharged with an Entry Level Separation.

In accordance with AFI 36-3208, Airmen are in entry level status during the first 180 days of continuous active military service.  If separated during this time, they normally receive an Entry Level Separation that is not characterized.  Because it is Air Force policy to not characterize this type of separation, the applicant’s request to “upgrade” it to Honorable could not be approved.  

Additionally, the applicant’s case was reviewed under liberal consideration.  The DRB determined the applicant did not provide any substantiating evidence or records regarding mental health treatment sought or received in service and there was no evidence or records available to substantiate the applicant’s claim of a mental health condition in service.  Furthermore, the applicant received an Entry Level Separation for failing to meet the minimum medical standards to enlist and there is no evidence the applicant had a mental health condition in service that caused or mitigated her discharge.

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 7 January 2022.  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  
Instructions on how to appeal an AFDRB decision can be found at 
https://afrbaportal.azurewebsites.us

Attachment:
Examiner's Brief (Applicant Only)