AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

 FD-2020-00719	
					
The applicant was discharged on 5 Mar 10 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with an Under Other Than Honorable Conditions discharge for Misconduct (Serious Offense).  The applicant appealed for an upgrade of her discharge characterization to Honorable.  The Board was conducted on 23 Mar 21.  

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 / 3K.

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 Article 15s and a Vacation of Suspended NJP.  Her misconduct included:  wrote check for purchase of food with insufficient funds; unlawfully struck Airman on hand with bowl; assaulted another Airman by throwing bowl at their head; dereliction of duty-used government travel card for unauthorized purchases; absent without authority

Due to evidence of 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 states that the discharge was inequitable because it was based on an isolated incident in 7 years of service with no adverse action. She states that after returning from a deployment, she was unwise in her thinking, especially finances, and wanted to find quick ways to have a good life for her and her son. She states that she had people in her life during this time whose intentions were not for the betterment of her. 

The DRB recognized the applicant served 7 years before the discharge was initiated and reviewed the entire service record. The Board determined that, through the administrative actions taken by the chain of command in this case, the applicant had ample opportunities to change her negative behavior. It concluded the seriousness of the applicant’s willful misconduct offset the positive aspects of her service. The characterization of the discharge received by the applicant was deemed to be appropriate.
Upon review of the applicant’s service record, the Board was not able to find any discharge documentation.  Since the board relies on the presumption of regularity, it concluded the discharge received by the applicant was appropriate.  

After a thorough review of the service record and inputs from the Board’s psychiatrist/ psychologist, the DRB found no conclusive indication that any mental health issues had a direct impact on the applicant's misconduct or discharge. Due to the lack of the discharge package, the contentions could not be corroborated and the board could not determine whether her mental health condition caused any of the misconduct at the time. 

If the applicant can provide the discharge package and/or additional information to substantiate her contentions, the Board recommends she 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 her request was not approved. 

The DRB results were approved by the board president on 23 Mar 21.  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)