AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

 FD-2020-00742	
					
The applicant was discharged on 12 Oct 19 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a General discharge for Misconduct (Drug Abuse).  The applicant appealed for an upgrade of her discharge characterization to Honorable and a change to the discharge narrative reason.  The board was conducted on 4 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 approve 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.

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 Letter of Reprimand, and a Letter of Counseling. Her misconduct included: wrongful use of marijuana; insubordinate conduct/failure to obey/dereliction; failure to go to appointed place of duty.

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 states that she was using drugs due to a sexual assault crisis. She says that she didn’t trust anyone and was scared to reach out for help. As a result, she states that she used drugs because the only other alternate was suicide so she chose drugs. The member concludes that she truly regrets it and she’s currently receiving help and is off drugs.

CONCLUSION:  
The board found neither the evidence of record, nor that provided by the applicant substantiated any inequity.  However, based on liberal consideration, 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 by an Honorable and 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 5 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)