AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

 FD-2020-00752	
					
The applicant was discharged on 31 Jul 12 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a General discharge for Misconduct (Drug Abuse).  The applicant appealed for an upgrade of his discharge characterization to Honorable.  The board was conducted on 9 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 his 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 few Article 15s, a Letter of Admonishment and a couple of Letters of Counseling.  His misconduct included:  Underage drinking/failed to refrain from visiting hotel; at a club while on quarters; on divers occasions, used Government travel card for personal use; failed to show for mandatory appointment; left M-4 rifle unattended in patrol vehicle; wrongful use of spice. 

Due to evidence of  post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)/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 member states that the discharge was inequitable due to old policies prior to the Kurta memo. He explains that he did not receive any reasonable consideration for the PTSD he was diagnosed with and self-treating. The member states he was discharged for drug use however, he was self-medicating. The member states that he was diagnosed with PTSD in 2008 after return from his first deployment where he experienced significant rocket attacks. He states that he didn’t want to see help because the stigma and shame attached to seeking psychiatric help as security forces. He goes on to say that he lost his friends and struggled telling his family the truth for two years after discharge because he was ashamed. The member explains that the self-medicating kept him somewhat stable until he failed urinalysis. The member concludes that he’s now 100% service connected disability for PTSD due to the experiences he faced and that there would be substantial doubt that his discharge would be the same under the Kurta policy. 

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 board concluded the negative aspects of the applicant’s service outweighed the positive contributions he made during his Air Force career.  
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. The evidence indicates the applicant’s pattern of misconduct began prior to deployment(s), prior to his diagnosis of PTSD, and persisted throughout his service career. The characterization of the discharge received by the applicant was deemed to be appropriate.

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 17 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)