AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

 FD-2021-00021	
					
The applicant was discharged on 18 May 20 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with an Under Other Than Honorable Conditions for misconduct (drug abuse). The applicant appealed for an upgrade of his discharge characterization to Honorable.  The board was conducted on 18 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.    

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. 
  
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 an Article 15.  His misconduct included wrongfully using drugs.  

The applicant is requesting his discharge be upgraded from under honorable conditions to honorable.  He claims he has served honorably for 3 years in the Air Force.  He said he was told by Veterans Affairs office that in order to use his G.I. Bill he would have to request a discharge upgrade.  Member states he want to use his G.I. Bill to go college and find a job that he can keep.
   
The DRB recognized the applicant served 3 years before the discharge was initiated, but concluded the seriousness of the applicant’s willful misconduct offset the positive aspects of his service. It reviewed the applicant’s entire service record and found no evidence of impropriety or inequity to warrant an upgrade of the discharge.  The board understands the applicant’s present service characterization renders him ineligible for Department of Veteran Affairs education benefits. However, this is not a matter of inequity or impropriety which would warrant an upgrade. 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 24 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)