AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

FD-2021-00036	
					
The applicant was discharged on 2 Jun 20 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a General discharge for Alcohol Rehabilitation Failure.  The applicant appealed for an upgrade of his discharge characterization to Honorable.  The Board was conducted on 29 Apr 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 deny the applicant’s request to upgrade his discharge characterization to Honorable. It voted 2 to 1 to approve the change the discharge narrative reason to Secretarial Authority. The board did not 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 Letter of Reprimand, and a Memorandum for Record.  His misconduct included:  Failed fitness test for second time in 24 months; ADAPT program failure. 

The applicant states that during his service he developed severe major depressive disorder. The member explains that this was originally misdiagnosed as adjustment disorder. He concludes that this disorder was directly related to the misuse of alcohol and failure to change. 

CONCLUSION:  

The DRB reviewed the applicant’s entire service record and found insufficient evidence to upgrade the discharge character. There was no evidence to support his contention that he was misdiagnosed with an Adjustment Disorder from service instead of Major Depressive Disorder.  The board also determined that he displayed several signs of incompatibility to service and the desire to be discharged by refusing to deploy and putting his interests over that of others.  This display of behavior is disruptive to unit cohesion and good order and discipline. However, it felt that the current discharge narrative reason did not accurately convey the reason for discharge and may have unintentionally stigmatized the member. Therefore the board determined that the discharge narrative reason was more accurately described as “Secretarial Authority.” The board did not change the reenlistment eligibility code.    

If the applicant can provide additional information to substantiate his contentions, the Board recommends he 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.  

The DRB results were approved by the board president on 10 May 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  

Instructions on how to appeal to AFDRB or AFBCMR can be found at 
https://afrbaportal.azurewebsites.us

Attachment:
Examiner's Brief (Applicant Only)