AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

 FD-2021-00345	
					
The applicant was discharged on 5 August 2011 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a General discharge for Misconduct (Minor Infractions).  The applicant appealed for an upgrade of her discharge characterization to Honorable.  The Board was conducted on 19 October 2021.  

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 an Article 15 and a vacation of suspended nonjudicial punishment.  Her misconduct included:  failure to go at the time prescribed to place of duty, physical fitness test; failure to go at the time prescribed to appointed place of duty; with intent to deceive, made an official statement stating member had gone to sick call; with intent to deceive, made a false official statement stating that the member had been restricted to quarters; willfully failed to refrain from leaving residence while on quarters; after being restricted to base, broke said restriction. 

Due to evidence of  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 10 USC §1553.

The applicant stated that she suffered severe PTSD and depression issues after returning from her deployment. She explained that the reason for the discharge was her mental stability after trying to commit suicide twice. 

Upon review of the applicant’s service record, the Board was not able to find any documentation regarding the discharge.  Since the board relies on the presumption of regularity, it concluded that 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 did not find conclusive evidence that the applicant’s mental health issues had a direct impact on the applicant's misconduct or discharge. The evidence indicates that the applicant’s disciplinary actions stem from relationship problems and lifestyle choices which resulted in conduct that was incongruent with service in the Air Force. 

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 26 October 2021.  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 an AFDRB decision can be found at 
https://afrbaportal.azurewebsites.us

Attachment:
Examiner's Brief (Applicant Only)