AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

 FD-2021-00346	
					
The applicant was discharged on 13 September 2013 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with an Under Other Than Honorable Conditions discharge for Misconduct (Serious Offense).  The applicant appealed for an upgrade of his discharge characterization to General or 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 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 multiple Article 15s and vacations of suspended nonjudicial punishment.  His misconduct included: as a result of previous overindulgence of intoxicating liquor, incapacitated for proper performance of duties; wrongfully smoked in dormitory; negligently failed to refrain from using government travel card for personal use; unlawfully possessed alcohol while under the age of 21; allowed Methamphetamines to be manufactured in his home based on charge on an arrest warrant; disposed of Methamphetamine waste in his home; allowed his wife to wrongfully inject methamphetamines; and tested positive for Methamphetamines. 

The applicant explained that he was at a very vulnerable time in his life and allowed other people life to make choices for him. He stated that he would not have normally made these choices, but he was struggling with mental health issues including alcohol dependency/abuse which led to his use of narcotics. He explained that it was the dependency and mental health issues that escalated his financial troubles as well as ignoring the illegal manufacturing of Meth in his home. The applicant stated that he understands these poor choices never should have happened but because of his mental health struggle and sleep deprivation, he made these decisions. The applicant stated that he understands his errors now and is seeking proper medical assistance. He explained that the only trouble he has been involved in post service was child support issues. The member would like an upgrade to an honorable discharge. 

After reviewing the service record, the DRB found no evidence to indicate the applicant was unaware of the Air Force policy of zero tolerance for illegal drug use.  The Board found the negative aspects of the applicant’s willful misconduct outweighed the positive aspects of his military service.  

After a thorough review of the service record and inputs from the Board’s psychiatrist/ psychologist, the DRB found no conclusive indication that any mental health issues had a direct impact on the applicant's misconduct or discharge. Specifically, there was no evidence that a mental health condition mitigated the applicant’s under age alcohol consumption, drug use, or the manufacture of drugs in the applicant’s home. 

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 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)