AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

FD-2021-00445	
					
GENERAL:  The applicant was discharged on 23 July 2021 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with an Entry Level/Uncharacterized discharge for Fraudulent Entry. The applicant appealed for an upgrade of his discharge characterization to Honorable, a change to the discharge narrative reason, and a change to the reenlistment eligibility code.  The Board was conducted on 12 October 2021.  

The applicant was represented by counsel.    

The applicant appeared and testified before the Discharge Review Board (DRB), with counsel, via video teleconference using Zoom on 12 October 2021.  No witnesses were present to testify on the applicant’s behalf.  The following additional exhibits were submitted at the hearing:  character reference letters and college transcripts.

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.

DISCUSSION:  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 documentation that the member withheld information that included disqualifying conditions during his intake process into the military. 

Due to evidence of  a mental health condition 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 is requesting a discharge upgrade to his Entry Level Separation, Erroneous Entry (other), Uncharacterized (less than 180 days), and reenlistment code of RE-1. The applicant stated that his discharge did not consider all the factors about his life.  He stated that as for the cursory description of his psychiatric history, he did not think that he was unfit for military service.  He stated that he felt his history showed he carried a bad character, and he does not feel that he has a bad character.  He stated that he had no intent of taking advantage of or defrauding anyone or anything throughout his enlistment process or military career.  In the applicant’s response to his discharge action he stated that he was told during the recruitment process that since his psychiatric history only went as far as 2017 (having only one panic attack), there would be nothing to worry about. 

The DRB Board reviewed the applicant’s service record and found no evidence of impropriety or inequity to warrant any changes to the discharge.  After a thorough review of the service record and input from the Board’s psychiatrist/ psychologist, the DRB found that the applicant’s failure to disclose pertinent facts of his psychiatric history was the basis of his discharge and there was no evidence presented to sufficiently warrant upgrading the discharge.

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 14 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)