AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

FD-2021-00517	
					
The applicant was discharged on 2 June 2021 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with an Entry Level/ Uncharacterized discharge for Erroneous Entry. The applicant appealed for an upgrade of her reenlistment eligibility code.  The Board was conducted on 14 December 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 or 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.  

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 contended that her discharge was improper.  She stated that the mental health episode she experienced during Basic Military Training was due to an exacerbation of a sexual assault that occurred prior to her service in the Air Force. The applicant stated that she requests an upgrade due to being wrongfully discharged. She stated that prior to the Air Force, she was sexually assaulted by an Army recruiter which resulted in anxiety, depression and PTSD. She explained that upon arrival at Air Force BMT, the MTIs looked like her assaulter and this exacerbated her symptoms. After she had a panic attack, she explained that she was sent to the medical center to be evaluated.  When she told the provider that her symptoms were related to the previous sexual assault, she stated that she was sent to the psych ward and eventually discharged with erroneous entry. She stated that nothing regarding her sexual assault was put in to her paperwork, and the psychiatrist labeled it as adjustment disorder. The applicant concluded that she felt she should be allowed back in the military because when she was discharged from the Army, they gave her an RE code 1 with the same symptoms.  

A thorough review of the applicant’s service record revealed that the applicant’s medical providers and leadership followed the proper process in the applicant’s entry level discharge.  Provisions in DoDI 6130.03, Medical Standards for Appointment, Enlistment, or Induction in the Military Services, Learning, Psychiatric, and Behavioral Condition, dictate that the applicant’s reported history of mental health conditions or disorders prior to and/or during service are considered disqualifying conditions for induction into military service. Therefore applicant’s request for a change of re-entry code to allow for re-enlistment could not be supported due to USAF policies.

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 17 December 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)