AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

 FD-2021-00523	
					
The applicant was discharged on 26 October 2020 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, a change to the discharge narrative reason, and a change to the reenlistment eligibility code.  The Board was conducted on 14 December 2021.  

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 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 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 did not contend that the conditions surrounding his discharge were inequitable or improper.  He requested his discharge be upgraded to Honorable because of the progress he has made post-service and he wants to use the GI Bill. The member stated that while in service he developed a bad habit of relying on alcohol to help him with certain feelings. He stated that he ended up resorting to alcohol and marijuana to ease his anxiety but then he felt guilty, so he came forward to seek professional help even though he knew it could end his career. He explained that he started ADAPT but failed due to a positive drug test, so he went to another hospital to get clean. He took a test again and passed, but by that time, he was discharged. The member concluded that at the time, he was suffering from terrible depression addictions and anxiety that almost took his life but now he’s living life sober and responsibly.

The DRB reviewed the applicant’s entire service record and found no evidence of impropriety or inequity to warrant an upgrade of the 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. It found the negative aspects of the applicant’s willful misconduct outweighed the positive aspects of his military service. The Board understood the applicant’s present service characterization renders him ineligible for Department of Veterans’ Affairs education benefits.  However, this is not a matter of inequity or impropriety which would warrant an upgrade.  
 
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. The applicant’s condition of suspected malingering and substance use likely caused, but does not mitigate nor excuse his 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 16 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)