AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

 FD-2021-00049	
					
The applicant was discharged on 13 July 18 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a General discharge for Misconduct (Minor Infractions). 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 22 Apr 21.  

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 represented by counsel.    

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 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 an Article 15.  His misconduct included:  failure to report a damage vehicle. 

The applicant contended the discharge was inequitable/improper because the applicant request that his discharge status is corrected from “General/Under Honorable Conditions” to “Honorable” and his narrative reason for separation and separation coded corrected from reflecting “misconduct (minor infractions to “Secretarial Authority”.  He stated that his command made an error in discretion by hastily discharging the applicant soon after his second NJP.  He states that he is an excellent candidate for rehabilitation and should have been offered the opportunity to redeem himself to his command.  Member states that he has been unjustly labeled as result of his discharge from the Air Force despite receiving an unduly harsh punishment from his command. The applicant believed he deserved a second chance despite his misconduct in order to have the opportunity to serve in the military again.  

The DRB determined that, through the administrative actions taken by the chain of command, the applicant had ample opportunities to change his negative behavior.  No evidence was provided to substantiate the contention that the discretion used by the chain of command was improper.  As to the contention of inequity of the discharge due to stigmatization, per AFI 36-3208, “Administrative Separation of Airmen” paragraph 1.17, a member’s service characterization is based on the quality of the member's service as reflected in his military record to include personal conduct, performance of duty, and the reason for separation.  In this case, significant negative aspects of the applicant’s conduct outweigh positive aspects of his military record.  Therefore, the Board found his service was appropriately captured with a “General/Under Honorable Conditions” service characterization.

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 18 May 21.  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)