AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

FD-2021-00279	
					
GENERAL:  The applicant was discharged on 25 Aug 2011 in accordance with AFI 36-3209 with a General discharge for Misconduct. The applicant appealed for an upgrade of her discharge characterization to Honorable, a change to the discharge narrative reason, and a change to the reenlistment eligibility code.  The Board was conducted on 30 Sep 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 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 / 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 Unit Training Assembly attendance records indicating unexcused absences in a 12 month period.

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/or 10 USC §1553.

The applicant is requesting a change of service upgrade. The applicant stated that she believes she was suffering from PTSD which caused her to miss days from work.  She stated that her PTSD came from serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom in the Air Force Reserves. She stated that her diagnosis did not come at the time while she was serving, but it was later that she found out she was suffering from PTSD.  She stated that she is now getting the help, ca re, and medication to get through his daily routine while dealing with PTSD.

The DRB reviewed the applicant’s entire service record and found no evidence of impropriety or inequity to warrant an upgrade of the discharge. The DRB Board concluded the negative aspects of the applicant’s service outweighed the positive contributions she made during her Air Force career during this period of service. The applicant had multiple unexcused absences which resulted in unsatisfactory participation.  Per AFI 36-3209, paragraph 3.13.2, “nine or more unexcused absences from UTAs within a 12-month period constitutes unsatisfactory participation.” The applicant did not provide documentation that demonstrated the nexus between missed UTAs and PTSD. The applicant can pursue a personal appearance with the DRB where she can provide further clarification of the reasons the missed UTAs.  

After a thorough review of the service record and input from the Board’s psychiatrist/ psychologist, the DRB did not find that the applicant’s mental health condition was a mitigating factor to the applicant's misconduct.  The mental health condition did not explain or excuse the multiple UTA absences sufficiently to warrant upgrading the discharge. There is no evidence that the applicant’s absences could be attributed to a mental health condition.

If the applicant can provide additional information to substantiate her contentions, the Board recommends she exercise the right to make a personal appearance before the DRB or directly appeal the DRB’s decision to the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records.  
Instructions on how to appeal to AFDRB or AFBCMR can be found at https://afrbaportal.azurewebsites.us

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 3 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)