AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

FD-2021-00035	
The applicant was discharged on 09 Aug 19 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 15 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 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 deny the applicant’s request to upgrade his discharge characterization to Honorable.

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 contended the discharge was inequitable/improper because he stated that leading up to his discharge, he was being wrongly accused of lying to his superiors. He states that he had been constantly harassed on a daily basis by his temporary supervisor about his physical therapy appointments. He states this led to an Article 15 and he had been labeled as unreliable due to a recurring problem with sleep apnea. The applicant explains that he had sought help for this issue in the past from mental health physicians. He continues to say that he had shown improvement and was cleared but the problem resurfaced due to constant lack of sleep due to his ankle pain and harassment at work. The member states that he was not cleared to drive to work but was still expected to drive to work and appointments. The member explains that he feels as though his supervisors did not care for his well-being and just targeted him to get him kicked out. He states that he was constantly doubted when he said he was leaving for physical therapy and harassed when he returned.

Upon review of the applicant’s service record, the Board was not able to find any documentation regarding the discharge.  Since the board relies on the presumption of regularity, it concluded the discharge received by the applicant was appropriate. The DRB found no evidence of impropriety or inequity to warrant an upgrade of the discharge. The characterization of the discharge received by the applicant was deemed to be appropriate.

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. There is some evidence the applicant was diagnosed with a mental health condition in service but the condition was treated and resolved to the satisfaction of the applicant.

If the applicant can provide additional information to substantiate his contentions, the Board recommends he 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.  

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 5 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 to AFDRB or AFBCMR:
Navigate to the Portal https://afrbaportal.azurewebsites.us/#

Attachment:
Examiner's Brief (Applicant Only)