AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

FD-2021-00235	
					
GENERAL:  The applicant was discharged on 04 March 2020 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a General discharge for Entry Level Performance and Conduct. The applicant appealed for an upgrade of discharge characterization to Honorable, a change to the discharge narrative reason, and a change to the reenlistment eligibility code.  The Board was conducted on 23 September 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.    

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 approve the applicant’s request to change his discharge characterization to Uncharacterized/Entry Level Separation.

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 a Letter of Counseling.  His misconduct included failure to turn in phone during basic training and sleeping while on entry control duty.

The applicant is requesting a change to his reentry code. He believes it was erroneously entered and he would like to continue his military career. Applicant disagrees with the cause of the discharge identified as unsatisfactory conduct and performance.  The applicant stated that a lot of Airman receive ELS for very minor circumstances, while others with much worse scenarios returned to training.  The applicant stated that he wishes to rejoin the Air Force because all of his life he has wanted to be part of something that made a difference in the world. 

The DRB recognized that in accordance with AFI 36-3208, Airmen are in entry level status during the first 180 days of continuous active military service.  Application of AFI 36-3208 typically lead to an Entry Level Separation that is not characterized for airmen who are separated during the first 180 days of military service.  Also, the applicant’s leadership identified in the applicant’s records their intent for the discharge characterization was Uncharacterized/Entry Level Separation. Thus, the applicant’s request to change his characterization from General to Uncharacterized/Entry Level Separation was granted.  The applican’ts discharge paperwork reflected Uncharacterized/Entry Level Separation. However, when the DD 214 was published it reflected a General discharge which was incorrect.

CONCLUSION:  
The Board found neither the evidence of record, nor that provided by the applicant substantiated any inequity.  However, sufficient evidence existed to convince the board the discharge was improper.  Therefore, the Board determined the overall characterization of the applicant’s service was more accurately reflected by an Uncharacterized/Entry Level Separation. The Board did not change the discharge narrative reason or the reenlistment eligibility code.    

The DRB results were approved by the board president on 4 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)