AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

 FD-2021-00323	
					
The applicant was discharged on 4 March 2019 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a General discharge for Pattern of Misconduct.  The applicant appealed for an upgrade of his discharge characterization to Honorable.  The Board was conducted on 14 October 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.    

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 / 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.  

The applicant’s record of service included multiple Article 15s, a vacation of suspended nonjudicial punishment, a Letter of Reprimand, and multiple Letters of Counseling.  His misconduct included:  Disobeyed a lawful order from a SNCO, on divers occasions, failed to go at the time prescribed to appointed place of duty; failed to bring service dress uniform for inspection prior to ceremony.

Due to evidence of  post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and 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 states that prior to returning from Iraq and struggling with PTSD, his service was exemplary. He states that post-deployment, he was diagnosed with PTSD, and explains that the discharge was a result of non-judicial punishment for actions directly related to the PTSD and symptoms he was experiencing. The member continues to explain that he suffered extreme anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and alcohol abuse, and during this time, he was taking several medications that caused horrible side effects that impacted him and contributed to the disciplinary actions and eventual discharge. He explains that he successfully completed a substance abuse program and was treated for the PTSD but he still struggled to meet some of his professional obligations. The applicant concludes that his mental health issues were so severe, it impacted every aspect of his life. 

The DRB determined that, through the administrative actions taken by the chain of command in this case, the applicant had ample opportunities to change his negative behavior.  The Board concluded the negative aspects of the applicant’s service outweighed the positive contributions he made during his Air Force career.    

After a thorough review of the service record and input from the Board’s psychiatrist/ psychologist, the DRB found that aspects of the applicant’s mental health condition were mitigating factors to the applicant's misconduct, however, it could not completely explain or excuse the misconduct sufficiently to warrant upgrading the discharge. Specifically, while in service, it was confirmed and communicated to the member that his mental health condition was not a contributing factor to his misconduct and that it was a behavioral issue.

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 14 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)