AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

 FD-2021-00531

The applicant was discharged on 12 April 2021 in accordance with AFI 36-3207 with an Honorable discharge for Miscellaneous Reasons.  The applicant appealed for a change to his discharge narrative.  The Board was conducted on 4 January 2022.  

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 change his discharge narrative reason.

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.  

Due to evidence of a mental health condition 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 contended the discharge narrative reason was improper because he applied for a voluntary separation/resignation under hardship provisions but was instead approved for a miscellaneous separation.  Therefore, he requested his discharge narrative reason be changed to dependency hardship.  

A review of the record revealed the applicant previously applied for voluntary separation/resignation.  He claimed that he was experiencing a hardship due to his parents’ failing health and the fact that he was an only child and the primary caregiver.  The Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council’s Personnel Board adjudicated the case and determined the evidence the applicant submitted did not demonstrate he was experiencing a hardship as defined by AFI 36-3207.  The Board, instead, approved him for separation/resignation under Miscellaneous Reasons finding his separation was in the best interest of the Air Force.  

The applicant made no contention that his mental health condition affected his discharge.  However, after a thorough review of the service record and inputs from the Board’s psychiatrist/ psychologist, the DRB found the applicant was diagnosed with a mental health condition that affected his ability to function effectively in the military environment and his early separation was recommended by medical providers.  The applicant’s condition was deemed unsuiting, therefore, the DRB determined the narrative reason the applicant received was appropriate based on the circumstances surrounding his discharge. 

Additionally, the DRB’s scope of authority to change a discharge narrative reason is restricted to Secretarial Authority.  Therefore, should the applicant continue to pursue a change to his narrative reason the Board recommends he exercise his right to 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 13 January 2022.  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)