AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

FD-2021-00274	
					
GENERAL:  The applicant was discharged on 16 February 2011 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a General discharge for Misconduct.  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 30 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. 

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.

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.

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 an Article 15, his misconduct included: unauthorized GTC purchases and providing false statements about a PCS. 

The applicant requesting his type of discharge be changed to Honorable instead of General.  He stated that he believe it to be unjust due to mental issues(PTSD) that he had, which he was unaware of at the time until he was discharged and went to the VA for a diagnosis.  He stated that he received Mental Health treatment at the VA for assistance for six months of sessions with a counselor.  He stated that he received the help he needed and now he is deemed stable.  He stated that if he would have been diagnosed correctly after his deployment he would have been able to receive the assistance to guide him in the right direction instead of being reckless and causing his career to end early with a General Discharge.

The Board concluded the negative aspects of the applicant’s service outweighed the positive contributions he made during his Air Force career. The DRB took note of the applicant's duty performance as documented by his performance reports, awards and decorations, and other accomplishments. However, the applicant provided no evidence (nor is there any available in the applicant’s medical records) that the applicant exhibited any clinically significant indicators of PTSD or any other mental health condition that would have caused or mitigated his discharge.

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 18 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)