AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

 FD-2021-00191	
					
The applicant was discharged on 17 Sep 2018 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a General for Misconduct (Minor Infractions). The applicant appealed for an upgrade of his discharge characterization to Honorable. The Board was conducted on 26 Aug 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.

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 couple Article 15, a couple Letters of Reprimand, and a Letter of Counseling. His misconducts included: derelict in performance of duties that willfully failed to check in patients in a timely manner, failed to complete Object 3 readiness training, absent without authority from place of duty, failure to obey order or regulation, and shown up late to huddle meeting and late checking in patients.

Due to evidence of 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/or 10 USC §1553.

Applicant requests to upgrade his characterization to Honorable due to employment in a desired career field. He states that it has been difficult to find employment in a career field he went to school for due to the reasons he was discharged for were due to minor disciplinary infractions. Mbr claims that majority of his infractions occurred during a time he was having issues with untreated sleep apnea, daytime sleepiness, depression, anxiety, narcolepsy like symptoms and issues with memory. These issues made it difficult for him to show on time, have attention to detail or remember to complete tasks.  He feels that if he had been provided proper treatment for mental health and the sleep apnea then his performance would have been improved significantly. 

The DRB reviewed the applicant’s entire service record and found no evidence of impropriety or inequity to warrant an upgrade of the discharge. After a thorough review of the service record and inputs from the Board’s psychiatrist/psychologist, there is evidence the applicant sought mental health treatment intermittently at times and may have had a mental health condition that impacted his ability to perform his duties at times. However, there is no evidence the applicant’s mental condition mitigated or outweighed his discharge, as evidenced by the MH provider noting “good” prognosis even when the applicant was nearly 100% non-compliant with both therapy and medication appointments. The DRB found no indication that any mental health issues had a direct impact on the applicant's misconduct or discharge.

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 1 Sep 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 an AFDRB decision can be found at 
https://afrbaportal.azurewebsites.us

Attachment:
Examiner's Brief (Applicant Only)