AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

FD-2021-00222	
					
GENERAL:  The applicant was discharged on 09 May 2006 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 23 Sep 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 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 and his misconduct included:  Drug Abuse.

The applicant contended the discharge was inequitable/improper. The applicant is requesting his character of service be changed to honorable.  The applicant stated he went home to Colorado for leave prior to deploying for the first time. This deployment was in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. The applicant said he made a mistake hanging out with the wrong friends.  He stated that they went to a gathering, they were smoking cigarettes, and they peer pressured him into smoking.  He said he was surprised that the cigarette contained marijuana.   The applicant stated that when he returned he was selected for random drug testing and was found positive. He said soon after he was reprimanded and discharged.  The applicant stated that since his discharge he has learned from his mistake and he has improved, because he has improved he would like for his discharge to be reconsidered for upgrade.

The DRB concluded that the negative aspects of the applicant’s service outweighed the positive contributions he made during his Air Force career. After reviewing the service record, the DRB found no evidence to indicate the applicant was unaware of the Air Force policy of zero tolerance for illegal drug use.

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 27 September 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)