AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

 FD-2021-00617	
GENERAL:  The applicant was discharged on 20 September 2021 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with an Honorable discharge for Miscellaneous Reasons - General.  The applicant appealed for a change to his discharge narrative reason.  The board was conducted on 3 March 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.    
 
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 and also voted unanimously to deny changing the reenlistment eligibility code.

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 contended his discharge narrative reason was improper and has prohibited him from obtaining unemployment benefits.  He was voluntarily released early from active duty under miscellaneous reasons and the State of Washington denied him unemployment benefits based on lack of sufficient service and/or a qualifying condition to be eligible for benefits.  He further contended his narrative reason should have been “Early Separation” to qualify for unemployment insurance benefits.  

A review of the applicant’s record revealed he was given a separation code that coincides with “Service member initiated release/transfer to another Service when a Service component does not have a Service reporting requirement for specific reasons and desires to identify reasons collectively "All other reasons" which qualify a member for separation.”  The board did find any documentation regarding the reason why the applicant separated early under miscellaneous reasons.  The Board did not find any evidence to suggest the applicant’s discharge and concluded the discharge received by the applicant was appropriate.  Furthermore, although it appears the applicant did not serve enough time to qualify for unemployment benefits in his state, this is outside the scope of the DRB.

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 8 March 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  

Attachment:
Examiner's Brief (Applicant Only)