AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

FD-2021-00679	
					
SUMMARY: 

The applicant was discharged on 4 August 2020 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with an Entry Level Separation for Erroneous Entry. The applicant appealed for an upgrade of his discharge characterization and a change to the discharge narrative reason.

The applicant was not represented by counsel.    

The applicant requested the board be completed based on a records only review.

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. 

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 stated that there was evidence that, per the VA rating decision, that his condition existed during service but no evidence that it existed prior to service, and therefore his narrative reason should not be Erroneous Entry. The applicant contended that the current Character and Narrative causes an undue employment handicap. 

The DRB recognized the applicant’s preference to upgrade his discharge characterization.  However, in accordance with AFI 36-3208, Airmen are in entry level status during the first 180 days of continuous active military service.  If separated during this time, they normally receive an Entry Level Separation that is not characterized.  Because it is Air Force policy to not characterize this type of separation, the applicant’s request to “upgrade” to Honorable could not be approved.  

The DRB determined after a thorough review that the member did not have evidence of the condition prior to service and the evidence in the applicant’s record indicate that the injury occurred during service. Therefore, the Board determined that the narrative reason of the discharge was incorrect.

FINDING:  The DRB voted unanimously to deny the applicant’s request to upgrade his discharge characterization to Honorable and to change the reenlistment eligibility code to 2C or 3K. However, it voted unanimously to approve the applicant’s request to upgrade the Narrative reason for separation to “Secretarial Authority”.

CONCLUSION:  After a thorough review of the available evidence, to include the Applicant’s issues, summary of service, service/medical record entries, and discharge process, the Board found the discharge was improper. Therefore, the awarded characterization of service shall remain “Entry Level Separation”, the narrative reason for separation shall change to “Secretarial Authority”, and the reentry code shall remain 2C. The AFDRB results were approved by the board president on 21 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  
Instructions on how to appeal an AFDRB decision can be found at 
https://afrbaportal.azurewebsites.us

Attachment:
Examiner's Brief (Applicant Only)