AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

FD-2022-00036	
					
SUMMARY: 

The applicant was discharged on 8 July 2021 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a General Discharge for Misconduct (Minor Infractions). The applicant appealed for an upgrade of his discharge characterization.

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’s record of service included multiple Article 15s.  His misconduct included:  Failed to refrain from drinking under the age of 21; provided alcohol to Airmen under the age of 21; misrepresented his age when purchasing alcohol. 

The applicant contended that the discharge was unfair. He explains that he received two article 15s for the same investigation, and after taking everything away from him, he never got a 2nd chance. 

The DRB determined that the discharge was inequitable. It noted that the applicant received two Articles 15 for infractions that occurred within the same month, however the second Article 15 was not written until approximately a year later. Additionally, the second Article 15 was for an incident that happened prior to the first Article 15. Lastly, the board noted that the second Article 15 was written as if the member had not received prior punishment, indicating a lack of acknowledgement of the first Article 15. 

The board could not find any records to indicate that the applicant did not successfully carry out the punishment he was given for the first Article 15. Evidence suggests that the member did recover from the incident. There is no evidence in the member’s record to indicate he was not successfully rehabilitated from the first Article 15. 

FINDING:  The DRB voted unanimously to approve 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 3K.

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 inequitable. Therefore, the awarded characterization of service shall change to “Honorable”, the narrative reason for separation shall change to “Secretarial Authority”, and the reentry code shall change to 3K. The AFDRB results were approved by the board president on 9 May 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)