AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

FD-2022-00124	
					
SUMMARY: 

The applicant was discharged on 21 September 2021 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with an Honorable Discharge for Miscellaneous-General Reasons. The applicant appealed for an upgrade of her discharge narrative reason.

The applicant was 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 her DD 214 should reflect that she was separated under “Force Management”. Without this, she cannot use VA benefits because she did not reach two years of active duty service. 

The DRB reviewed the applicant’s entire service record and found no evidence of impropriety or inequity. The board understood that the applicant cannot currently access specific VA benefits. However, it is not in the DRB’s scope to change the narrative reason to “Force Management”. The DRB can change the narrative reason to “Secretarial Authority”, which would not change the applicant’s benefits status. Additionally, the board noted that the member was not forced to separate through Palace Front. This was a voluntary process, therefore, the applicant would not meet the criteria for “reduction in force” through the VA. Lastly, the board wanted to note that the applicant has not been denied VA benefits, the applicant just has not yet met the requirements specified by the VA. Specifically, the applicant has not served the number of active duty days required to qualify for the VA benefit. If the applicant feels the Palace Front process has caused her an injustice, the board recommends that the applicant apply to the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR) by visiting https://afrbaportal.azurewebsites.us

FINDING:  The DRB voted unanimously to deny the applicant’s request to change her discharge narrative reason. 

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 proper. Therefore, the awarded characterization of service shall remain Honorable, the narrative reason for separation shall remain “Miscellaneous-General Reasons” and the reentry code shall remain “3A”. The AFDRB results were approved by the board president on 19 July 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)