AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

FD-2022-00137	
					
SUMMARY:  The applicant was discharged on 31 March 2021 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with an Entry Level Separation for Erroneous Entry.  The applicant appealed for a change to the reenlistment eligibility code and separation code.

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 contended he was struggling with being away from ill family members during the COVID pandemic.  He claimed he struggled with being in the military and not being available to his family members who relied on him.  Therefore, he chose to leave the military to return home and be with his family.

A review of the applicant’s record revealed he was referred to behavioral health while attending Basic Military Training due to safety concerns.  He endorsed worsening depressed mood, anxiety and suicidal thoughts in the context of initiation of military training and did not want to return to the training environment due to stress.  He was diagnosed with symptoms and signs involving emotional state and suicidal ideations and Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood.  The medical providers determined his diagnosis did not meet retention standards for continued military service and his ability to function effectively in the military environment was significantly impaired and would be worsened by returning to training.  Efforts at rehabilitation and encouraging coping skills were ineffective and therefore it was recommended he be discharged.

LIBERAL CONSIDERATION:

Due to evidence of a mental health condition found in the applicant’s medical record, the Board considered the case based on the liberal consideration (LC) standards required by guidance from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and 10 USC §1553.  The Board included a member who is a physician, clinical psychologist, or psychiatrist.  Specifically, the Board reviewed the four questions the Under Secretary of Defense provided that boards should consider when weighing evidence in requests for modification of discharges due in whole or in part to mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI); sexual assault, and sexual harassment.  

Based on a review of the medical records, the applicant failed to disclose a history of potentially disqualifying conditions at MEPS.  The applicant’s conditions were found to exist prior to service and there was no evidence of service aggravation.  Per the applicant’s DD214, the applicant was separated with an ELS discharge due to “Erroneous Entry.”  The applicant’s testimony is incongruent with the information available in the applicant’s military and medical records.  The applicant contended he wanted to leave the Air Force because he wanted to be with his grandmother during the COVID pandemic.  The applicant’s medical records revealed the applicant failed to report potentially pre-existing mental health conditions, engaged in self-harm behaviors, and decided he did not want to continue in the Air Force.  The military mental health provider noted, and evidence was also reflected in the applicant’s Army medical record, that the applicant’s condition existed prior to service and was not disclosed at Air Force MEPS.  There is no evidence of service aggravation.  There is evidence the applicant requested to be discharged from the military and caused harm to himself as a means to get discharged. 

After reviewing the applicant’s medical records the DRB determined liberal consideration did not apply to this applicant’s case.  The applicant’s mental health conditions may have caused his discharge, but they do not mitigate his discharge.  No error or injustice was found in the applicant’s discharge processing.

FINDING:  The DRB voted unanimously to deny the applicant’s request to change the reenlistment eligibility code to 2C or 3K and to change the separation code.  The DRB also voted unanimously to deny changing the narrative reason for separation.
 
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 narrative reason for separation and corresponding separation code shall remain and the reentry code shall remain.  The AFDRB results were approved by the board president on 
28 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)