AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

FD-2022-00365	
					
SUMMARY:  The applicant was discharged on 9 April 2013 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 and multiple Letters of Reprimand and Letters of Counseling.  His misconduct included:  failure to properly maintain base housing within standards, failure to go, false official statements, driving without current vehicle registration and insurance, and dereliction of duty.  

The applicant contended that he was young and immature at the time of his misconduct and has learned from his mistakes.  He requested an upgrade to his discharge to be eligible for VA educational benefits and contended his inability to pursue an advanced education far outweighed his mistakes.

A review of the applicant’s record revealed he had multiple incidents of misconduct including failure to properly account for tools, driving with expired vehicle registration and insurance, failure to go, false statements, and failure to properly maintain his base housing unit.  He received multiple Letters of Counseling and Reprimand and was punished twice under Article 15, UCMJ.  Additionally, although not used as a basis for discharge, the applicant also failed two fitness tests.

The DRB recognized the applicant may have been young when the discharge took place, but noted he was no younger than the vast majority of first-term Airmen who properly adhere to Air Force standards of conduct.  Furthermore, the DRB reviewed the applicant’s entire service record and found no evidence of impropriety or inequity to warrant an upgrade of the discharge.  The board understood the applicant’s present service characterization renders him ineligible for Department of Veteran Affairs education benefits.  However, this is not a matter of inequity or impropriety which would warrant an upgrade.  

FINDING:  The DRB voted unanimously to deny the applicant’s request to upgrade his discharge characterization to Honorable.  The DRB also voted unanimously to deny changing the discharge narrative reason to Secretarial Authority and changing the reenlistment eligibility code to 2C or 3K.
 
CONCLUSION:  After a thorough review of the available evidence, to include the Applicant’s issues, summary of service, service and medical records, and discharge process, the Board found the discharge was proper.  Therefore, the awarded characterization of service shall remain, the narrative reason for separation shall remain, and the reentry code shall remain.  The AFDRB results were approved by the board president on 10 November 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)