AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

FD-2022-00372	
					
SUMMARY:  The applicant was discharged on 28 November 2017 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a General discharge for Unsatisfactory Participation.  The applicant appealed for 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 contended she was going through multiple adjustments during her time in the military, including finishing school, her mother passing away, and adjusting to her new unit.  She claimed these stressors led her to make decisions that she would not make today.  She further claimed she had been rehabilitated through counseling and therapy sessions and is ready to return to service and continue with a military career.  

A review of the applicant’s record revealed she had a total of 12 missed Unit Training Assemblies (UTA) over the course of 12 months in her reserve unit.  The unit attempted to discuss the missed UTAs with the applicant to resolve any issues.  The First Sergeant made contact with her via Facebook Messenger and she relayed she had no desire to continue to serve in the Air Force Reserves.  Given the time remaining on her enlistment, and her deployment status, the unit informed the applicant they would not approve her to transfer units or transfer to the Individual Ready Reserve and that she would be administratively discharged.    

LIBERAL CONSIDERATION:

Due to the applicant’s contention she had a mental health condition, 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 clinical psychologist.  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.  The Board considered the following: 

1. Did the veteran contend that a condition or experience may have excused or mitigated their misconduct or discharge?  

The applicant checked the “other mental health” box on the application.  The applicant contended that at the time she was going through a lot such as returning back to school to finish her last semester of college, her mom passed away, and she was adjusting to her first duty station.  She claimed these stressors were a lot for her to mentally grasp and led her to make decisions that she would do entirely different now.

2. Did that condition exist/experience occur during military service? 

There is no evidence the applicant sought/received any mental health services during her time in service.

3. Does that condition or experience actually excuse or mitigate the discharge? 

The applicant listed four character references, a resume, and counseling records as evidence submitted in support of her claim.  The names of the character references were not the character references received, a resume was received, and no counseling records were received from the applicant.  Based on a review of the available records, the applicant confirmed with the First Sergeant she no longer wanted to be part of the unit due to too much travel and personal stress.  There is no evidence a mental health condition caused the applicant to miss UTAs.  Based on a review of the applicant’s records, the applicant missed UTAs due to travel inconvenience and personal stressors.  Per the applicant’s records, the applicant acknowledged the unit was willing to work with her regarding the travel schedule but she decided she did not want to be part of the military any longer. 

4. Does that condition or experience outweigh the discharge? 

There is no evidence to substantiate the applicant’s contention that she had a mental health condition in service that caused the applicant’s discharge.  Because the applicant’s discharge is not mitigated or excused, it is also not outweighed.

FINDING:  The DRB voted unanimously to deny the applicant’s request to change the discharge narrative reason to Secretarial Authority.  The DRB also voted unanimously to deny upgrading her discharge characterization to Honorable 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, the narrative reason for separation, and the reentry code shall not change.  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)