AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

 FD-2022-00393 	
					
SUMMARY: 

The applicant was discharged on 3 December 2018 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a General Discharge for Misconduct (Drug Abuse). 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 contended that the discharge was improper because it was an isolated incident in 62 months of service. The applicant also contended the discharge was unjust. He explained that after a unit wide urinalysis, his friend tested positive for marijuana and was subsequently investigated, where they found text messages between him and his friend regarding drug use. He further explained that he was investigated for months while passing multiple urinalysis, but he still received NJP and was discharged. The applicant concluded that an upgrade would allow him to use the GI Bill for his degree.   

The DRB reviewed the applicant’s entire service record and found no evidence of impropriety or inequity to warrant an upgrade of the discharge. There was not sufficient evidence to substantiate the applicant’s contentions that the actions of the applicant’s leadership were improper. The DRB acknowledged the applicant’s five years of satisfactory service prior to the discharge, but concluded the egregious nature of the applicant’s willful misconduct offset the positive aspects of his service. The board determined that the applicant’s discharge was appropriate. 

FINDING:  The DRB voted unanimously to deny 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 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 “General”, the narrative reason for separation shall remain “Misconduct (Drug Abuse)”, and the reentry code shall remain “2B”. The AFDRB results were approved by the board president on 21 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)