AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL DOCUMENT  
	CASE NUMBER

FD-2023-00055	
					
SUMMARY: 

The applicant was discharged on 03 June 2022 in accordance with AFI 36-3208 with a General Discharge for Misconduct (Minor Infractions).  The applicant appealed for an upgrade of his discharge characterization, a change to the discharge narrative reason, and a change to the reenlistment eligibility 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 Discharge Review Board (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 Letters of Reprimand.  His misconduct included:  Ordered to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or submit an appeal for the religious accommodation denial but failed to do so; Order to receive the COVID-19 vaccine but refused.

The applicant stated that he was discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine and was told he could appeal his discharge after 6 months.

The Board reviewed the applicant's entire service record and determined that based on the nature of the misconduct leading to the discharge, and current Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of the Air Force (DAF) policies, the discharge is inequitable.  In accordance with DoD Instruction 1332.28, "A discharge shall be deemed to be equitable unless: 

E4.3.1.  In a discharge review, it is determined that the policies and procedures under which the applicant was discharged differ in material respects from those currently applicable on a Service-wide basis to discharges of the type under consideration provided that: 

E4.3.1.1.  Current policies or procedures represent a substantial enhancement of the rights afforded a respondent in such proceedings; and 

E4.3.1.2.  There is substantial doubt that the applicant would have received the same discharge if relevant current policies and procedures had been available to the applicant at the time of the discharge proceedings under consideration.

E4.3.2.  At the time of issuance, the discharge was inconsistent with standards of discipline in the Military Service of which the applicant was a member.

E4.3.3.  In the course of a discharge review, it is determined that relief is warranted based upon consideration of the applicant's service record and other evidence presented to the DRB viewed in conjunction with the factors listed in this paragraph and the regulations under which the applicant was discharged, even though the discharge was determined to have been otherwise equitable and proper at the time of issuance.”

In this case, the Board considered the differences in the Department of Defense’s current COVID-19 policies and those in effect at the time of discharge.  The Secretary of Defense has rescinded the 3 September 2021 and 7 December 2021 COVID-19 Vaccination Policy Memoranda, effective 23 January 2023, as required by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023.  The DAF is no longer discharging members with general service characterizations solely for refusing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, because of service-wide policy changes.  Thus, the Board concluded the applicant's discharge was inequitable due to the changes in law and policy.  Per guidance from the Secretary of the Air Force, former DAF service members may petition the Air Force Discharge Review Board to individually request a correction to their personnel records, including the characterization of their discharge. The Board considered the applicant's request for discharge upgrade and determined the discharge was based solely applicant's refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine.  The Board had substantial doubt the applicant would have received the same discharge under current policies.  The Board’s view is underscored by the fact that no other aggravating factors, such as additional misconduct, were present in the applicant’s record, and that, apart from the refusal to take the vaccine, applicant’s quality of service appeared positive.  Therefore, the Board approved the applicant’s request.

FINDING:  The DRB voted unanimously to approve 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 3K.
 
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 inequitable. Therefore, the awarded characterization of service shall change to “Honorable,” the narrative reason for separation shall change to “Secretarial Authority,” and the reentry code shall change to “3K.”  The Air Force DRB (AFDRB) results were approved by the board president on 28 February 2023.  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)