RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 

IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2011-00313 

 COUNSEL: NONE 

 HEARING DESIRED: NO 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 

 

His general (under honorable conditions) discharge be upgraded to 
honorable. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 

 

He has been awarded compensation for post traumatic stress 
disorder (PTSD) from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), 
which is the reason he was abusing alcohol. He no longer abuses 
alcohol and has been clean since 1986. He sees a psychologist on 
a regular basis to deal with his PTSD. He is an upstanding 
citizen of the United States. 

 

He gave 14 years of service to his country, and Vietnam was the 
cause of his PTSD. 

 

In support of his request, the applicant provides copies of his 
DVA decision letter, medical records, and documents pertaining to 
his previous application to the AFBCMR. 

 

The applicant's complete submission, with attachments, is at 
Exhibit A. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

STATEMENT OF FACTS: 

 

On 2 Nov 64, the applicant contracted his initial enlistment in 
the Regular Air Force and was progressively promoted to the grade 
of technical sergeant. 

 

The following is a resume of the applicant’s Airman Performance 
Reports (APRs): 

 

 - Reports closing 22 Jul 65, 24 Feb 66, and 24 Feb 67 reflect 
ratings of Excellent, Outstanding and Outstanding. 

 

 - Reports closing 24 Feb 68 – 3 Dec 76, reflect overall 
ratings of “9,” with the exception of the APR closing 17 Apr 73 
which reflects “7.” 

 


 - Reports closing 3 Dec 77 and 19 Oct 78 had overall ratings 
of “6” and “4” respectively. 

 

On 20 Oct 78, the applicant was notified by his squadron 
commander that he was recommending his discharge from the Air 
Force for misconduct. The reasons for the proposed action were 
the applicant’s frequent involvement of a discreditable nature 
with civil and military authority. The applicant received three 
letters of counseling (LOCs), two letters of reprimand (LORs), 
six Article 15 punishments, two civil court convictions, and was 
placed on the control roster for offenses ranging from financial 
irresponsibility to alcohol abuse. 

 

On 18 Nov 78, the applicant acknowledged receipt of the 
notification of discharge and, after consulting with legal 
counsel, offered a conditional waiver contingent upon receipt of 
no less than a general discharge. 

 

The base legal office reviewed the case and found it legally 
sufficient to support separation and recommended the 
unconditional board waiver be accepted and the applicant be 
discharged with a general discharge without probation and 
rehabilitation. 

 

On 15 Dec 78, the discharge authority accepted the conditional 
waiver and directed the applicant be discharged with a general 
discharge. 

 

On 22 Dec 78, the applicant was discharged in the grade of 
sergeant, under the provisions of AFM 39-12, Separation for 
Unsuitability, for misconduct and received a general discharge. 
He served on active duty for a period of 14 years, 1 month, and 
21 days. 

 

Pursuant to the Board’s request, the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation (FBI) provided a copy of an Investigative Report, 
which is at Exhibit C. 

 

On 1 Jun 11, a copy of the FBI report was forwarded to the 
applicant for review and comment within 30 days. At the same 
time, the AFBCMR staff offered the applicant an opportunity to 
provide information pertaining to his activities since leaving 
the service (Exhibit D). 

 

The applicant responded with a personal letter. He entered the 
Air Force on 2 Nov 64, and achieved the rank of technical 
sergeant on 1 Jul 75. Prior to his termination from the Air 
Force on 22 Dec 78, his service record was outstanding. When he 
returned from Vietnam in 1969 he was suffering from undiagnosed 
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Because he did not 
possess the coping skills necessary to combat this disease, he 
turned to alcohol. He later sought treatment; however, the 
social and medical services in place at the time were not capable 
of properly diagnosing his PTSD and providing him with adequate 


treatment. He gave his country 14 years of his life, and knowing 
what he now knows about PTSD, he should have been medically 
retired. Since he left the Air Force he has obtained two 
associate degrees, one in accounting and the other in computer 
science. He was employed with the Oneda Corporation in Columbus, 
GA from 1989-2008, and retired at age 62. He was licensed to 
preach in 1993, and was ordained into the Gospel Ministry in 
2010. 

 

The applicant provided a character reference letter from his 
Senior Pastor, copies of his associate degree certificates, 
license to preach, and his Certificate of Ordination. 

 

The applicant’s complete response, with attachments, is at 
Exhibit E. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT: 

 

1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing 
law or regulations. 

 

2. The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the 
interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file. 

 

3. Sufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of an error or injustice. After a 
thorough review of the evidence of record and the applicant’s 
submission, we are persuaded relief is warranted in this case. 
While we found no evidence of an error or injustice with regards 
to the discharge processing, it appears the discharge was 
consistent with the substantive requirements of the discharge 
regulation and was within the commander's discretionary 
authority; however, we feel there may have been underlying 
reasons for his misconduct, i.e., alcohol abuse, which he states 
was caused by PTSD. The applicant states when he returned from 
Vietnam he suffered from PTSD, for which he was never diagnosed 
or treated. In coming to our decision, we considered the 
applicant’s 14 years of service, his performance reports, which 
reflect predominantly outstanding performance, his numerous 
awards and decorations, and his post-service accomplishments; on 
balance we believe an upgrade is warranted. Therefore, while we 
do not condone the behavior which led to his discharge or that 
which is listed on his FBI report, overall it appears the 
applicant has made a successful transition to civilian life. We 
believe an upgrade of the characterization of his service to 
honorable is warranted on the basis of clemency. Accordingly, we 
recommend that his records be corrected as indicated below. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT: 

 


The pertinent military records of the Department of the Air Force 
relating to APPLICANT, be corrected to show that on 22 December 
1978, he was honorably discharged and furnished an Honorable 
Discharge certificate. 

 

_________________________________________________________________ 

 

The following members of the Board considered AFBCMR Docket 
Number BC-2011-00313 in Executive Session on 21 Jul 11, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 

 

, Panel Chair 

, Member 

, Member 

 

All members voted to correct the records, as recommended. The 
following documentary evidence was considered: 

 

 Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 28 Jan 11, w/atchs. 

 Exhibit B. Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 

 Exhibit C. FBI Report of Investigation, dated 4 Mar 11. 

 Exhibit D. Letter, SAF/MRBC, dated 1 Jun 11. 

 Exhibit E. Letter, Applicant, dated 18 Jun 11, w/atchs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panel Chair