AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS 

 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 

 
DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2012-00155 
COUNSEL:  NONE 
HEARING DESIRED:  NO 

IN THE MATTER OF: 
    
   
 
_______________________________________________________________ 
 
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT: 
 
His  DD  Form  214,  Certificate  of  Release  or  Discharge  from 
Active  Duty, reflect he was separated for a medical condition 
existing prior to service. 
 
_______________________________________________________________ 
 
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT: 
 
DD Form 2697, Report of Medical Assessment, completed on 17 Apr 
2008, should reflect he experienced symptoms of social anxiety 
disorder as previously diagnosed on 30 Apr 2004. 
 
On 12 Nov 2009, following his discharge from the Air Force, he 
obtained copies of his medical records reflecting his diagnosis 
of  social  anxiety.  The  Diagnostic  and  Statistical  Manual  of 
Mental  Disorders  reflects  social  anxiety  leads  to  excessive 
alcohol  consumption.    His  driving  infractions  in  2007  and 
2008 occurred following social gatherings where he excessively 
consumed alcohol due to his social anxiety disorder, which is a 
medical condition existing prior to service. 
 
In support of his request, the applicant provides a copy of his 
civilian medical evaluation. 
 
The  applicant's  complete  submission,  with  attachment,  is  at 
Exhibit A. 
 
_______________________________________________________________ 
 
STATEMENT OF FACTS: 
 
On 9 Aug 2005, the applicant enlisted in the Regular Air Force 
for a period of four years. 
 
On  6  Jan  2005,  the  applicant  completed  a  DD  Form  2807-2, 
Medical  Pre-Screen  of  Medical  History  Report,  on  which  he 
placed his initials in the block indicating "No" in response to 
questions asking if he was ever seen by a psychiatrist, social 
worker,  counselor  or  other  professional  for  any  reason 
(inpatient  or  outpatient),  including  counseling  or  treatment 
for school, adjustment, family, marriage, or any other problems 
to  include  depression  or  treatment  for  alcohol,  drug,  or 
substance abuse." 
 
On 2 Feb 2005, the applicant completed DD Form 2807-1,  Report 
of Medical History, on which he again checked the block "No" in 
response  to  questions  indicating  that  he  had  not  received 

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counseling  of  any  type,  had  not  experienced  depression  or 
excessive  worry,  and  had  not  been  evaluated  or  treated  for  a 
mental condition. 
 
On  3  Apr  2008,  his  commander  notified  him  that  he  was 
recommending his separation from the Air Force for a pattern of 
misconduct, specifically conduct prejudicial to good order and 
discipline under the provisions of AFI 36-3208, Administrative 
Separation  of  Airmen.    The  specific  reasons  for  this  action 
were: 
 
  On or about 31 Dec 2006, he was discovered in the parking lot 
of  a  dormitory,  in  physical  control  of  a  truck,  while  his 
alcohol  concentration  was  .08  percent.    For  this  offense  he 
received an Article 15 and was reduced to the grade of airman 
(Amn, E-2). 
 
  On or about 18 Mar 2008, he was stopped for speeding and was 
subsequently arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) of 
alcohol. 
alcohol 
concentration of .13 percent, which is over the DUI legal limit 
of  .08 percent.    For  this  offense  he  received  a  Letter  of 
Reprimand (LOR). 
 
On  18  Apr  2008,  he  acknowledged  receipt  of  the  notice  of 
discharge and submitted statements for consideration.  
 
On  21  Apr  2008,  the  Staff  Judge  Advocate  (SJA)  reviewed  the 
case and recommended he be separated with a general discharge 
without probation and rehabilitation. 
 
On 7 May 2008, the applicant was discharged from the Air Force 
with a general discharge in the grade of airman first class (E-
3).  He served 2 years, 8 months and 29 days of total active 
service. 
 
On 29 Jun 2011, the applicant's case was presented before the 
Air  Force  Discharge  Review  Board  (DRB)  in  his  appeal  for  an 
upgrade  of  discharge  to  honorable,  contending  that  his 
discharge was inequitable because it was "too harsh."  The DRB 
noted  that  on  15  Apr  2008  ,prior  to  discharge,  the  applicant 
completed  a  DD  Form  2697,  on  which  he  "did  not  note  any 
physical or mental issues and was cleared for separation."  The 
DRB  concluded  that  the  "negative  aspects  of  the  applicant's 
service  outweighed  the  positive  contributions  he  made  in  his 
Air Force career," in deciding to deny the applicant's appeal 
for an upgrade of discharge characterization to honorable. 
 
The remaining relevant facts pertaining to this application are 
contained in the letter prepared by the appropriate office of 
the Air Force at Exhibit C. 
 
_______________________________________________________________ 
 
AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 
 
 

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The  BCMR  Medical  Consultant  recommends  denial.    The  BCMR 
Medical Consultant states after several episodes of care with 
military mental health providers, the applicant's mental health 
evaluations  consistently  failed  to  identify  a  diagnosable  or 
disqualifying  mental  disorder  that  would  demonstrate  a  clear 
causal  relationship  with  his  alcohol-related  incidents; 
notwithstanding  the  "psychosocial  stressors"  identified  on 
10 Apr 2008.  Moreover, although the applicant contends that a 
pre-existing  social  anxiety  disorder  may  explain  his  decision 
to  use  of  alcohol,  it  does  not  excuse  its  recurrent 
inappropriate  use  while  in  control  of  a  motor  vehicle.  
Likewise,  there  is  no  indication  that  any  diagnosable  mental 
disorder interfered with the applicant's ability to distinguish 
right  from  wrong  or  rendered  him  incompetent  in  thought 
processes  and  decision-making.    The  BCMR  Medical  Consultant 
acknowledges that a general discharge after two alcohol-related 
incidents,  occurring  nearly  two  years  apart  and  successful 
completion of the Air Force Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention 
and Treatment (ADAPT), without a disqualifying diagnosis, in an 
otherwise top performing service member may appear too harsh to 
the casual observer.  However, it is likely that the applicant 
as  a  member  of  Security  Forces,  he  was  held  to  a  higher 
standard of conduct.  Thus, the BCMR Medical Consultant opines 
the  applicant's  commander  acted  within  his  authority  to 
administratively discharge the applicant and, thus, opines the 
applicant  has  not  met  the  burden  of  proof  of  an  error  or 
injustice that warrants the desired change of the record. 
 
The complete BCMR Medical evaluation is at Exhibit C. 
 
_______________________________________________________________ 
 
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION: 
 
On  16  Oct  2012,  a  copy  of  the  Air  Force  evaluation  was 
forwarded  to  the  applicant  for  review  and  comment  within 
30 days.    As  of  this  date,  no  response  has  been  received  by 
this office (Exhibit D). 
 
_______________________________________________________________ 
 

 

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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.  Insufficient  relevant  evidence  has  been  presented  to 
demonstrate  the  existence  of  error  or  injustice  to  warrant 
promotion to the rank of staff sergeant.  We took notice of the 
applicant's  complete  submission  in  judging  the  merits  of  the 
case; however, we agree with the opinion and recommendation of 
the  BCMR  Medical  Consultant  and  adopt  his  rationale  as  the 
basis for our conclusion the applicant has not been the victim 
of  an  error  or  injustice.    Therefore,  in  the  absence  of 
evidence  to  the  contrary,  we  find  no  basis  to  recommend 
granting the relief sought in this application. 
 
_______________________________________________________________ 
 
THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT: 
 
The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not 
demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; that 
the application was denied without a personal appearance; and 
that  the  application  will  only  be  reconsidered  upon  the 
submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not considered 
with this application. 
 
_______________________________________________________________ 
 
The following members of the Board considered Docket Number BC-
2012-00155  in  Executive  Session  on  15  Nov  2012,  under  the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603: 
 
      
      
      
 
The following documentary evidence was considered in AFBCMR BC-
2012-00155: 
 
   Exhibit A.  DD Forms 149, dated 17 Jul 2012, w/atch. 
   Exhibit B.  Applicant's Master Personnel Records. 
   Exhibit C.  Letter, BCMR Medical Consultant, dated 15 Oct  
               2012. 
   Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBC, dated 16 Oct 2012. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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