4 

AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL RATIONALE 

CASE NUMBER 

FD-01-00034 

GENERAL:  The applicant appeals for upgrade of discharge to honorable. 

The applicant was offered a personal appearance before the Discharge Review Board but declined to 
exercise this right. 

The attached brief contains the available pertinent data on the applicant and the factors leading to the 
discharge. 

FINDINGS:  Upgrade of discharge is denied. 

The applicant’s issues are listed in the attached brief 

Issue 1.  Applicant contends that his discharge is inequitable since it was too harsh (i.e., did not consider 
such mitigating circumstances as his subsequently diagnosed bi-polar condition).  Records review 
revealed that the applicant received an Article 15 for wronghlly using marijuana on or about April 30, 
1985 and a second Article 15 for failure to obey a lawhl order while in correctional custody.  Further, he 
had previously received two Records of Individual Counseling for failing his CDCs and dereliction of 
duty and subsequently received two Letters of Reprimand for failure to go and assault.  The Discharge 
Review Board (DRB), after thorough review of the available records, found no evidence of inequity or 
impropriety in the discharge procedures upon which to base an upgrade of discharge.  The diagnosis of a 
mental health condition more than six years after his discharge was carehlly weighed by the Board and 
found not to be sufficiently mitigating to justify a change in discharge, even had it been present at the 
time of his release from active duty.  The DFU3 found that the seriousness of the applicant’s misconduct, 
to include drug abuse, outweighs the applicant’s otherwise satisfactory service.  The Air Force’s drug 
policy is well publicized and all are continually made aware that illegal drug use is not tolerated.  In the 
Board’s opinion, the significant nature of the misconduct clearly merited the character of discharge 
received. 

Issue 2 applies to post-service activities.  The Board recognized and commends the applicant’s effort in 
bettering himself by pursuing his college education and becoming a Certified Electronics Technician; 
however, no inequity or impropriety in his discharge was suggested or found in the course of the records 
review upon which to justi@ a discharge upgrade. 

CONCLUSIONS:  The Discharge Review Board concludes that the discharge was consistent with the 
procedural and substantive requirements of the discharge regulation and was within the discretion of the 
discharge authority and that the applicant was provided full administrative due process. 

In view of the foregoing findings the Board hrther concludes that there exists no legal or equitable basis 
for upgrade of discharge. 

Attachment: 
Examiner’s Brief 

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD 

AND'REWS  AFB,  MD 

FD-01-00034 

(Former AB) 

1.  MATTER UNDER REVIEW:  Appl rec'd  a GEN Disch fr USAF 86/01/09 UP AFR 39-10, 
para 5-46 &  5-26a(1)  (Misconduct -  Minor Disciplinary Infractions & _  
Unsatisfactory Performance).  Appeals for Honorable Disch. 

2.  BACKGROUND: 

a. DOB: 62/11/04.  Enlmt Age: 20 5/12.  Disch Age: 23 2/12. Educ:HS DIPL. 

AFQT: N/A.  A-58,  E-60,  G-55,  M-63. PAFSC: 42335 - Apprentice Aerospace Ground 
Equipment Mechanic. DAS: 85/04/29. 

b.  Prior Sv: USAR 83/04/29 -  84/10/18.  Svd: 1 Yr 5 Mo 4 Das, of which AMs 

is 3 Mos 27 Das. 

3.  SERVICE UNDER REVIEW: 

a.  Enld USAF as A1C 84/10/19 for 4 yrs.  Svd: 1 Yrs 2 Mo 21 Das, all AMs: 
b.  Grade Status:  AB -  85/07/31 (Article 15, 85/07/31) 
AMN  -  85/06/27 (Article 15, 85/06/26) 

c.  Time Lost:  none. 

d.  Art 15's:  (1) 85/07/31, Edwards AFB, CA - Article 92.  You, o/a 17 Jul 

.) 

85, having knowledge of your duties, were derelict in 
the performance of thpse duties in that you willfully 
failed to have your shoes highly shined, as it was your 
duty to do.  Rdn to AB, forfeiture of $310.00 per month 
for two months  (in excess of $200.00 per month for two 
months suspended till 25 Jan 86), 45 days extra duty, 
and 45 days restriction.  (No app-ea12 (NO m i t i-g a t ion ) 

c -  

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.

 

-=.z - Dec 85) , forfeiture of $310.00 per monthfor&months, 

(2) 85/06/26, Edwards AFB, CA - Article 112a. _Youdid,  o/a  _ _  
30 Apr 85, wrongfully use marijuana, a Schedule I 
controlled substance.  Rdn to AB  (below Rim  ESP till 20 
and 30 days correctional custody.  ( N o   appeal). 
(No mitigation) 

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f.  CM:  none. 

e.  Addi-tional: RIC, 26 JUN 85 -  CDC failure. 

RIC, 27 JUN 85 -  Dereliction of duty. 
LOR/UIF, 21 OCT 85 -  Failure to go. 
LOR, 08 DEC 85 -  Assault.. 

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g.  Record of SV:  84/10/19  85/10/18  Edwards AFB  4 

(Discharged from Edwards AFB) 

(Annual) 

h.  Awards ti  Decs:  ASR. 

.. . - -  

i.  Stmt of 3: TMS: (2) Yrs  (8) Mos  (11) Das 
TAMS:  (1) Yrs  (6) Mos  (18) Das 

4 .   BASIS ADVANCED FOR  REVIEW:  Appln  (DD Fm 293) dtd 00/08/15. 

(Change Discharge to Honorable) 

E'DO1-00034 

Issue 1:  To whom it may concern review board. 

I -------- , am writing you 
I admit to the circumstances leading up to my 

. 
regarding my discharge upgrade. 
discharge in 1986 and I have no excuses. 
citizen making a positive effort to better my life. 
showing my efforts. 
stating to the fact that I have bi-poler and at this time I am stable. 
consider my discharge upgrade.  Note: When I entered the service I didn't or did 
the government realize that I had a disorder.  Part of my problem in the 
services was due to self medicating myself. 
which regulates me. 

However, today I am  ( ? )   American 
Enclosed are documents 

This is the reason I am so successful. 

Today I have prescribe medication 

Also, there is a letter from my therapist Dr. ------ 

Please 

- 

ATCH 
1. Two Associate Degrees. 
2. Certificate of Training. 
3. Medical Diagnosis. 
4, Two College Certificates. 
5. Two Letters of Congratulations. 
6. Two Letters of'Support. 
7. DD Form 2.14. 
8. Two Certificates of Achievement. 
9. Letter of Congratulations. 
10.  Certificate of Completion. 
11. Two Medical Recommendations. 

* 

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D E P A R T M E N T   OF  THE  AIR  FORCE 

t!EADQUARlERS,  6.51OTh  hrAINIE~lA4NCE A N D   SUPPLY  \'.ROUP  [AFSC) 

EDWARDS  A I R   tC)RCI'  R A S E ,   CALIFORNIA  '23523 

REPLY  (0 
ATTN 01 6515  FMSJCC 

9  Ilec  8 5  

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Airman  Basic  (E-1) 
6 5 1 5 t h   F i e l d   Maintenance  S q   (AFSC)  EdwarJs  AFB  CA  93523 

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1 .   1 am  recommending  your  d i s c h a r g e   from  t h e   U n i k d   S t a t e s   Air  I:orce 
minor  d i s c i p l i n a r y   i n f r a c t i o n s   and  u n s a t i s f a c t o r y   performance. 
a u t h o r i t y   f o r   t h i s   a c t i o n   i s   AFR  39- 10,  p a r a g r a p h s   5-46  and  5 - 2 6 a ( l ) .  
I f   my 
recommendat i o n   is  a p p r o v e d ,   your  s e r v i c e   w i l l   be  c h a r a c t e r i z e d   as  h o n o r a b l  e ,  
g e n e r a l   o r   under  o t h e r   t b a n   h o n o r a b l e   c o n d i t i o n s .   I  am 
recommending  t h a t   your 
s e r v i c e   be  c h a r a c t e r i z e d   a s   g e n e r a l .  

The 

f o r  

r e a s o n s   f o r   t h i s   a c t i o n   a r e   your  m i n o r   d i s c i p l i n a r y   i n f r a c t i o n s   and 

2.  My 
your  u n s a t i s f a c t o r y   p e r f o r m a n c e .   Copies  o f   t h e   documents  t o   be  forwarded  t o  
t h e   s e p a r a t i o n   a u t h o r i t y   i n   s u p p o r t   of  t h i s   recommendation  are  a t t a c h e d .  
The  Commander  e x e r c i s i n g   SPCM  j u r i s d i c t i o n   o r   a  h i g h e r   a u t h o r i t y   w i l l  
d e c i d e   w h e t h e r   you  w i l l   b e   d i s c h a r g e d   o r   r e t a i n e d   i n   t h e   A i r   F o r c e   a n d ,   i f  
y o u - a r e  d i s c h a r g e d , ,  .how  y o u r   s e r v i c e   w i l l   b e   c h a r a c t e r i z e d .  
d i s c h a r g e d ,   you  w i l l   b e   i n e l i g i b l e   f o r   r e e n l i s t m e n t   in  t h e   A i r   F o r c e .   To 
s u b s t a n t i a t e   t h i s   a c t i o n ,   I  c i t e   tihe  f o l l o w i n g :  

1.f  you  a r e  

a .   Use  of  m a r i j u a n a   (30  Apr  8 5 ) .   You  p r o v i d e d   a  u r i n e   sample  d u r i n g   an 
i n s p e c t i o n   which  t e s t e d   p o s i t i v e   f o r   t h e   p r e s e n c e   o f   m a r i j u a n a .   You  r e c e i v e d  
. 
punishment  p u r s u a n t " t o   an  A r t i c l e   15  of  t h e   Uniform  Code  o f   M i l i t a r y   J u s t i c e ,  
were  p l a c e d   i n * c o r r e c t i o n a l   c u s t o d y ,   were  e n r o l l e d   i n   a  s u b s t a n c e   a b u s e   p r o g r m  
and had  your  SF Form  46  (goverment  d r i v e r s   l i c e n c e )   revoked. 

(Atch  1 )  

- 

b.  D e r e l i c t i o n   o f   d u t y   ( 2 6   June  8 5 ) .   You  f a i l e d   t o   complete  Volume  I 

o f   your  C a r e e r   Development  Course  by  10  J u n e   85.  You  were  c o u n s e l l e d   by 
t h e   dquadron  f o r   t h i s   o f f e n s e .   (Atch  2 )  

4 

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t h e   r e q u i r e d   items  needed  f o r   your  s t a y   in  c o r r e c t i o n a l   custody,mi 
c o u n s e l l e d   by  t h e   s q u a d r o n   f o r   t h i s   o f f e n s e .  

c .   D e r e l i c t i o n   of  d u t y   ( 2 7   J u n e   85)'.  You  f a i l e d   t o   p r o p e r l y   p r e p a r e  
were 
* 
,,z,  . ....- 

F a i E t ?  t o   o b e y   a  l a w f u l   o r d e r   ( 1 7   J u l y   85).  You  w i l l i n g l y   f a i l e d   t o  
obey  d  d i r e c t a r d e r ,   a  v i o l a t i o n   of  A r t i c l e   92  o f   t h e   U C M J ,   g i v e n t o  s
 by  a 
NCO d u j i + g   y u t a y  a  c o r r e c t i o n a l   c u s t o d y .   You  r e c e i v e d   p u n i s k e n G r s u a n t :  

(At-ch  3 )  

a n   a r t r c i e   15  o f   t h e   UCMJ  f o r   t h i s   o f e n s e .   (Atch  4 )  

d .  

I 

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r e q u i r e d   t i m e .   You  r e c e i v e d   a  L e t t e r   of  Reprimand,  which  was'placed 
your  U n f a v o r a b l e   I n f o r m a t i o n   F i l e ,   for  t h i s   o f f e n s e .   (Atch  5 )  

e -~Eliai.hr-e t o   go  ( 1 8   Oct  8 5 ) .   You  d i d   n o t   r e p o r t   €or 'duty  a t   t h e  
i n  

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f .  

-S u b s t a n d a r d   d u t y   p e r f o r m a n c e   (  19  O c t   84  -  18  Oct  85).  You  r e c e i v e d  

p e r f o r m a n c e   r e p o r t   w i t h   a n   o v e r a l l   r a t i n g   of  f o u r .   Comments  on  t h e   r e p o r t  
i n d i c a t e d   t h a t   you  r e q u i r e   c v n s t a n t   s u p e r v i s i o n ,   your  b e a r i n g ' a n d   behGvior  n r d  
improvement  and  y o u -m u s t   l e a r n   t o   t a k e   o r d e r s   w i t h o u t   an  argument.*  T h i s   "I? 
w i l l   n o t   be  used  t o   c h a r a c t e r i z e   your  d i s c h a r g e .  

(Atch  , 6 )  

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, g .  

A s s a u l t   ( 7   Dec  85).  Y O U  

i n   t h e   c h e s t   w i t h   your  h a n d s .   Your  r e c e i v e d   a 

i i n l a w l u l l y   a s s a u l t e d   a  co- worker  by 
l e t t e r   0 1  

  s t r i k i n g   him 
~ c p r i m t i ~ i d  

i o 1   [ h i s   o i f e n s e ,  

( A t c h   7 )  

4 .   You  h a v e   t h e   r i g h t   Co  s u b m i l   stiiteriients  in  your  own  b e h a l f .  
y o u   want  t h c   L q l a r a t i o n   a u t h o r i t y   L O   c o n s i d e r   l n u s t   r e a c h   me  by  1'1  l ~ c t d ~ ' ~  
u n l e s s   Y O U   r e q l ~ e s t  and  r e c e i v e   a n   c x t e n s i o i t   f o r   good  C B I J S ( I   shown. 
1  scllci 
t hem  t o   t h r   s e  p a r a  t  i o n   a u t h o r  i t v . 

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7 .   Any  p e r s o n a 1   i n E o r m a t i o n   y o u   f u r n i s h   i n   r e b u t t a l   i s   c o v e r e d   b y  
Act  S t a t e m e n t   a s   e x p l a i n e d   i n   AFK  39- 10,  a t t a c h m e n t   6 .   A  copy  of  AI:K 
a v a i l a b l e   f o r   y o u r   u s e   i n   t h e   S q u i ~ d r o n  Order Ly  Room. 

t:hv  P1'ivac:y 
, 1 9 4 0   i s  

6 .  

IAW  AFK  30-20, paregraph  10,  you  w i l l   immediately  s u r r e n d e r   t o   me  y o u r  

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