AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL RATIONALE 

CASE NUMBER 

FD20024038 

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 contazs 

available pertinent data on the applicant and the factors leadi@-@he  discharge. 

t 

_ r -  

e. 

FINDINGS: Upgrade of discharge is denied. 

The Board finds that  neither the  evidence of record  nor  that  provided  by  the  applicant  substantiates an 
inequity or impropriety that would justify a change of discharge. 

Issues.  Applicant was discharged for misconduct, namely  drug abuse, and  received  an under  other than 
honorable  conditions characterization of  service.  Member  received  an  Article  15 for  wrongfil  use  of 
marijuana.  This was based on a urinalysis, which came back positive for the presence of THC at 6lng/ml, 
well above the above the DoD cut-off level of 15 ng/ml.  Furthermore, although not used as a basis for the 
discharge, member’s record included another incident of misconduct.  While driving under the influence of 
alcohol with a blood alcohol content of .24, he caused a major motor vehicle accident wherein he seriously 
damaged several cars parked in a residential area, as well as injuring himself.  Applicant now contends the 
discharge was too harsh because it was based on one isolated incident that he now states he didn’t commit, 
and for which he should not be indefinitely punished.  He also notes he was undergoing personal problems, 
and  didn’t  trust his  defense counsel’s  advice.  At  the time of the discharge member waived  his right to 
submit  matters in  his  own  behalf.  He  also  submitted  an  unconditional waiver  of  his  right  to  a board 
hearing.  Furthermore, at the time of the discharge, the Air  Force’s drug policy  was well  publicized and 
members were continually made aware that illegal drug use was not tolerated.  The Board noted that drug 
abuse is not  compatible with Air Force standards; the seriousness of member’s misconduct and record of 
other misconduct outweighs the applicant’s otherwise acceptable service during the period  of enlistment 
under review. 

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 fill 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, thus the applicant’s discharge should not be changed. 

Attachment: 
Examiner’s Brief 

DEPARTMENT OF  THE AIR FORCE 

AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD 

ANDREWS AFB, MD 

(Former AB)  (HGH SRA) 

FD2002-0038 

1.  MATTER UNDER REVIEW:  Appl rec'd  a GEN Disch fr USAF 88/02/17 UP AFR 39-10, 
p2ra 5-49c (Drug Abje).  Appeals for Honorable Disch. 

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4 2.  BACKGROUND: 

e- 

= 

-L% 

a. DOB: 63/05/15.  Enlmt Age: 20 3/12.  Disch Age: 24 9/12. Educ:HS DIPL. 

AFQT: N/A.  A-64,  E-96,  G-96,  M-99. PAFSC: 12250 - Aircrew Life Support 
Specialist. DAS: 87/09/15. 

b.  Prior Sv: none. 

3.  SERVICE UNDER REVIEW: 

a.  Enlisted as Amn  83/08/25 for 4 yrs. Svd:  L  Yrs 05 Mo  23 Das, all AMs. 
b.  Grade Status:  AI3  -  88/01/27 (Article 15, 88/01/27) 

Sgt -  87/06/01 
SrA -  86/06/25 
A1C -  84/02/25 

c.  Time Lost:  none. 

d.  Art 15's: 

(1) 88/01/27, Hill AFB, UT -  Article 112a.  You did, within 
the State of Utah, between on or about 9 Nov 87 and 13 
Nov 87, wrongfully use marijuana.  Reduction fo AB. 
(No appeal) (No mitigation) 

e. 

Additional : none. 

f.  CM:  none. 

g.  Record of SV: 83/08/25 - 84/08/24  Minot AFB 
9  (Annual) 
84/08/25 -  85/08/24  Minot AFB 
8  (Annual) 
85/08/25 -  86/08/24  Barksdale AFB  9  (Annual) 
86/08/25 -  87/05/20  Barksdale AFB  9  (CRO) 

(Discharged from Hill AFB) 

h.  Awards &  Decs:  AFOUA, AFGCM, AFLSAR, AFTR. 
i.  Stmt of Sv:  TMS: (04) Yrs (05) Mos  (23) Das 
TAMS:  (04) Yrs  (05) Mos  (23) Das 

4.  BASIS ADVANCED FOR REVIEW:  Appln  (DD Fm 293) dtd 02/01/17. 

(Change Discharge to Honorable) 

ISSUES ATTACHED TO BRIEF. 

FD2002-0038 

ATCH 
1. Applicant's Issues. 
2. Result of Urinalysis Testing. 
3. Statement of Support. 
4. Four Aiman Performance Reports. 
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DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR  FORCE 

HEADQUARTERS OGDEN AIR LOGISTICS CENTER (AFLC) 

HILL AIR  FORCE BASE, UTAH 84056-5990 

REPLY TO 
* n N ° F  

JAM-MJ 

(Captain 

1 

SUBJECT  AFR  39-10 Involuntary Discharge -  Airman  Basic 
_ _   To  2849 ABG/DPM  - 

388 AGS  (TAC) 

a-. 

2 February  1988 

- 
&-x=- 

1.  We  have  reviewed t h e   referenced  action  i n  accordance  w i t h   AFR  39-10, para- 
graph  6-12a  (l),  and  consider  i t  f a c t u a l l y ,   procedurally  and  l e g a l l y   s u f f i -  
c i e n t   t o  sustain  a  f i n d i n g  t h a t   the  respondent  comnitted  a  serious  offense,  as 
contemplated  by  AFR  39-10, paragraph  5-49c. 
2.  The  f a c t u a l   basis  f o r   t h i s   action  i s  the 
t r a t i v e  determination  t h a t   t h e   respondent  used  marijuana 
3.  The  s t a t u t o r y   basis 
Section  1169. 

i n i t i a t i n g   commander's  adminis- 
i n  November  1987. 
f o r   t h i s   action  i s   T i t l e  10,  United  States  Code, 

4.  The 
under 
unconditional  waiver  o f   h i s   r i g h t  t o  a  discharge  board. 

recomnends 
than  honorable  conditions. 

i n i t i a t i n g   commander 
other 

t h a t  

t h e   respondent  be  discharged 
respondent  submitted  an 

The 

(b) 

f i l e  

t h e   case 

t o   t h e  
f o r   an  honorable, 

d i r e c t   r e i n i t i a t i o n  f o r   f u r t h e r   processing 

separation  authority, 
general  o r   under  other 

I n  accordance  w i t h   AFR  39-10,  paragraph  6-17,  t h e   base  commander  i s  t h e  
5. 
board  convening  authority.  As  such,  h i s   options  are  t o :   ( a )   r e j e c t   t h e  waiver 
recommend  acceptance  o f   t h e  waiver  and 
and  order  a  board  t o  be  convened; 
forward 
f u r t h e r  
than  honorable 
recommendation 
conditions  discharge,  w i t h   o r   without  probation  and 
r e h a b i l i t a t i o n ,   w i t h  
reasons  f o r  t h e   recommendation; 
(c)  d i r e c t   t h a t   t h e   a c t i o n   be  discontinued;  o r  
under  another  section  o f   AFR 
(d) 
39-10. 
6.  Under  AFR  39-10,  paragraph  6-19,  the  center  commander  i s  the  separation 
I f  the  base  commander  recommends  acceptance  o f   t h e   unconditional 
a u t h o r i t y .  
(a)  r e j e c t   t h e   unconditional 
t h e   center  commander's  options  are  t o   : 
waiver, 
(b)  d i r e c t   retention;  (c)  accept  the  unconditional  w a i v e r   and  order  an 
waiver; 
general  o r   under  other  than  honorable  conditions  discharge  w i t h   or 
honorable, 
without  probation  and  r e h a b i l i t a t i o n ;  
or  (d)  d i r e c t   r e i n i t i a t i o n  f o r   f u r t h e r  
processing  under  another  section  o f   AFR  39-10. 

with  a 

recommend 

t h e   convening  a u t h o r i t y  

7.  We 
t o  t h e  
separation  a u t h o r i t y   f o r   approval  o f   the  unconditional  waiver  w i t h   a  discharge 
under  other  than  honorable  conditions,  without  probation  and  r e h a b i l i t a t i o n .  
While  t h e   respondent's  use  o f   marijuana  could  have 
i n  court- martial 
resulted 
t h a t   could  not  be 
charges,  we  perceive  no  i n t e r e s t   o f   j u s t i c e   o r   d i s c i p l i n e  

the  case 

forward 

f i l e  

- 

adequately 
with  t h e   w 

served  by  t h e  
respondent's 
r s t  admi n i  s t r a t i  ve  d i  scharg 

immediate 
possible. 

removal 

from  t h e   A i r   Force 

8.  There  i s  no  i n d i c a t i o n   probation  and  r e h a b i l i t a t i o n   would  serve  any  useful 
purpose  a t   t h i s   l a t e   date. 

9.  We  note  no  administrative  e r r o r s   o f   l e g a l   significance. 

. 

__ 

S t a f f   Judge  Advocate 

Case  F i l e  

D E P A R T M E N T  O F  THE AIR  F O R C E  

388TH AIRCRAFT G E N E R A T I O N  SQUADRON (TAC) 

HILL AIR F O R C E  BASE, U T A H   84056-5000 

REPLY T O  
ATTNOF: 

cc 
L e t t e r   o f   N o t i f i c a t i o n  -  Board  Hearing 

2 7  JAN  1988 

I  am  recommending  your  discharge  from  t h e   United  States  A i r   Force  f o r  
1. 
drug  abuse.  The  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,  paragraph  5-49c. 
Copies  o f  t h e   documents  t o  be  forwarded  t o  t h e   separation  a u t h o r i t y   t o  support 
t h i s   recommendation  are  attached. 

My  reason  f o r  t h i s   a c t i o n   i s  your  wrongful  use  o f  marijuana  as  evident  b y  

2. 
the  f o l l o w i n g :  

a.  Between  on  o r   about  9  November  and  13  November  1987,  you  wrongfully  used 

marijuana  f o r  which  you  received  an  A r t i c l e   15  on  27  Jan  88. 

This  a c t i o n   could  r e s u l t   i n  your  separation  with  an  under  other  than  honor- 

3. 
able  conditions  discharge. 
than  honorable  conditions  discharge. 
o r   a  higher  a u t h o r i t y  w i
discharged,  you  w i

l

l

I  am  recommending  t h a t   you  receive  an  under  other 

The  commander  exercising  SPCM  j u r i s d i c t i o n  

l   make  t h e   f i n a l   decision  i n  t h i s  matter. 

l   be  i n e l i g i b l e  f o r  reenlistment  i n  t h e  A i r   Force. 

I f  you  are 

4. 

You  have  t h e   r i g h t  t o :  

a.  Consult  l e g a l   counsel. 

b. 

Present  your  case  t o   an  administrative  board. 

c.  Be  represented by  l e g a l   counsel  a t   a  board  hearing. 

d.  Submit  statements  i n  your  own  behalf  i n  addition  to,  o r   i n  l i e u  of, 

board  heari ng. 

t h e  

e.  Waive  t h e   above  r i g h t s .   You  must  consult  l e g a l   counsel  before  making  a 

decision t o  waive  any  o f  your  r i g h t s .  

- 

5.  You  have  been  scheduled  f o r   a  medical  examination. 
Hospital  H i l l ,   physical  exam  section,  a t  0645  on  2  Feb  88. 

You  must  r e p o r t   t o   USAF 

:!ka6;!d~~ 

6.  M i l i t a r y  l e g a l   counsel,  Capt 

Bldg  1278,  ext  72940,  has  been 

assist  you.  An  appointment  has  been  scheduled  f o r  you  t o  consult 
Instead  o f  t h e   appointed  counsel, 

88,  a t  bg%ours, 

Bldg  1278. 

you  may  have  another,  i f  t h e   lawyer  you  request  i s  i n  t h e   a c t i v e  m i l i t a r y  

service  and  s  reasonably  a v a i l a b l e   as  determined  according  t o   AFM  111-1. 
a d d i t i o n   t o  m i l i t a r y  counsel,  you  have  t h e   r i g h t   t o  employ  c i v i l i a n  counsel. 
The  A i r  Force  does  n o t   pay  expenses  i n c i d e n t   t o  t h e   employment  o f  c i v i l i a n  
counsel.  C i v i l i a n   counsel, 

i f  employed,  must  be  r e a d i l y  available. 

I n  

7.  Confer  w i t h  your  counsel  and  reply, 
i n  w r i t i n g ,   w i t h i n   7  workdays,  speci-  
f y i n g   t h e   r i g h t s  you  choose  t o  exercise.  The  statement  must  be  signed  i n  t h e  
presence  o f  your  counsel  who  also  w i
l   s i g n   it.  I f  you  waive  your  r i g h t   t o   a 
hearing  before  an  admi n i  s t r a t i  ve  discharge  board,  you  may  submit  w r i t t e n   state-  
l   send  t h e   statements  t o  the  discharge  a u t h o r i t y  
ments  i n  your  own  behalf. 
w i t h   t h e   c a s Q f i l e   t o  be  considered  w i t h  t h i s  recommendation. 
respond,  y o w i l u r e  w i
ing. 

If y o k - f a i l   t o  
l   c o n s t i t u t e  a  waiver  o f  t h e   r i g h t   t o  t h < $ E r d   hear- 

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I w i

l

l

l

-- 
7 -- 
A 

8.  Any  personal  information  you  f u r n i s h   i n  r e b u t t a l   i s  covered  b y  t h e   Privacy 
Act  Statement  as  explained  i n  AFR  39-10,  attachment  6.  A  copy  o f  AFR  39-10  i s  
a v a i l a b l e   f o r  your  use  i n  t h e   388  AGS  Orderly  Room. 

9.  Execute  t h e   attached  acknowledgement  and  r e t u r n   i t  t o  me 

imnediately. 

Commander,  Squadron  Section 

-

.

 

1 Atch 
1.  Deroqatory  data  contained  i n  

1 e t  t Gr  o f -  n o t  i f i c a t  i on