¥ .
AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD HEARING RECORD
NAME OF SERVICE MEMBER (LAST, FIRST MIDDLE INITIAL) GRADE AFSN/SSAN
AB ie
TYPE
PERSONAL APPEARANCE X RECORD REVIEW
COUNSEL NAME OF COUNSEL AND OR ORGANIZATION ADDRESS AND OR ORGANIZATION OF COUNSEL
VES NO
| X
VOTE OF THE BOARD
MEMBERS SITTING HON GEN UOTHC OTHER DENY
iis x*
X*
xX
xX
as X*
ISSUES INDEX NUMBER EXHIBITS SUBMITTED TO THE BOARD
A94.05 A67.70 1 ORDER APPOINTING THE BOARD
2 APPLICATION FOR REVIEW OF DISCHARGE
3 | LETTER OF NOTIFICATION
@FEB! 3. CASE NUMBER 4 | BRIEF OF PERSONNEL FILE
FD2000-0168 COUNSEL’S RELEASE TO THE BOARD
ADDITIONAL EXHIBITS SUBMITTED AT TIME OF
PERSONAL APPEARANCE
TAPE RECORDING OF PERSONAL APPERANCE HEARING

 

 

 

APPLIGANT’S ISSUE AND THE BOARD'S DECISIONAL RATIONAL ARE DISCUSSED ON THE ATTACHED AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL RATIONALE.

REMARKS
Case heard at Travis AFB, California. Applicant was scheduled to appear before the DRB, but failed to respond.

Advise applicant of the decision of the Board.

* Change RE Code to 3K.

 

 

SIGNATURE OF RECORDER SIGNATURE OF BOARD PRESIDENT

    
 

 

INDORSEMENT DATE: 6 FEB 03
FROM:

 

 

TO:
SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE PERSONNEL COUNCIL

AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD
1535 COMMAND DR, EE WING, 3°” FLOOR
ANDREWS AFB, MD 20762-7002

SAF/MIBR
350 C STREET WEST, SUITE 40
RANDOLPH AFB, TX 78150-4742

    
 

 

 

  

AFHQ FORM 0-2077, JAN 00 (EF-V2) Previous edition will be used.
CASE NUMBER

AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL RATIONALE | epoo.9168

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

The applicant was offered a personal appearance before the Discharge Review Board (DRB) 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 granted.

The Board finds that neither the evidence of record or that provided by the applicant substantiates an
impropriety that would justify a change of discharge. However, after a thorough review of the record, the
Board finds that the applicant’s character of discharge is inequitable.

ISSUE: The applicant was discharged for Misconduct — Drug Abuse. His offenses included receiving an
Article 15 for wrongfully inhaling “Dust Off’, an aerosol gas propellant, and an Article 15 for wearing a
black tee shirt with gold lettering. After a through and complete consideration of the information submitted
by the applicant and information contained in the record, the Board concluded there was sufficient
mitigation and extenuation to substantiate upgrade of the discharge and to change the reason for the
discharge. The Board also agreed by a majority of the members, to upgrade the applicant’s RE Code.

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.

However, in view of the foregoing findings, the Board further concludes that the overall quality of the
applicant’s service is more accurately reflected by an honorable discharge and the reason for the discharge
is more accurately described as Secretarial Authority. In addition, the RE Code should be changed to 3K.

Attachment:
Examiner's Brief
FD-00-00168
DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD
ANDREWS AFB, MD

(Former AB) MISSING DOCUMENTS

 

1. MATTER UNDER REVIEW: Appl rec’d a GEN Disch fr USAF 98/09/23 UP AFI 26-320c,
para 5.54 (Misconduct - Drug Abuse). Appeals for HON Disch.

2. BACKGROUND:

a. DOB: 79/08/19. Enlmt Age: 17 1/12. Disch Age: 19 1/12. Educ:HS DIPL.
AFQT: N/A. A-80, E-89, G-96, M-92. PAFSC: 3E731 - Fire Protection Apprentice.
DAS: 98/01/05.

b. Prior Sv: AFRes 96/09/30 - 97/06/24 (8 months 25 days) (Inactive
3. SERVICE UNDER REVIEW:
a. Enld as AB 97/06/25for 4 yrs. Svd: 1 Yrs 2 Mo 29 Das, all AMS.

b. Grade Status: AB - 98/07/28 (ART 15, VACATION, 98/08/24)
AMN - Unknown.

c. Time Lost: none.

d. Art 15's: (1) 98/08/24, Vacation, qq, 11 - article 92. You,
having knowledge of a lawful order issued b wiles ----,
not to wear your black tee shirt with gold lettering, an
order which it was your duty to obey, did, o/a 14 Aug
98, fail to obey the same by wearing the black tee shirt
with gold lettering. Rdn to AB. (No appeal) (No
mitigation)

(2) 98/07/28, Scott AFB, IL — Article 134. You did, o/a 27
Jun 98, wrongfully inhale "Dust Off," an aerosol gas
propellant, which conduct under the circumstances was of
a nature to bring discredit upon the Armed Forces. Rdn
to AB (susp til 27 Jan 99), forfeiture of $50.00 pay per
month for 2 months and 15 days extra duty. (No appeal:
(No mitigation)

e. Additional: none.
£. CM: none.

g. Record of SV: none.
(Discharged from Scott AFB)

h. Awards & Decs: AFTR.
FDO0-00168

1. Stmt of Sv: TMS: (1) Yrs (

11) Mos (24) Das
TAMS: (1) Yrs (2)

Mos (29) Das

4. BASIS ADVANCED FOR REVIEW: Appln (DD Fm 293) dtd 00/03/30.
(Change Discharge to Honorable)

Issue 1: I am -~----- , and live in ~-----~- . © am a veteran of the United
States Air Force, having enlisted in June of 1997. I was stationed at Scott Air
Force Base in Illinois as a firefighter, and was proud to follow in the
footsteps of my grandfathers, who both had served in the Air Force during the
Korean and Vietnam Wars, and my father, who was also a firefighter. However, in
September of 1998, I was discharged from military service with General under
Honorable Conditions after only fifteen months of time in service. I believe
that the punishment I received is fair, and am in no way trying to lessen the

fault in my conduct, but I would like to have the opportunity to make up for my
actions.

On the evening of Jun 27th, 1998, I went to a party that was held at the
dormitories on Scott Air Force Base. I became intoxicated, and later in the
evening, not being all too aware of what was going on, I inhaled the substance
"Dust-Off". "“"Dust-Off" is an aerosol-powered device used to clean the dust off
of computer keyboards, smoke detectors, etc., which I was told the aerosol
propellant that it contained would chill your throat, leaving you with a small,
harmless "high". This was something completely out of character for me and
against my beliefs, and had I not been consuming alcohol that night, I would
never have considered the thought. Realizing what had happened later in the
evening, I felt very ashamed of what I had done. The next day, those of us that
participated in the events of the night before were called in for questioning,
and I admitted to my mistake, hoping that I would be able to learn from my
mistake and move on. I was given an Article 15 Non-Judicial Punishment for
Substance Abuse, since the Uniform Code of Military Justice states that even
experimental use of a controlled substance is a punishable offense. I was put
on Administrative Probation, which meant that if I made another mistake, I would
be demoted to the rank of E-1 (I was an E-2 at the time). Also I was fined two
hundred dollars and was put on a work detail around the base for fifteen days.

I was on my best behavior for the next two months until one day in August I came
in to work out of uniform, wearing an unauthorized t-shirt under my blouse. I
had seen similar shirts having been worn around the station, but since I was
under Administrative Probation and was being watched closely, I was given a

Letter of Reprimand, was demoted to the rank of E-1 and began the discharge
process.

When I came home, I began to realize how much I had changed since I had left a
year and a half ago. For awhile it was rough getting used to, but being back at
home with my family and old friends taught me that there were several things I
needed to mend in my life. I had given up alcohol and made some adjustments in
my attitude. I set out immediately to look for a job, and soon found work at
the local Electric Cooperative as a dispatcher. I then enrolled in the local
community college to take classes to obtain an Emergency Medical Techinician
license. Since graduation, I began to work for the ambulance service. I had
remembered that while I was still in the service, both my commanding officer and
first sergeant told me that if I were discharged, I would have no problem re-
FDO0-00168

enlisting with the Army or Marine Corps. 1 then went to the local Marine
recruiter and explained to him why I was discharged, and that I would like the
chance to make up for what happened in the Air Force. He locked at my Re-
enlistment Code, which is what the military uses to determine whether or not
they will take someone back into the service, and said that I would not be able
to enlist in the Marine Corps unless I had the Re-enlistment Code upgraded.

I believe that what I have learned from my mistake in the Air Force has made me
a better person. That is why I ask you to see what you can do so that I will be
able to upgrade my discharge to Honorable, and if possible, upgrade my Re-
enlistment Code to make it possible to enlist in the Marine Corps. I understand
that the United States government has invested a lot of money on the training I
had received in the Air Force, and I would like to be able to return the
country's investment.

My state representative, ~------- , referred me to you, saying that you would be
the first step. Any help you can give me, whether it is pointing me in the
right direction, or if this is something you think can be taken care of, would
be most greatly appreciated.

ATCH
none,

00/04/26/ia
» . FLCOU-