NAME OF SERVICE MEMBER (LAST.  FIRST MIDDLE INITIAL) 

I  GRADE 

I  AFENlEEAN 

AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD HEARING RECORD 

ISSl'ES  A92.21 

INDEX Nl'LIBLR 

A69.00 

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HEARING DATE 

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CASE NUMBER 

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EXHIBITS SUBMITIED TO THE BOARD 

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ORDER APPOINTMG THE BOARD 
APPLICATION FOR  REVIEW OF DISCHARGE 
LElTER OF NOTIFICATION 
BRIEF OF PERSONNEL FILE 
COUNSEL'S  RELEASE TO THE BOARD 
ADDITIONAL EXHIBITS SUBMITTED AT TIME OF 
PERSONAL APPEARANCE 

TAPE RECORDING OF PERSONAL APPEARANCE 

06 Dec 2005 
APPLICANTS ISSUE AND THE BOARD'S DECISIONAL RATIONAL ARE  DISCUSSED ON TILE ATTACIED AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL RATIONALE 

FD-2005-00182 

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Case heard at Washington, D.C. 

* Send signal 

Advise applicant of the decision of the Board, the right to a personal appearance withlwithout counsel, and the right to 
submit an application to the AFBCMR. 

Names and votes will be made available to the applicant at the applicant's request. 

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SAFMRBR 
550 C STREET WEST, SUITE 40 
RANDOLPH AFB, TX 78 150-4742 

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SECRETARU11  OF ll4E AIR tORCE  PERSONNEL COllNCLL 
AIR  FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW  BOARD 
1535 C O h A N D  DR, EE WING, 3RD FLOOR 
ANDREWS AFB, MD 20762-7002 

AFHQ FORM 0-2077, JAN 00 

(EF-V2) 

Previous edition will be used 

AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD CDECISIONAL RATIONALE 

CASE NUMBER 

FD-2005-00182 

GENERAL:  The  applicant  appeals  for  upgrade  of  discharge  to  honorable,  to  change  the  reason  and 
authority for the discharge, and to change the reenlistment code. 

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

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

FINDINGS:  Upgrade  of  discharge,  change  of  reason  and  authority  for  discharge,  and  change  of 
reenlistment code are 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. 

ISSUE:  The applicant stated that he would like to reenter the military.  The records indicated the applicant 
received an Article 15 for alcohol rehabilitation failure.  The applicant was unwilling to cooperate, continued 
to drink, discontinued use of Antabuse, failed to attend Alcoholic Anonymous meetings,  and was unwilling 
to  be continued in the rehabilitation program.  The DRB opined that the  applicant had ample opportunities 
to  change  his  negative  behavior.  The  Board  concluded  the  misconduct  was  a  significant  departure  from 
conduct expected of all military  members.  The characterization of the discharge received by the  applicant 
was found to be appropriate. 

The DRB was pleased  to see that the applicant was doing well post  service and has  a good job.  However, 
the  applicant  failed  to  address  his  alcohol  abuse  issue.  No  inequity  or  impropriety  in  his  discharge  was 
found in the course of the DRB hearing. 

If he can provide additional documented information to substantiate an issue, the applicant should consider 
exercising his right to make a personal appearance before the Board.  If he should choose to exercise his 
right to a personal appearance hearing, the applicant should be prepared to provide the DRB with factual 
evidence of the inequity and any post-service accomplishments documenting successful completion of 
substance abuse treatment. 

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 further 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,  M D  

(Former SRA) (HGH SRA) 

1.  MATTER UNDER REVIEW:  Appl rec'd a GEN Disch fr Laughlin AFB, TX on 30 Jan 97 
UP AFI 36-3208, para 5.32.1.2 (Alcohol Rehabilitation Failure).  Appeals for 
Honorable Discharge, and to Change the RE Code, Reason and Authority for 
Discharge. 

2.  BACKGROUND: 

a. DOB: 27 Nov 73.  Enlmt Age: 19 2/12.  Disch Age: 22 2/12. Educ: HS DIPL 
AFQT: N/A.  A-92,  E-58,  G-72,  M-55. PAFSC: 4N031 - Medical Service Apprentice 
DAS: 7 Dec 95. 

b.  Prior Sv:  (1) AFRes 20 Feb 93 -  17 Jun 93  (3 months 28 days) (Inactive). 

3.  SERVICE UNDER REVIEW: 

a.  Enlisted as A1C 18 Jun 93 for 4 yrs. Svd: 3 Yrs 7 Mo 13 Das, all AMS. 

b.  Grade Status:  SRA -  18 Oct 95 

c.  Time Lost:  None. 

d.  Art 15's:  (1) 22 Apr 96, Ramstein AB, Germany -  Article 111.  You 

did, on or about 14 Apr 96, at or near Kisling Memorial 
Drive, Ramstein AB, Germany, operate a vehicle, to wit: 
a passenger car, while the alcohol concentration in your 
breath was 0.10 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of 
breath or greater, specifically .222 grams of alcohol 
per 210 liters, as shown by chemical analysis. 
Suspended reduction to A1C.  Forfeiture of $150.00 pay 
per month for two months.  Forty five days extra duty. 
(No appeal) (No mitigation) 

e.  Additional: AF FORM 2731, 5 NOV 96 -  SART Program failure. 

ECI FORM 9, 18 OCT 96 -  Course Examination failure. 
AAFES LTR, 17 AUG 96 -  Video rental account overdue. 
LETTER, 12 APR 96 -  Returned check. 
LETTER, 12 MAR 96 -  Returned check. 
LETTER, 28 FEB 96 -  Returned check. 

f .  CM:  None 

g.  Record of SV: 18 Jun 93 -  17 Feb 95  Laughlin AFB  5  (Initial) 

18 Feb 95 -  18 Oct 95  Laughlin AFB  5  (CRO) 
09 Oct 95 -  08 Oct 96  Landstuhl RMC  4  (Annual) 

h.  Awards &  Decs:  AFAM, NDSM, AFOSLTR, AFTR 

i.  Stmt of Sv:  TMS:  (3) Yrs  (11) Mos  (11) Das 

TAMS: (3) Yrs  (7) Mos  (13) Das 

4.  BASIS ADVANCED FOR REVIEW:  Appln  (DD Fm 293) dtd 27 Apr 05. 

(Change Discharge to Honorable, and Change the RE Code, Reason and Authority 

for Discharge) 

ISSUES ATTACHED TO BRIEF 

ATCH 
1. Applicant's Issues with 36 attachments. 

96 Adobe Street 
Del Rio, Texas 78840 
(830)-765-6672 

April 26,2005 

Reference: Upgrade of DD-214 Discharge Characterization and RE code 

Records Review Committee 
SAFJMRBR 
5506 Street West, Suite 40 
Randolph AFB, Texas 78150-4742 

Attention: Review Committee 

Dear Records Review Committee: 

Since The Time of my separation from the Air Force, I have done a great Deal to further myself as 
a person: mentally, physically and spiritually in my career. My separation from the Air Force did not hold 
me back in life but provided skills to help me sucdeed in the civilian world. I love the military and it's way 
of life; this is why I want to reenlist in the U.S Army. 

Since my separation in September 1997, 1  have done a great deal to further my education in the 
medical field.  After  my  separation,  I was  not able  to  utilize my  Montgomery G.1  Bill to  further  my 
education due to the characterization of my discharge. Determined to  not let the mistakes of my past 
haunt me and to  begin to achieve a model level of excellence, I began to  continue on  the medical 
foundation that I had begun in the Air Force. 

Post Separation, I had a few casual jobs while trying to enroll in a nursing program and continue 
my medical aspirations. At the end of 1997 and  beginning of 1998, 1  was employed at the Val Verde 
Renal Care  Center  as  a  hemodialysis Technician.  This  was  the  first  step  toward  my  emergency 
services goals. I worked there for approximately six months. While there, I preformed renal dialysis on 
patients with end stage renal disease. While at the Renal Care Center, I obtained my National Registry 
EMT-Basic certification through Laughlin Air Force Base, filed reciprocity and obtained my Texas EMT- 
Basic certification. I began to volunteer for Kinney County EMS (KCEMS) working 24 hour shifts on my 
off days from the renal center. I gained a great deal of emergency medical experience while there but 
wanted to learn more. 

After establishing myself as a reliable volunteer, I was offered and accepted a job as a full time EMT 
for  Kinney  County  EMS  that  began  in  June  of  1998.  1  moved  to  Brackettville to  be  more readily 
available to the community. I continued to gain experience and to  grow. During my stay at KCEMS, I 
desired to continue my education in advanced EMS. I began to take my Texas EM-r-Intermediate class 
and completed it with high marks. I continued my employment with KCEMS honing my new skills that 
included IV therapy, artificial ventilation through endotracheal intubations and administering some IV 
medications. Shortly thereafter, I began the Paramedic Completion. Since KCEMS had staffing needs, I 
worked many hours a day for months either in class, at clinical rotations or pulling 91 1 calls at Kinney 
County. I completed and passed graduating in the top-half of my class. 

My desire for a more progressive EMS lead me to Val Verde Medical Center EMS in March of 1999. 
This move enabled me to utilize all the new knowledge and skills I had acquired, moving from a service 
with 20 calls on average a month to over 300 calls a month. I continued to work  part-time for Kinney 
County while at Val Verde EMS for approximately a year and a half and am willing to there to work if 
the need should arise now. While at Val Verde EMS, I have worked many different calls from murder, 
suicides, medical calls, multi vehicle collisions and trauma calls of many different types. I drew upon my 

Page 2 

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April 26,2005 

Army Expert Field Medical Badge knowledge while working many shooting and stabbing calls including 
multi victim accidents having to triage and treat appropriately based on the severity of injuries. 

I have become a seasoned Paramedic with over six years of 91 1 field experience and thousands of 
emergency calls;  I work as a senior Paramedic under the field supervisor to  new employees and for 
medics with less experience than myself. I have obtained my Advance Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) 
certification, Pediatric Advanced  Life Support (PALS) Certification, Basic Trauma Life Support (BTLS) 
certification, Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) provider and instructor certifications, all of which I must 
maintain for  employment at  Val Verde  EMS.  Each certification encompasses continuing education 
credit applied to a vast arena of topics to include Airway, Patient Assessment, Trauma, Pediatrics and 
Geriatrics to  name a  few.  Each one  is similar  to  the  Career  Development  Courses although more 
focused and more intense. Although the  minimum requirement for  recertification is 172 hours of CE 
every four years, I exceeded that figure by almost 200% in order to  provide the best care possible for 
my patients. My continuing education includes all aspects of patient care both in my organization's in- 
services  and  out-of-town  conferences  to  better  my  understanding  and  be  able  to  provide  quality 
customer service. At the present I continue to grow as a person and obtain new levels of understanding 
within emergency medicine. 

I Believe that all that I have accomplished since my separation shows a willingness and desire to 
grow  in  my  chosen  vocation.  Paramedics  at  the  medical center  must  adhere  to  strict  guidelines 
including a clean driving record. We are held to high levels of expectations and I serve as a role model 
in many of these areas. I have provided a copy of my background check that was provided through the 
Del Rio Police Department showing no infractions. I have taken a total of 5 sick days used in the six 
plus years  at  the  medical center  and  have  many extra  shifts  and  extracurricular functions.  I have 
established myself as having exceptional skills and am routinely asked for by name for IV starts within 
the facility. 

I enjoy a great many activities: I am an avid skydiver, photographer and rock climber to name a few 
of my passions. My skydiving consists of 196 fixed wing jumps from altitudes ranging from 3,500 ft to 
15,500 ft and I have 2  helicopter jumps  from 5,500ft.  I began videotaping and editirlg weddings and 
skydive photography as  a  hobby,  but  have  provided services professionally for  an Air  Force  Base 
Exercise that involved civilian and military agencies alike. I have begun to volunteer with the Cruz Roja 
(Red Cross) ambulance in Acuna,  Mexico, desiring to  understand EMS in other countries. From my 
experiences there, I have gained an appreciation of medicine in a third-world country and have begun 
to assist them in improving their service. I have helped them repair equipment and am in the process of 
trying to get them a new ambulance as well as equipment. The area they work receives a great amount 
of American tourists and I feel as though I am providing a helpful service to the Mexican Nationals and 
Americans alike by educating their EMS on more current procedures and protocols. 

Realizing the  stressors of my job,  I strive to  maintain balance that  allows for me to  defuse critical 
calls. My outlets are my physical and social activities. But I have also found sharing my experiences 
with  others  provides  a  renewed  energy.  I have  performed  roles  within  the  community  providing 
ambulance tours for the school children while educating the  youth on  91 1 procedures and at-home 
emergencies. I have also been a judge  at a school science fair.  I instruct in EMT classes at the local 
high school and in out recruitment courses. I enjoy seeing the  young minds absorb the teachings of 
EMS so that they too will know what to do when 'stepping up' is required of them. 

These life experiences have led me back to the military. My activities for the past year have focused 
on my preparation for acceptance into the  U.S Army as a Special Forces Operator. While employed 
with Val Verde  EMS,  I have participated in many military exercises at  Laughlin Air  Force Base and 
have acted as the Triage Officer responsible for prioritizing civilian and military casualties. I have acted 
as  a  liaison providing  emergency  patient  information to  civilian physicians at the  receiving medical 
facility and to active duty Flight Surgeons on scene on patient status. I formerly was a heavy smoker 
while in the Air Force but have since quit smoking for the past 9 months. I have become a member of 
the local gymnasium and began to exercise very frequently. I have gained 251bs of muscle and am in 
the  best  shape  of  my  life.  I have  begun  in  mixed  martial  arts  classes  consisting  of  Muay  Thai 

Page 3 

F~ams-80 

April 26,2005 

Kickboxing, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu,  Western  Style  Boxing and  Karate and am  at the  Orange Belt  level  in 
those,  and will  be competing  in my first  Karate tournament  in  San Antonio  next month.  My training 
regimen has improved my physical strength, stamina and agility.  It has  also  provided me a spiritual 
focus that I have just recently come to appreciate. I have attended a civilian Navy Seal training camp 
which included rappelling, fixed rope ascensions, hiking sea boat operations in an IBS, many hours of 
exercises and  physical evolutions and a  land navigation course.  I also  attended a  land  navigation 
course in Austin at the Texas EMS conference focusing on finding downed victims and extrication of 
patients needing medical attention. I do all this through dedication and to help me continue to prepare 
for enlistment to the Army and pursue my goal of becoming a Special Forces Operator. 

While in the Air Force, I attended the coveted Army Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB) at Ft. Hood. 
I was  1 of only 49 graduates out of an initial class of 200 soldiers that attended and was the only Air 
Force member there of that 200 soldiers. After my graduation, I received the Sergeant Majors' coin "A 
Soldiers'  Medic" from  the  Big  Red One;  this  I cherish as  one  of  my great accomplishments.  I was 
eventually stationed in Germany where I worked at Landsthule Army Regional Medical Center. I served 
as a cadre at an EFMB class there and was the first ever Air Force evaluator for the EFMB in Europe. 
Doing this, I proved not to others, but to myself  that I can accomplish any mission set in front of me. I 
long for the  sense  of  accomplishment and camaraderie once again,  one  that  only  the  military can 
provide. I aspire to be something more, to continue with my own desire for self-excellence. I relish the 
opportunity at returning to this way of life as a more experienced, mature person seeking and providing 
guidance to accomplish each mission. 

I want the opportunity to continue to excel in the  military and to continue in a family tradition,  my 
father was  in Military Intelligence (05-K) in the Army and has since retired. My brother is currently a 
Warrant Officer, OH-58Delta Aviator for the Army. With my experiences in life as well as all the skills 
and knowledge of 11 years of being a Medic, I know that I will bring a positive asset to my unit and will 
ensure completion of mission objectives working within my team. 

I Thank You  very  much for  your  time and your  consideration.  I am  at a  point in  life  now where 
decisions must be made and followed with  detail; my demeanor  in life has become an obsession of 
personal growth and will continue with that. Again, Thank You for your consideration of my request; I 
look forward to hearing from you soon. 

Respectfully, 

V  Val Verde Regional Medical Center 

DEPARTMENT O F  'THE  AIR  FORCE 

86TH AIRLIFT WlNG (USAFE) 

MEMORANDUM FOR S 

FROM:  86 MDS/CC 

SUBJECT:  Notification Memorandum 

86 MDS 

1. I a m  recommending your discharge from the United States Air Force for failure 
in alcohol abuse treatment due to your unwillingness to cooperate.  The authority is 
AFPD 36-32 and AFI 36-3208, Section F, paragraph 5.32.  If my recommendation is 
approved, your service will be characterized as honorable or general.  I am 
recommending that your service be characterized as general. 

2.  My reason for this action is that you did, on or about 5 Nov  96, fail to 
successfully complete the Substance Abuse Reorientation and Treatment (SART) 
Program by continuing to drink, discontinuing your use of Antabuse, failing to 
attend AA  meetings, and expressing unwillingness to continue in the program.  For 
this failure, you were placed in Track 5 of the SART Program (Atchs l a  & lb) and 
this discharge was initiated. 

" 

3.  Copies of the documents to be forwarded to the separation authority in support 
of this recommendation are attached.  The commander exercising Special Court 
Martial jurisdiction, or a higher authority, will decide whether you will be 
discharged or retained in the United States h r  Force, and if you are discharged, 
how your service will be characterized.  If you are discharged, you will be ineligible 
for reenlistment in the United States Air Force, and any special pay, bonus, or 
education assistance funds you have received may be subject to recoupment. 

/" 

4.  You have the right to consult counsel.  Military legal counsel has been obtained 
to assist you.  I have made a n  appointment for you to consult with Cap 
Area Defense Counsel a t  Building 21 11, DSN 480-2182/2492 on 

20 Dec 96 a t  1000.  You may consult civilian counsel a t  your own expense.  The 
Area Defense Counsel requests that you stop by their office prior to your 
appointment to pick-up the Administrative Discharge Booklet. 

5.  You have the right to submit statements in your behalf.  Any statements you 
want the separation authority to consider must reach me NLT (3 duty days) 
27 pet 96 a t   1000  hours unless you request and receive a n  extension for good 
cause shown.  I will send them to the separation authority. 

6.  If you fail to consult counsel or submit statements in your behalf, your failure 
will constitute a waiver of your right to do so. 

7.  You have been scheduled for a medical examination.  You must report in uniform 
with your medical records and a n  escort to the base clinic, Physical Exams in 
Building 2182 on 20 Dec 96 a t  0700 for the examination.  If you wear glasses, you 
must bring them with you.  If you wear contacts, you must be able to remove them. 
You must abstain from alcohol 72 hours, fast 12 hours, and abstain from caffeine 
and nicotine  10 hours prior to your appointment. 

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! 

8. Any personal information you furnish in rebuttal is covered by the Privacy Act of 
1974.  A copy ofAFI 36-3208 is available for your use i n  the orderly room. 

Commander 

Attachments: 
I .   Supporting Documents 

a.  AF' Form  2731, SART Program Disposition, dated 5 Nov 96 
b.  Standard Form 600, Chronological Record of Medical Care, dated 5 Nov 96 

2.  Other Derogatory Information 

a.  ECI Form 9, dated 18 Oct 96 
b.  Career Development Course Failure Assessment Worksheet 
c.  Ltr, AAFES Europe Landstuhl, dated 17 Aug 96 
d.  Memorandum, Denial of Am Force Good Conduct Medal, dated 30 Apr 96 
e.  AF' Form 3070, Record of Nonjudicial Punishment Proceedings, dated 22 Apr 96 

wlresponse 

f.  Letters, Returned Checks, dated 12 Apr 96, 12 Mar 96, 28 Feb 96 

3.  Airman's Receipt of  Notification Memorandum