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AF | DRB | CY2015 | FD-2013-00787
Original file (FD-2013-00787.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD HEARING RECORD
 NAME OF SERVICE MEIBER (LAST, FIRST MIDDLE INITIAL)      GRADE
 (b)(6)
 TYPE GEN         x        I        PERSONAL APPEARANCE     I        RECORD REVIEW
 COUNSEL  NAME OF COUNSEL AND OR ORGANlZATION      ADDRESS ANO OR ORGAmZA TION OF COUNSEL
 VF.S     No
 x
VOTE OF THE BOARD
MEMBER SITTING  HON      GEN      UOTHC    OTHER    DENY
(b)(6)   x
x x
x x
ISSUES   A94.53   INDEX NUMBER     A66.00   EXHIBITS SUBMIITED TO THE BOARD
1 ORDER APPOINTING THE BOARD
APPLICATION FOR REVIEW OF DISCHARGE
LETTER OF NOTIFICATION
BRIEF OF PERSONNEL FILE
COUNSEL'S RELEASE TO HIE BOARD
ADD ITIONAL EXHIBITS SUBMITTED AT TIME OF PERSONAL APPEARANCE
TAPE RECORDING OF PERSONAL APPEARANCE HEARfNG

HEARING DATE     CASE NUMBER

22 Jun 2015      FD-2013-00787
APPUCANT'S ISSUE ANO 11iEBOARD'S DECISIONAL RATIONALE AR£ DISCUSSEDON TilE ATTACHED AJR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL RATIOSALE.

Case heard in Washington, D.C.

Advise appl icant of the decision of the Board, the right to a personal appearance with/without counsel, and the right to submit an application to the AFBCMR.








(b)(6)   --

INDORSEMENT      DATE: 612912015
TO:      FROM:
SAF/MRBR         SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE PERSONNEL COUNCIL
AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD
550 C STREET WEST. SUITE 40      1535 COMMAND DR, EE WING,3RO FLOOR
RANDOLPH AFB, TX78150-4742       ANDREWS AFB, ID 20762·7001


AFHQ FORM 0-2077, JAN 00         (EF-V2)  Previous



AIR FORCE DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD DECISIONAL RATIONALE		 CASE NUMBER

FD-2013-00787

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

The applicant appeared and testified before the Discharge Review .Board (DRB), with counsel, via video teleconference between Joint Base Andrews Maryland, and Joint Base San Antonio Texas on 22 Jun 2015. The following witness also testified on the applicant's behalf: Vanessa Camarena.

The following additional exhibits were submitted at the hearing :
Exhibit #5: College transcripts/certificates and Knights of Columbus acceptance letter

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

FINDING: The Board denies the upgrade of the discharge.

The Board finds the applicant submitted no issues contesting the equity or propriety of the discharge, and after a thorough review of the record, the Board was unable to identify any that would justify a change of discharge.

ISSUE: The applicant received a General discharge for Misconduct -Drug Abuse

The Air Force Discharge Review Board, under its responsibility to examine the propriety and equity of an applicant's discharge, is authorized to change the characterization of service and the reason for discharge if such change is warranted. In reviewing discharges, the Board presumes regularity in the conduct of governmental affairs unless there is substantial credible evidence to rebut the presumption, to include evidence submitted by the applicant. The Board completed a thorough review of the circumstances that led to the discharge and the discharge process to ensure the discharge met the pertinent standards of equity and propriety . The applicant's record of service included two Article 15s, one Letter of Reprimand, and one Letter of Admonishment. His misconduct included being drunk and disorderly, unlawfully struck another airman in the head with his fist, failure to obey lawful order by possessing brass knuckles, committed a detected safety violation by failing to park vehicle correctly on the flight line, failure to follow written Technical Order, and wrongful use of marijuana.

The record indicates that the applicant was discharged for drug abuse; receivi ng an Article 15 for wrongful use of marijuana. The applicant was identified during an OSI investigation as wrongfu lly using marijuana. The applicant stated he had been drinking alcohol and blacked out, and therefore does not remember using marijuana; only realizing that he had used marijuana after his positive urinalysis results. After review of the record, the Board found no evidence to indicate that the applicant did not know right from wrong or that in his five years of service was unaware of the Air Force policy of zero tolerance to drug use. The Board found the negative aspects of the willful misconduct outweighed the positive aspects of the applicant's performance and concluded that the discharge was appropriate. A discharge is upgraded only if the applicant and the Board can establish that an inequity or impropriety took place at the time of discharge. After a thorough review of the record, the Board found no evidence to justify an upgrade of the discharge characterization.

The applicant cited his desire to receive the G.I. Bill benefits as justification for upgrade. The DRB noted that when the applicant applied for these benefits, he signed a statement (DD Form 2366, on March 29, 1999) that he understood he must receive an Honorable discharge to receive future educational entitlements. The Board was sympathetic to the impact from the loss of these benefits to the applicant; however, this is not a matter of inequity or impropriety which would warrant an upgrade. A discharge is upgraded only if the applicant and the Board can establish that an inequity or impropriety took place at the time of discharge. After a thorough review of the record, the Board found no evidence to justify an upgrade of the discharge characterization, reason for the discharge or the reenlistment code.

CONCLUSION: The Discharge Review Board concludes that the discharge was consistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of the discharge regulation , 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 and determines the discharge should remain unchanged.


Attachment: Examiner's Brief

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