PART II - APPLICATION DATA

(Note: Part I deleted under the Privacy Act on Reading Room copy)

1.  Character of Discharge:  GD

2.  Date of discharge (or REFRAD):  981203

3.  Authority for separation:

	a.  Regulation:  Chapter 14, AR 635-200

	b.  Reason:  Misconduct

4.  Prior review(s):  NONE

PART III - SERVICE HISTORY

SECTION A - Period of Service Under Review

1.	Service data:                              2.  Awards and decorations:
			                          GCMDL                      
a.  Period entered for:  4 Years               
b.  Entry date:  970612                        
c.  Age:  21 Years   DOB:  751111                                          
d.  Educational level:  HS Grad                                                 
e.  Aptitude area score:
	    GT:  96                                3.  Highest grade achieved:
    f.  Length of Service:                         E4
        1 Year  5 Months  22 Days                  
                                                   
                                               4.  Performance evaluations:  
                                                   NONE

PART III - SERVICE HISTORY
SECTION A - Period of Service Under Review - Continued

5.  Periods of unauthorized absence:  NONE
                                                                    
    Status       Inclusive dates                       
	AWOL                                                               

	Mil conf                                                           

	Civil conf                                                         

	Other                                                              

6.  Nonjudicial punishment: 

	Date 		Offense(s)
	980807 (NIF)	Wrongfully used cocaine
	980826 (NIF)	Wrongfully used cocaine

7.  Court-Martial data:  NONE

	a.  SCM:  
		Date   Offense(s)

	b.  SPCM:  
		Date   Offense(s)

	c.  GCM:	 
		Date   Offense(s)

8.	Remarks:  NONE

SECTION B - Prior Service Data

Other discharge(s):

	Service	From	To	Type Discharge
	RA            940718    970611        HD

PART IV - PREHEARING REVIEW

SECTION A-ANALYST’S ASSESSMENT
l.  Facts and Circumstances:

	a.  Evidence of record shows that on 6 October 1998, the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of separation action under the provisions of Chapter l4, AR 635-200, by reason of misconduct—commission of a serious offense, with a recommendation for a general, under honorable conditions discharge (GD).  The applicant was advised of his rights, consulted with legal counsel, was advised of the impact of the discharge action, and elected not to submit a statement in his own behalf.  The intermediate commander reviewed the proposed discharge action and recommended approval of the separation action with a GD.  On 10 November 1998, the separation authority directed that the applicant be separated with GD.  

	b.  On 3 December 1998, the applicant was discharged with a GD.  At the time of discharge, the applicant had completed 1 year, 5 months, 22 days service of his current enlistment, and a total of 4 years, 4 months, and 16 days of active military service.

	c.  The applicant’s record shows that he completed over 4 years of service; attained the rank of specialist/E-4; and earned a Good Conduct Medal.  Although not contained in the available records, the applicant’s disciplinary record includes his acceptance of two field grade Article 15’s for the wrongful use of cocaine, as evidenced in the unit commander’s memorandum initiating separation action.  As a result of these nonjudicial punishments the applicant was reduced in rank to private/E-1.  The applicant’s defense counsel raised issues concerning the applicant not being afforded rehabilitation assistance through the Army Drug and Alcohol Prevention Control Program (ADAPCP); however, these contentions were adequately addressed by the unit commander in his response to counsel.  The unit commander indicated that although the applicant attempted self referral he had already been registered at ADAPCP as a command referral based on his documented record of illegal drug use.  The unit commander also verified that he consciously decided to process the applicant for separation as required by Chapter 14, 
AR 635-200, based on his multiple incidents of illegal drug use.  This separation action is fully supported by the provisions of Paragraph 4-26 (Separation Actions) of AR 600-85 (Army Drug and Alcohol Prevention Control Program).  

2.  Legal/Regulatory Basis for Separation Action:  Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.  Chapter l4 establishes policy and prescribes procedures for separating members for misconduct.  Specific categories include minor disciplinary infractions, a pattern of misconduct, commission of a serious offense, to include abuse of illegal drugs, convictions by civil authorities and desertion or absence without leave.  Action will be taken to separate a member for misconduct when it is clearly established that rehabilitation is impractical or unlikely to succeed.  Army policy states that an under other than honorable conditions discharge is normally considered appropriate, but a general discharge under honorable conditions or an honorable discharge may be granted.

SECTION B-APPLICANT’S SUBMISSIONS

1.  Issue(s) of propriety and/or equity submitted by applicant or counsel.
    As stated on applicant’s DD Form 293.
2.  Exhibit(s) submitted:
	A-1:  DD Form 293, dated 990319.
	A-2:  Counsel Issues:  NONE
	B-l:  Other Documents: NONE

PART IV - PREHEARING REVIEW (CONTINUED)

SECTION C - Medical and/or Legal Advisory Opinion

Referred to ( ) Medical Advisor      ( ) Legal Advisor

      a.  Medical prehearing comments (if applicable):

      b.  Legal prehearing comments (if applicable):

PART V - SUMMARY OF HEARING

SECTION A-Attendees and exhibits

1.  Review/hearing information:

	a. Type requested:
	   ( X ) Records review             (   ) Hearing

	b. Type Held:
	   ( X )Records review              (   ) Hearing
	                                    (   ) Tender Offer

	c. Review/hearing location and date:  Washington D.C. on 30 June 1999.

	d. Appearance by:
	   Applicant                 (   ) Yes   ( X ) No
	   Counsel                   (   ) Yes   ( X ) No

	e.  Applicant testified:     (   ) Yes   ( X ) No
	
	f.  Counsel presentation:    (   ) Yes   ( X ) No
	
	g.  Witness(es) testified:   (   ) Yes   ( X ) No
	                                                
2.  Exhibit(s) submitted at hearing:  

PART VI - ISSUES AND FINDINGS

1.  a.  Applicant's issue(s) of propriety and/or equity:

	    ( X )	Same as those listed on DD Form 293 and Part IV, Section A of this case report and directive.
	    (   )	Revised issue(s) furnished in writing by applicant as follows:
	    (   )	Additional issue(s) identified during review/hearing as follows:

	b.  Request:  ( X ) Recharacterization     (   ) Change of Reason

2.  Finding(s), conclusion(s), and reason(s) for the Board's decision(s) on issues of propriety and/or equity:

	a.  Propriety:	The applicant has not submitted an issue of propriety and the ADRB has not otherwise relied upon an issue of propriety to change the discharge.

	b.  Equity:	The parenthetical number(s) below correspond(s) to the issue number(s) on the DD Form 293, or in Part VI, Paragraph 1, above.

        (1) and (2)  The issues are rejected.  The Board noted the applicant’s contentions that, in effect, his first three years of service were incident free, and by not being allowed a second chance prior to being discharged he has been subject to extreme prejudice in the employment process since his discharge; and that his prior honorable service is evidenced by his receipt of a Good Conduct Medal for his first period of service.  However, after carefully examining the applicant’s record of service for the period of enlistment under review, the Board found that the applicant’s discharge was appropriate.  The board considered the applicant’s quality of service during the initial portion of the enlistment under review.  However, this service was determined not to be sufficiently meritorious to warrant an upgrade to the characterization of discharge.  The applicant, by his multiple violations of the Army's policy not to possess or use illegal drugs, compromised the trust and confidence placed in him as a soldier.  As a soldier, he had the duty to support and abide by the Army's drug policies.  By abusing illegal drugs, the applicant knowingly risked a military career and diminished the quality of service below that meriting a fully honorable discharge.  Further, the Board does not grant relief solely for the purpose of gaining employment or enhancing employment opportunities.  The Board, being convinced that the reason for discharge and the characterization of service were both proper and equitable, voted to deny relief.

3.  Response(s) to item(s) not addressed as decisional issue(s):  NONE

PART VII - BOARD ACTION
SECTION A - Conclusions/Decisions/Vote

1.	Board conclusion(s):

	The discharge was:

	( X )	Proper.
	(   )	Improper as to characterization.  Change characterization to                                     .
	(   )	Improper as to reason.  Change reason to                         under                      .

	( X )	Equitable.
	(   )	Inequitable as to characterization.  Change characterization to                               .
	(   )	Inequitable as to reason.  Change reason to                       
		under                                 .
	(   )	Both proper and equitable, but characterization/reason for separation cited was an administrative/clerical error and should be changed to                      under                         .

2.  Voting record:      Change   No Change
	            Reason       0         5  
    Characterization       0         5   

	  The names and votes of the members of the Board are recorded in Part IX of this document and can be obtained by writing to the address below.  The request must contain the CASE NO. located in the upper right corner of this document.

                  Department of the Army Review Boards Agency
                  ATTN:  Promulgation Team
                  1941 Jefferson Davis Highway, 2nd Floor
                  Arlington, VA  22202-4508

3.  Minority views:  NONE  

PART VII - BOARD ACTION
SECTION B - Verification and Authentication

Case report reviewed and verified	

MR. ADRIANCE                           
Case Reviewing Official	

PART VIII - DIRECTIVE/CERTIFICATION
SECTION A - DIRECTIVE

NONE

SECTION B - CERTIFICATION

Approval Authority:

THOMAS J. ALLEN
Colonel, U.S. Army
President, Army Discharge
   Review Board

Official:

SUZANNE WALKER    
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
Chief, Secretary Recorder

EXHIBITS:
A - Application for review of discharge              	C - Other 
B - Material submitted by applicant

INDEX RECORD:

AR Number:  1999024993                    INDEX NUMBERS:  A9217
Date of Review:  990630                                   A9219
Character of Service:  GD                                 A9221
Date of Discharge:  981203                                A0100
Authority:  AR 635-200 C14                                
Reason:  A6770                                            
Results of Board Action/                                  
Vote/Affirmation:  NC 5-0 A                               

PART IX - VOTING RECORD

    Name                                   Reason          Characterization
                                           CHANGE   NC    HON   UHC   NC   UNCHAR
    1. 	Mbr          X                X       

    2. 	Mbr          X                X       

    3. 	Mbr          X                X       

    4. 	Mbr          X                X       

    5. 	PO           X                X