Applicant Name: ????? Application Receipt Date: 2009/06/18 Prior Review: Prior Review Date: NA I. Applicant Request: Upgrade Reason Change RE Code Change Issues: See DD Form 293 submitted by the applicant. II. Were Proper Discharge and Separation Authority procedures followed? Tender Offer: NA See Attachments: Legal Medical Minority Opinion Exhibits III. Discharge Under Review Unit CDR Recommended Discharge: Date: 991004 Discharge Received: Date: 991103 Chapter: 14-12c (2) AR: 635-200 Reason: Misconduct RE: SPD: JKK Unit/Location: A Company, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Hood, TX Time Lost: AWOL x 1, for 27 days from (990302-990328). The applicant returned to his unit. Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): 980616, Failed to go to his appointed place of duty x 5 on or about 980604; 980602; 980518; 980518; 980501; and failed to obey a lawful general regulation, by wrongfully driving his POV without insurance on or about 980520; reduction to PFC (E-3); forfeiture of $276.00 pay per month for 1 month; extra duty and restriction for 14 days (CG) Courts-Martial (Charges/Dates/Punishment): 990818, Summary Court-Martial for AWOL, on or about 990302-990329; and wrongfully used cocaine on or between 990614-990621. He was sentenced to reduction to Private (E-1); forfeiture of $633.00 pay, and 14 days confinement. Counseling Records Available: Yes No IV. Soldier’s Overall Record Age at current enlistment: 20 Current ENL Date: 970612 Current ENL Term: 3 Years ????? Current ENL Service: 2 Yrs, 3 Mos, 25 Days ????? Total Service: 4 Yrs, 11 Mos, 10 Days ????? Previous Discharges: ARNG-941027-950614/NA IADT 950615-951103/UNC ARNG 951104-970611/HD Highest Grade: E-4 Performance Ratings Available: Yes No MOS: 92Y10 Unit Supply Spec GT: 114 EDU: HS Grad Overseas: None Combat: None Decorations/Awards: ASR V. Post-Discharge Activity City, State: ????? Post Service Accomplishments: The applicant stated in his issue that he works as a contractor supporting troops in Africa and Iraq. VI. Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation a. Facts and Circumstances: The evidence of record shows that on 30 September 1999, the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of separation action under the provisions of Chapter 14-12c (2), AR 635-200, by reason of misconduct-commission of a serious offense; in that he received a Summary Court-Martial for wrongful use of cocaine and AWOL for 27 days; and that he was considering his counseling packet which includes a Company Grade Article 15 for five failure to repair violations and disobeying a lawful general regulation, with a general, under honorable conditions discharge. He was advised of his rights. The applicant consulted with legal counsel, was advised of the impact of the discharge action, and did not submit a statement in his own behalf. The unit commander subsequently recommended separation from the service and waiver of further rehabilitative efforts. The intermediate commander reviewed the proposed discharge action and recommended approval of the separation action with a general, under honorable conditions discharge. On 12 October 1999, the separation authority waived further rehabilitative efforts and directed that the applicant be discharged with a characterization of service of general, under honorable conditions. b. Legal Basis for Separation: Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Chapter 14 establishes policy and prescribes procedures for separating members for misconduct. Specific categories include minor disciplinary infractions, a pattern of misconduct, and 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. c. Response to Issues, Recommendation and Rationale: After a careful review of all the applicant’s military records, and the issue submitted with the application, the analyst found no mitigating factors that would merit an upgrade of the applicant's discharge. There was a full consideration of all faithful and honorable service as well as the infractions of discipline, the extent thereof, and the seriousness of the offenses. The analyst determined that the applicant’s discharge was appropriate because the quality of his service was not consistent with the Army's standards for acceptable personal conduct and performance of duty by military personnel. The applicant, by violating the Army's policy not to possess or use illegal drugs, compromised the trust and confidence placed in a Soldier. The applicant, as a Soldier, 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 his service below that meriting a fully honorable discharge. The analyst noted the applicant's issue that he was a young man; lost his mother and would like to join the guard or reserves; however, the applicant had many legitimate avenues through which to obtain assistance or relief while he was on active duty, without committing the misconduct, which led to the separation action under review. Further, at the time of discharge the applicant was appropriately assigned a reentry eligibility (RE) code of “4.” An RE code of “4” cannot be waived and the applicant is no longer eligible for reenlistment. The analyst found that the applicant met entrance qualification standards to include age. The analyst further found no evidence that the applicant was any less mature than other soldiers of the same age who successfully completed military service. Additionally, the analyst also noted that the applicant requested on his DD Form 293, block 5, title "Board Action Requested" that his discharge be upgraded to "general, under honorable conditions;" however, at the time of his separation from active duty the applicant was issued a general, under honorable conditions discharge. Therefore, the analyst determined that the reason for discharge and the characterization of service were both proper and equitable and recommends to the Board to deny relief. VII. Summary of Army Discharge Review Board Hearing Type of Hearing: Date: 7 April 2010 Location: Washington, DC Did the Applicant Testify? Yes No Counsel: NA Witnesses/Observers: NA Exhibits Submitted: NA VIII. Board Discussion, Determination, and Recommendation After carefully examining the applicant’s record of service during the period of enlistment under review and considering the analyst’s recommendation and rationale, the Board determined that the discharge was both proper and equitable and voted to deny relief. IX. Board Decision XI. Certification Signature Board Vote: Approval Authority: Character - Change 0 No change 5 Reason - Change 0 No change 5 (Board member names available upon request) EDGAR J. YANGER Colonel, U.S. Army X. Board Action Directed President, Army Discharge Review Board Issue a new DD Form 214 Change Characterization to: Change Reason to: NA Other: NA RE Code: Grade Restoration: No Yes Grade: NA ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD - CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE Case Number AR20090011130 ______________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 3 pages