Applicant Name: ????? Application Receipt Date: 2010/09/22 Prior Review: Prior Review Date: NA I. Applicant Request: Upgrade Reason Change RE Code Change Issues: The applicant states, in effect, that he felt his discharge was inequitable because of the time served being the best Soldier he could be and the two incidents were somewhat isolated. He also would like to enlist in the Army once again. 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: NIF Discharge Received: Date: 000726 Chapter: 14-12b AR: 635-200 Reason: Misconduct RE: SPD: JKA Unit/Location: A Battery, 4th Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Germany, APO AE Time Lost: None Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): 990507, operated a passenger car, while drunk on or about (990313), forfeiture of $200 pay for one month and extra duty for 15 days (FG) The suspension of the punishment of forfeiture of $637.00 pay for two months, suspended, to be automatically remitted if not vacated before (990417) imposed on (990212) was vacated, effective (990416) based on the applicant's offense of operating a passenger car, while drunk (990313). 990212, wrongfully possessed marijuana in the hashish form and other controlled substances between on or about (980201-980831), and wrongfully used marijuana in the hashish form between on or about (980201-980831), reduction to Private First Class (E-3), forfeiture of $637.00 pay for two months, suspended, to be automatically remitted if not vacated before (990417), extra duty for 45 days (FG) Courts-Martial (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None Counseling Records Available: Yes No IV. Soldier’s Overall Record Age at current enlistment: 24 Current ENL Date: Reenl/961203 Current ENL Term: 4 Years ????? Current ENL Service: 3 Yrs, 7 Mos, 24 Days ????? Total Service: 6 Yrs, 10 Mos, 5 Days ????? Previous Discharges: USAR 930922-931128/NA RA 931129-961202/HD Highest Grade: E-4 Performance Ratings Available: Yes No MOS: 63T10 Bradley Fighting Vehicle System Mech GT: 100 EDU: HS Grad Overseas: Bosnia (960105-960420), Germany x 3 (940525-000726) Combat: None Decorations/Awards: AAM, GCMDL, NDSM, AFSM, NATOM, ASR, OSRw/Num (2), V. Post-Discharge Activity City, State: ????? Post Service Accomplishments: None submitted by the applicant. VI. Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation a. Facts and Circumstances: The evidence of record shows that on 17 May 2000, the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of separation action under the provisions of Chapter 14-12c, AR 635-200, by reason of misconduct-commission of a serious offense; in that he tested positive for marijuana and received a Field Grade Article 15 for driving under the influence, with an honorable discharge. He was advised of his rights. The applicant consulted with legal counsel, was advised of the impact of the discharge action, submitted a statement in his own behalf requesting that an administrative separation board hear his case, because he had over 6 years of active military service at the time of the initiation of the separation action. 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 10 July 2000, the applicant again consulted with legal counsel and voluntarily waived consideration of his case by an administrative separation board. The separation authority waived further rehabilitative efforts and directed that the applicant be discharged with a characterization of service of general, under honorable conditions. The record contains a CID Report of Investigation in reference to the applicant's offense of wrongful use, possession and distribution of marijuana dated 25 February 2000. b. Legal Basis for Separation: Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Chapter 14 of this regulation 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, however, a general, 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 which would merit an upgrade of the applicant's discharge. 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. By the misconduct, the applicant diminished the quality of his service below that meriting a fully honorable discharge. The applicant provided no independent corroborating evidence demonstrating that either the command's action was erroneous or that the applicant’s service mitigated the misconduct or poor duty performance. The analyst noted the applicant's issue that his discharge was inequitable because of the time served being the best Soldier he could be and that the two incidents were some what isolated. Even though the applicant claims that his offenses were isolated, the analyst concluded that the applicant committed many discrediting offenses, which constituted a departure from the standards of conduct, expected of soldiers in the Army. Having examined all the circumstances, the analyst determined that the applicant’s numerous incidents of misconduct did indeed adversely affect the quality of service, brought discredit on the Army, and was prejudicial to good order and discipline. These incidents of misconduct clearly diminished the quality of the applicant’s service below that meriting a fully honorable discharge. The applicant further contends that he would like to enlist in the Army once again. At the time of discharge the applicant was appropriately assigned a reentry eligibility (RE) code of “3.” If the applicant desires to reenlist, he should contact the local recruiter to determine his eligibility to reenlist. Those individuals can best advise a former service member as to the needs of the Army at the time, and are required to process waivers of reentry eligibility (RE) codes. Furthermore, notwithstanding the propriety of the applicant's discharge, the analyst found that someone in the discharge process erroneously entered on the applicant's DD Form 214, block 25, separation authority as “AR 635-200, paragraph 14-12b,” block 26 as separation code “JKA,” and block 28, narrative reason for separation as “Misconduct." In view of the foregoing, the analyst recommends to the Board that an administrative change be made to block 25, to read separation authority: “AR 635-200, paragraph 14-12c,” block 26, separation code to read "JKQ," and block 28, reason for separation to read “Misconduct (Serious Offense)” as it was approved by the separation authority. Except for the foregoing modifications to the applicant's DD Form 214, 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: 27 May 2011 Location: Washington, DC Did the Applicant Testify? Yes No Counsel: None Witnesses/Observers: NA Exhibits Submitted: DD Form 293 dated 15 September 2010. 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. Further, notwithstanding the propriety of the applicant's discharge, the Board found that someone in the discharge process erroneously entered on the applicant's DD Form 214, block 25, separation authority as “AR 635-200, paragraph 14-12b”, block 26 separation code as “JKA”, and block 28, narrative reason for separation as "Misconduct." In view of these errors, the Board voted to administratively change block 25, separation authority to “AR 635-200, paragraph 14-12c”, block 26, separation code to “JKQ”, and block 28, narrative reason for separation to "Misconduct (Serious Offense)" as approved by the separation authority. Except for the foregoing modifications, the Board determined the discharge was both proper and equitable and voted not to change it. 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: Misconduct (Serious Offense) under the provisions of Chapter 14-12c, AR 635-200 with a corresponding separation code JKQ. Other: No Change RE Code: Grade Restoration: No Yes Grade: No Change Legend: AWOL Absent Without Leave GCM General Court Martial NA Not applicable SCM Summary Court Martial BCD Bad Conduct Discharge GD General Discharge NIF Not in the file SPCM Special Court Martial CG Company Grade Article 15 HD Honorable Discharge OAD Ordered to Active Duty UNC Uncharacterized Discharge DD Dishonorable Discharge HS High School Graduate OMPF Official Military Personnel File UOTH Under Other Than Honorable FG Field Grade Article 15 IADT Initial Active Duty Training RE Reentry Code Conditions ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD - CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE Case Number AR20100024168 ______________________________________________________________________________ Page 2 of 4 pages