Applicant Name: ????? Application Receipt Date: 2012/02/21 Prior Review: Prior Review Date: NA I. Applicant Request: Upgrade Reason Change RE Code Change Issues: The applicant states, in effect, that he requests an upgrade of his discharge to fully honorable. He contends his discharge is improper due to him being undiagnosed with a mental health condition and issues. He further contends had he been properly diagnosed and properly treated he would still be serving and his career untainted. 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: NIF Date: NIF Discharge Received: Date: 971009 Chapter: 14-12c(2) AR: 635-200 Reason: Misconduct RE: SPD: JKK Unit/Location: HHD, 68th Corps Spt Bn, Fort Carson, CO Time Lost: None Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): NIF Courts-Martial (Charges/Dates/Punishment): NIF Counseling Records Available: Yes No IV. Soldier’s Overall Record Age at current enlistment: 18 Current ENL Date: 930708 Current ENL Term: 06 Years ????? Current ENL Service: 04 Yrs, 03 Mos, 02 Days ????? Total Service: 04 Yrs, 03 Mos, 02 Days ????? Previous Discharges: None Highest Grade: NIF Performance Ratings Available: Yes No MOS: 67U10 CH-47 Helicopter Repairer GT: NIF EDU: 11 Years Overseas: NIF Combat: NIF Decorations/Awards: AAM-2, ASR, OSR V. Post-Discharge Activity City, State: ????? Post Service Accomplishments: None Listed VI. Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation a. Facts and Circumstances: The applicant’s record is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events which led to the discharge from the Army. However, the record does contain a properly constituted DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), which was authenticated by the applicant’s signature. The DD Form 214, indicates the applicant was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 14, paragraph 14-12c(2), AR 635-200, by reason of misconduct, with a characterization of service of general, under honorable conditions. Furthermore, the DD Form 214, shows a Separation Code of JKK (i.e., misconduct), with a reentry eligibility (RE) code of "4." On 7 October 1997, Orders 280-0013, DA, HQS, Fort Carson, CO, discharged the applicant from the Regular Army, effective date: 9 October 1997. The analyst noted that on the applicant's DD Form 214 block 27, reentry eligibility (RE) code reads "4." According to AR 635-5-1, Separation Program Designator (SPD)/Reentry (RE) Codes Cross-Reference Table, at the time of discharge requires a reentry eligibility (RE) code of "3." 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 available military records during the period of enlistment under review, the issues and documents submitted with the application, the analyst found no mitigating factors that would merit an upgrade of the applicant’s discharge. The applicant’s record is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events that led to the applicant's discharge from the Army. However, the applicant’s record does contain a properly constituted DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), which was authenticated by the applicant’s signature. This document identifies the reason and characterization of the discharge and the analyst presumed government regularity in the discharge process. The DD Form 214, indicates the applicant was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 14, paragraph 14-12c(2), AR 635-200, by reason of misconduct, with a characterization of service of general, under honorable conditions. Barring evidence to the contrary, the analyst was satisfied that all requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process. By the misconduct, the applicant diminished the quality of his service below that meriting a fully honorable discharge. The applicant contends his discharge is improper due to him being undiagnosed with a mental health condition and issues and had he been properly diagnosed and properly treated he would still be serving and his career would be untainted. The applicant's contention were carefully considered. However, the analyst is unable to determine whether his contentions have merit because the facts and circumstances leading to the discharge are unknown. The burden of proof remains with the former Soldier to provide the appropriate documents or other evidence sufficient to explain the facts, circumstances, and reasons underlying the separation action, for the Board's consideration. If the applicant desires a personal appearance hearing, it will still be his responsibility to meet the burden of proof since the evidence is not available in the official record. The analyst acknowledges the independent document (list of active medications) prescribed to the applicant for treatment of physical and mental conditions. Therefore, based on the available evidence, the analyst presumes government regularity in the discharge process and concludes that based on the DD Form 214, the reason for discharge and the characterization of service were both proper and equitable and recommends to the Board to deny relief. Additionally, the analyst found that someone in the separation process erroneously entered on the applicant's DD Form 214, block 27, reentry eligibility (RE) code of "4." The analyst recommends that block 27 be administratively corrected to "3." VII. Summary of Army Discharge Review Board Hearing Type of Hearing: Date: 1 August 2012 Location: Washington, DC Did the Applicant Testify? Yes No Counsel: NA Witnesses/Observers: NA Exhibits Submitted: DD Form 293, dated (110717); Letter, Social Security Administration, dated (110614); MHMRA of Harris County, Five Axis DSM Diagnosis, two (2) pages, (080828); and a List of Active Medications, dated (111014). 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 voted to administratively correct block 27, reentry eligibility (RE) code to "3." Except for the forgoing modifications to the applicant's reentry eligibility (RE) code, the Board determined that the discharge was both proper and equitable and voted to deny relief. IX. Board Decision Board Vote: Character - Change 0 No change 5 Reason - Change 0 No change 5 (Board member names available upon request) X. Board Action Directed Issue a new DD Form 214 Change Characterization to: Change Reason to: No Change Other: Correct block 27, reentry eligibility (RE) code to "3." RE Code: Grade Restoration: No Yes Grade: None XI. Certification Signature Approval Authority: ARCHIE L. DAVIS III Colonel, U.S. Army President, Army Discharge Review Board BONITA E. TROTMAN Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Army Secretary Recorder ????? 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 AR20120003746 ______________________________________________________________________________ Page 3 of 3 pages