1. Applicant’s Name: a. Application Date: 11 May 2015 b. Date Received: 18 May 2015 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of his general, under honorable conditions discharge to honorable. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, he is currently unemployed after a company buyout/layoff and is currently seeking employment, one of which being at his local law enforcement agency. He believes his discharge status will affect him in any law enforcement career he wishes to pursue. The applicant contends that after returning to the civilian life, it was difficult for him to balance work, bills, family, and his military status. The applicant states that he was not discharged for disobeying orders, fighting, or being a bad Soldier; he was discharged after accruing too many absences from his weekend drill. The applicant just had too much on his plate that resulted in his discharge. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 29 July 2016, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board denied the request upon finding the separation was both proper and equitable. (Board member names available upon request) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason/Authority/Codes/Characterization: Unsatisfactory Participation / AR 135-178, Chapter 13 / NA / NA / General, Under Honorable Conditions b. Date of Discharge: 16 May 2012 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 14 February 2012 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant accrued nine or more unexcused absences from scheduled inactive duty training during a one-year period. (3) Recommended Characterization: Under Other Than Honorable Conditions (4) Legal Consultation Date: The separation packet contains an unsigned and undated election of rights document (5) Administrative Separation Board: N/A (6) Separation Decision Date/Characterization: 25 April 2012 / General, Under Honorable Conditions 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date/Period of Enlistment: 9 December 2008 / 8 years b. Age at Enlistment/Education/GT Score: 17 / NIF / NIF c. Highest Grade Achieved/MOS/Total Service: E-3 / 15U10, CH-47 Helicopter Repairer / 1 year, 2 months, and 3 days d. Prior Service/Characterizations: USAR, 9 December 2008 – 6 July 2009 / NA ADT, 7 July 2009 – 11 February 2010 / HD (Concurrent Service) e. Overseas Service/Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: NDSM, GWTSM, ASR g. Performance Ratings: N/A h. Disciplinary Action(s)/Evidentiary Record: NIF i. Lost Time: None j. Diagnosed PTSD/TBI/Behavioral Health: NIF 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293, dated 11 May 2015, and Discharge Orders #12-130-00012, dated 9 May 2012. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation (AR) 135-178 governs procedures covering enlisted personnel management of the Army Reserve. Chapter 13 provides in pertinent part, that individuals can be separated for being an unsatisfactory participant. AR 135-91 states that a member is an unsatisfactory participant when nine or more unexcused absences from scheduled drills accrue during a one-year period and attempts to have the Soldier respond or comply with orders or correspondence have resulted in— the Soldier’s refusal to comply with orders or correspondence; or a notice sent by certified mail was refused, unclaimed, or otherwise undeliverable; or verification that the Soldier has failed to notify the command of a change of address and reasonable attempts to contact the Soldier have failed. Discharge action may be taken when the Soldier cannot be located or is absent in the hands of civil authorities in accordance with the provisions of AR 135-91, paragraph 2-18, and Chapter 3, section IV, of AR 135–178. Army policy states possible characterizations of service include an honorable, general, under honorable conditions, under other than honorable conditions, or uncharacterized if the Soldier is in entry-level status. However, the permissible range of characterization varies based on the reason for separation. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of his general, under honorable conditions discharge to honorable. The applicant’s record of service, the issues and documents submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. The record confirms 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. It brought discredit on the Army, and was prejudicial to good order and discipline and diminished the quality of his service by his failure to participate in unit drills. 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 applicant contends that his discharge was the result of his inability to balance work, bills, family, and his military status. However, he had many legitimate avenues through which to obtain assistance or relief and there is no evidence in the record that he ever sought such assistance before failing to meet his requirements of participating in unit drills. Likewise, he has provided no evidence that he should not be held responsible for his actions. The applicant expressed his desire for an upgrade of his discharge for employment purposes. However, the Board does not grant relief for the purpose of gaining employment or enhancing employment opportunities. The record does not contain any indication or evidence of arbitrary or capricious actions by the command and all requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process. The character of the applicant’s discharge is commensurate with his overall service record. The discharge was consistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of the regulation, was within the discretion of the separation authority, and the applicant was provided full administrative due process. 9. BOARD DETERMINATION: In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 29 July 2016, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board denied the request upon finding the separation was both proper and equitable. 10. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a New DD-214: No b. Change Characterization to: No Change c. Change Reason to: No Change d. Change SPD/RE Code to: No Change e. Restore (Restoration of) Grade to: NA AUTHENTICATING OFFICIAL: COL, US ARMY Presiding Officer Army Discharge Review Board Legend: AWOL - Absent Without Leave GD - General Discharge NA - Not applicable SCM - Summary Court Martial BCD - Bad Conduct Discharge HS - High School NIF - Not in File SPCM - Special Court Martial BH – Behavioral Health HD - Honorable Discharge OAD - Ordered to Active Duty SPD - Separation Program Designator CG - Company Grade Article 15 IADT - Initial Active Duty Training OMPF - Official Military Personnel File TBI – Traumatic Brain Injury CID - Criminal Investigation Division MP – Military Police – PTSD – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder UNC - Uncharacterized Discharge ELS – Entry Level Status MST – Military Sexual Trauma RE - Reentry UOTHC - Under Other Than Honorable Conditions FG - Field Grade Article 15 ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE AR20150008415 3