1. APPLICANT’S NAME: a. Application Date: 20 July 2015 b. Date Received: 24 July 2015 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, REASON, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of his general, under honorable conditions discharge to honorable. The applicant contends, he served his country faithfully for over three years and his entire military service should not be judged based on one isolated incident. The applicant states, he was young and made a mistake and this isolated incident should not haunt him for the rest of his life. The applicant states, in effect, an upgrade of the characterization of his discharge will open up better job opportunities and access to his educational benefits. The applicant contents he was in the field at Fort Polk, Louisiana when he learned of the death of his grandmother and later that his mother had a brain tumor and was found unconscious at home. The applicant states, in effect, that his family issues led to his self-medication of alcohol, which in turn escalated to the use of marijuana to solve his stress problems. The applicant states, he participated in the WAMC Department of Social Work four weeks prior to assist him in resolving his stress. In a personal appearance board conducted at Arlington, VA on 22 February 2016, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board denied the request finding the separation was both proper and equitable. (Board member names available upon request.) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason/Authority/Codes/Characterization: Misconduct (Drug Abuse)/AR 635-200/ Paragraph 14-12c(2)/JKK/RE-4/General, Under Honorable Conditions b. Date of Discharge: 24 March 2014 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 3 March 2014 (2) Basis for Separation: Wrongfully using marijuana on or about 12 November 2013 and 12 December 2013 (3) Recommended Characterization: General, Under Honorable Conditions (4) Legal Consultation Date: NIF (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date/Characterization: 6 March 2014/General, Under Honorable Conditions 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date/Period of Enlistment: 3 November 2010/4 years b. Age at Enlistment/Education/GT Score: 23/HS Graduate/94 c. Highest Grade Achieved/MOS/Total Service: E- 4/9B10, Ammunition Specialist/ 3 years, 4 months, and 22 days d. Prior Service/Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service/Combat Service: SWA/Afghanistan 2 October 2011 – 18 September 2012 f. Awards and Decorations: ACM-CS-2, ARCOM, AGCM, NDSM, NATO MDL g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s)/Evidentiary Record: Commander’s Report, the applicant received a FG Article 15 for wrongfully using marijuana between on or about 12 November 2013 and 12 December 2012. The punishment consisted of reduction to E-3, forfeiture of $1,017.00 pay per month for two months, suspended until 29 July 2014, 45 days extra duty, 45 days restriction, suspended until 29 July 2014, and an oral reprimand. DA Forms 4856 (Developmental Counseling Form), dated 28 July 2011, for failing to obey order or regulation and failing to go to his appointed place of duty and monthly performance counseling for 27 July 2011, 21 November 2011, 23 January 2012, 23 February 2012, and 25 March 2012. i. Lost Time: None j. Diagnosed PTSD/TBI/Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293, dated 20 July 2015; DA Form 638, dated 4 May 2012; DA Form 4187, dated 5 November 2011; Certificate of Completion (Stress Management Group); and, a character statement, dated 21 July 2015, from SGT S, his former squad leader. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: The applicant states he had two jobs since being separated from the military. His first employment was as a seasonal worker and second, the current employment. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): 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 being absent 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. Paragraph 14-12c(2) terms abuse of illegal drugs as serious misconduct. It continues; however, by recognizing relevant facts may mitigate the nature of the offense. Therefore, a single drug abuse offense may be combined with one or more minor disciplinary infractions or incidents of other misconduct and processed for separation under paragraph 14-12a or 14-12b as appropriate. 8. DISCUSSION OF ISSUE(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of his general, under honorable conditions discharge to honorable. The applicant seeks relief, contending his separation was based on one isolated incident. The applicant states, in effect, an upgrade of the characterization of his discharge will open up better job opportunities and access to his educational benefits. 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. 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 an honorable discharge at the time of his separation. The applicant contends he was young and made a mistake at the time of the discharge. The record shows the applicant met entrance qualification standards to include age. There is no evidence to indicate the applicant was any less mature than other Soldiers of the same age who successfully completed military service. The applicant contends he was having family issues that affected his behavior and ultimately caused him to be discharged. The applicant 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 committing the misconduct which led to the separation action under review. The applicant contends an upgrade of his discharge would allow him to have better job opportunities and educational benefits. However, the Board does not grant relief for the purpose of gaining employment or enhancing employment opportunities. Furthermore, eligibility for veteran's benefits to include educational benefits under the Post-9/11 or Montgomery GI Bill does not fall within the purview of the Army Discharge Review Board. Accordingly, the applicant should contact a local office of the Department of Veterans Affairs for further assistance. 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 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. DOCUMENTS/TESTIMONY PRESENTED DURING PERSONAL APPEARANCE: The applicant submitted no additional documents or contentions. 9. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a new DD-214: No b. Change characterization to: No Change c. Change Reason to: No Change d. SPD/RE Code Change to: No Change e. Restoration to Grade: 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 CG - Company Grade Article 15 HD - Honorable Discharge OAD - Ordered to Active Duty UNC - Uncharacterized Discharge CID - Criminal investigation Department MP – Military Police OMPF - Official Military Personnel File UOTHC - Under Other Than FG - Field Grade IADT – Initial Active Duty Training RE - Reentry Honorable Conditions ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE AR20150012604 1