1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 6 January 2016 b. Date Received: 12 January 2016 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of his general (under honorable conditions) to honorable. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, an honorable discharge would improve his government record and enhance his opportunities for other career options. He desires to reenlist, even in a different branch of Service. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 19 May 2017, 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: Misconduct (Drug Abuse) / AR 635- 200, Paragraph 14-12c(2) / JKK / RE-4 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 25 July 2015 c. Separation Facts: Yes (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 7 May 2015 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant wrongfully used cocaine (between 15 January 2015 and 18 January 2015). (3) Recommended Characterization: General (Under Honorable Conditions) (4) Legal Consultation Date: 12 May 2015 (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: NIF / General (Under Honorable Conditions) 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 11 October 2013 / 3 years b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 20 / HS Graduate / 110 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-5 / 11B10, Infantryman / 3 years, 11 months, 25 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: RA, 7 July 2011 to 10 October 2013 / HD e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: SWA / Kuwait, 17 February 2013 to 26 October 2013 f. Awards and Decorations: ARCOM-2, AAM, AGCM, NDSM, GWOTSM, NCOPDR, ASR, OSR, EIB g. Performance Ratings: 1 November 2013 thru 31 October 2014, Among The Best 1 November 2014 thru 9 February 2015, Marginal h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: A positive urinalysis test coded PO (Probable Cause), dated 18 January 2015, for COC. FG Article 15, dated 19 March 2015, for wrongful use of cocaine (between 15 January and 18 January 2015). The punishment consisted of a reduction to E-4, forfeiture of $1,119 pay for two months, $1,119 pay (suspended), extra duty for 45 days (suspended), and an oral reprimand. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293; two DD Forms 214; and two character / support statements. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: The applicant is enrolled in IntelliTec College, maintains a 3.75 grade point average, and is employed with 24-Hour Fitness as a service representative. 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. 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. 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. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of his general (under honorable conditions) 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. The applicant, by violating the Army's policy not to possess or use illegal drugs, compromised the trust and confidence placed in a NCO. The applicant, as a NCO, 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 separation. 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, such that he should have been retained on Active Duty. The applicant seeks relief contending, an honorable discharge would improve his government record and enhance his opportunities for other career options. The Board does not grant relief for the purpose of gaining employment or enhancing employment opportunities. The applicant desires to reenlist, even in a different branch of Service. Soldiers being processed for separation are assigned reentry codes based on their service records or the reason for discharge. Based on Army Regulation 635-5-1 and the SPD Code/RE Code Cross Reference Table, the applicant was appropriately assigned an RE code of 4. An RE code of 4 cannot be waived and the applicant is no longer eligible for reenlistment. 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 19 May 2017, 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 / Issue a New Separation Order: b. Change Characterization to: c. Change Reason to: d. Change SPD / RE Code to: e. Restore (Restoration of) Grade to: Authenticating Official: Legend: AWOL - Absent Without Leave GD - General Discharge NCO - Noncommissioned Officer 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 NOS - Not Otherwise Specified SPD - Separation Program Designator CG - Company Grade Article 15 IADT - Initial Active Duty Training OAD - Ordered to Active Duty TBI - Traumatic Brain Injury CID - Criminal Investigation Division MP - Military Police OMPF - Official Military Personnel File UNC - Uncharacterized Discharge ELS - Entry Level Status MST - Military Sexual Trauma PTSD - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder UOTHC - Under Other Than Honorable Conditions FG - Field Grade Article 15 NA - Not applicable RE - Reentry VA - Veterans Affairs ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE AR20160001514 1