1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 16 March 2016 b. Date Received: 22 March 2016 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 was too young and was not ready when he joined the military; it was an extremely hard adjustment for him to make at the time. He was an immature lad for ever leaving and it was a terrible mistake. He desires the opportunity to come back, prove himself, and to defend the country. Since his discharge, he has not been able to do much. He now is 28 and needs to make a smart career choice for himself and for his family. 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. 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason / Authority / Codes / Characterization: Misconduct (Commission of a Serious Offense) / AR 635-200 / Chapter 14-12c / JKQ / RE-3 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 31 October 2005 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 12 October 2005 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was AWOL (from 10 to 22 January 2005 and from 7 March to 12 July 2005). (3) Recommended Characterization: General (Under Honorable Conditions) (4) Legal Consultation Date: 13 October 2005 (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 17 October 2005 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 16 June 2004 / 3 years, 16 weeks b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 17 / GED / 100 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-2 / 13F10, Fire Support Specialist / 11 Months, 28 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: NDSM, ASR, GWOTSM g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: Developmental Counseling Form, dated 24 January 2005, for being AWOL (10 to 22 January 2005). Report of Mental Status Evaluation, dated 26 January 2005, reflects the applicant was cleared for administrative actions deemed appropriate by the command. The applicant could understand the difference between right and wrong and could participate in the proceedings. CG Article 15, dated 14 February 2014, for being AWOL (between 10 and 22 January 2005). The punishment consisted of a forfeiture of $323 pay (suspended); and, extra duty and restriction for 14 days. Three Personnel Action forms, reflect the applicant's duty status changed as follows: from "Present for Duty (PDY)" to "AWOL," effective 7 March 2005 from "AWOL" to "Dropped From Rolls (DFR)," effective 6 April 2005 from "DFR" to "PDY," effective 12 July 2005 Charge Sheet, dated 17 August 2005, reflects the applicant was charged with violation of the UCMJ, Article 86, for without authority, absent himself from his unit (7 March to 12 July 2005). Record of Trial by Summary Court-Martial, dated 31 August 2005, reflects the applicant was charged with one specification of violation of Article 86, AWOL. The applicant pled guilty to the specification and was found guilty. The sentenced adjudged: Forfeiture of $500 pay, reduction to E-1, confinement of 30 days. Mental Status Evaluation, dated 4 October 2005, reflects the applicant was cleared for administrative actions deemed appropriate by the command. The applicant was mentally responsible with a clear thinking process. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: 137 days (AWOL, 10 to 21 January 2005 and 7 March to 11 July 2005) / Apprehended by civil authorities j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293, with all allied documents listed in block 8 of the application. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application. 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 states a Soldier is subject to action per this section for commission of a serious military or civilian offense, if the specific circumstances of the offense warrant separation and a punitive discharge is, or would be, authorized for the same or a closely related offense under the Manual for Courts-Martial. 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 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. It brought discredit on the Army, and was prejudicial to good order and discipline. 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 be retained on active duty. The applicant contends that he was young and immature 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 desires to rejoin the Military Service. However, 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 3. There are no basis upon which to grant a change to the reason or to the RE code. An RE Code of 3 indicates the applicant requires a waiver prior to being allowed to reenlist. If reenlistment is desired, the applicant should contact a local recruiter to determine eligibility to reenlist. Recruiters 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 if appropriate. The applicant contends that an upgrade of his discharge will allow him to obtain better employment. However, the Board does not grant relief for the purpose of gaining employment or enhancing employment opportunities. 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: No a. 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: No Change 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 AR20160006508 4