1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 30 September 2015 b. Date Received: 18 April 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 would like an upgrade for the purpose of improving his employment opportunities. The applicant submitted no issues of equity or propriety to be considered by the board. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 31 May 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board denied the request upon finding the separation was both proper and equitable. However, notwithstanding the propriety of the applicant's discharge, the Board found that the applicant's DD Form 214, block 27, contains the erroneous reentry eligibility (RE) code of 1. In view of the error, the Board directed an administrative correction to block 27 to read RE-3, as required by Army Regulations. (Board member names available upon request) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason / Authority / Codes / Characterization: Misconduct (AWOL) / AR 635-200, Paragraph 14-12c(1) / JKD / RE-1 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 29 July 2011 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 19 July 2011 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant went AWOL (16 July 2009 until his return on 23 April 2011). (3) Recommended Characterization: General (Under Honorable Conditions) (4) Legal Consultation Date: 21 July 2011 (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 25 July 2011 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 7 January 2009 / 4 years, 16 weeks b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 17 / GED / 100 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-1 / 11B10, Infantryman / 9 months, 16 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: NDSM, GWOTSM, ASR g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: Three Personnel Action forms, dated between 16 July 2009 and 25 April 2011, reflect the applicant's duty status changed as follows: from "Present for Duty (PDY)" to "AWOL," effective 16 July 2009 from "AWOL" to "Dropped from Rolls (DFR)," effective 24 August 2009 from "DFR" to "PDY," effective 23 April 2011 FG Article 15, dated 14 July 2011, for being absent from his unit (16 July 2009 until his return 23 April 2011). The punishment consisted of forfeiture of $733.00 (suspended) and 45 days extra duty and restriction. Report of Mental Status Evaluation, dated 2 June 2011, reflects the applicant could understand and participate in administrative proceedings and appreciated the difference between right and wrong. It was also noted that the applicant felt that he should not be in the military, supported his separation, and wanted to move on in life. The applicant received several negative counseling statements for various acts of misconduct and performance counseling. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: 646 days (AWOL, 16 July 2009 to 22 April 2011) / apprehended j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: NIF 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293. 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(1) allows for an absentee returned to military control from a status of absent without leave or desertion to be separated for commission of a serious offense. 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. 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. Also the applicant submitted no issues of equity or propriety to be considered by the board. The applicant expressed his desire for an upgrade for the purpose of improving his employment opportunities. However, the Board does not grant relief solely 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 service record indicates that someone in the discharge process erroneously entered on the applicant's DD Form 214, block 27, reentry code as 1. The discharge packet confirms the separation authority approved the discharge by reason of Misconduct (AWOL). Soldiers processed for Misconduct (AWOL) will be assigned an SPD Code of JKD and an RE Code of 3. 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 31 May 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board denied the request upon finding the separation was both proper and equitable. However, notwithstanding the propriety of the applicant's discharge, the Board found that the applicant's DD Form 214, block 27, contains the erroneous reentry eligibility (RE) code of 1. In view of the error, the Board directed an administrative correction to block 27 to read RE-3, as required by Army Regulations. 10. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a New DD-214: Yes b. Change Characterization to: No Change c. Change Reason to: No Change d. Change Authority to: No Change e. Change SPD/RE Code to: No Change to SPD / Change RE code to 3 f. 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 AR20160008369 1