1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 21 December 2016 b. Date Received: 23 January 2017 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of the characterization of service from general (under honor conditions) to honorable. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, his military personnel file reflects that he performed honorably with no punishable acts under UCMJ. He injured his knee on active duty, this injury caused challenges with his day to day duties. He requests his enlistment dates be corrected. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 11 May 2018, 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 / AR 635-200, Paragraph 14-12c(2) / JKK / RE-4 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 25 January 2005 c. Separation Facts: Yes (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 17 November 2004 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was informed of the following reasons for his discharge; he produced a positive urinalysis for Amphetamine, D-Methamphetamine and Methamphetamine (4 October 2004); and he was unaccounted for on three different occasions. (3) Recommended Characterization: General (Under Honorable Conditions) (4) Legal Consultation Date: 18 November 2004 (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 12 January 2005 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 3 April 2003 / 6 years b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 19 years / HS Graduate / 93 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-3 / 15R10, AH-64 Attack Helicopter Repairer / 1 year, 9 months, 23 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: SWA / Kuwait / Iraq, 17 November 2003 to 7 February 2004 f. Awards and Decorations: NDSM, GWOTEM, GWOTSM, ASR g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: Positive urinalysis test, code not in file dated 4 October 2004, for AMP, DMET and MET. Report of Mental Status Evaluation, dated 26 October 2004, shows that the applicant's mental status was within normal limits. There was no evidence of a diagnosable mental disease or condition, which would require disposition through Army medical department channels. The applicant was mentally responsible, able to distinguish right from wrong, and had the mental capacity to understand and participate in the chapter proceedings. He was cleared for any action deemed appropriate by command. FG Article 15, dated 5 November 2004, for without authority, fail to go at the time prescribed to his appointed place of duty x3 (2 October 2004, 15 October 2004 and 16 October 2004); and he wrongfully used Amphetamine, D-Methamphetamine and Methamphetamine, schedule II controlled substances between (20 September 2004 and 4 October 2004); reduction to PVT / E- 1, forfeiture of $278 pay for two months, extra duty and restriction for 45 days and an oral reprimand. The applicant received several negative counseling statements for various acts misconduct. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293 (two pages); and DD Form 149 (two pages). 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. 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 FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of the characterization of service from general (under honorable conditions) to honorable. The applicant's record of service and 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 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, his military personnel file reflects that he performed honorably with no punishable acts under UCMJ. The service record indicates the applicant committed many discrediting offenses, which constituted a departure from the standards of conduct expected of Soldiers in the Army. The applicant's numerous incidents of misconduct adversely affected the quality of his service, brought discredit on the Army, and were prejudicial to good order and discipline. The applicant further contends, he injured his knee on active duty, this injury caused challenges with his day to day duties. The applicant bears the burden of presenting substantial and credible evidence to support this contention. There is no evidence in the record, nor has the applicant produced any evidence to support the contention that his knee injury impaired his ability to perform his daily duties. The applicant requests his enlistment dates be corrected on his DD Form 214. The record shows that the he enlisted on 3 April 2003. Block 12a dated entered active duty this period corresponds with the enlistment date on his contract. In view of the aforementioned, the enlistment date is correct as entered on the DD Form 214. 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 11 May 2018, 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 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 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 AR20170001168 1