Applicant Name: ????? Application Receipt Date: 2011/03/11 Prior Review: Prior Review Date: NA I. Applicant Request: Upgrade Reason Change RE Code Change Issues: The applicant states, in effect, he has had several careers after the military and not one of them has been as good as the military. He believes that he has grown into a mature adult and has learned a lot from his mistake. He would like a chance to prove himself worthy. He believes his mistake was a one-time event and should have had the opportunity for rehabilitation or a second chance to prove himself and gain the trust of his company. He now has a daughter that he truly loves and would love for her to see him reclaim the life he has always wanted for his family and his full time career. He is currently going to college classes to gain a better education. He works at a multi-million dollar sand-plant, Unimin, as a wet-plant operator. He has made multiple contributions to his small town and has put in community service hours at the local shelters such as the Haven, a place for women who are pregnant with no homes. He feels he has changed a lot and would like to prove himself. II. Were Proper Discharge and Separation Authority procedures followed? Tender Offer: NA See Attachments: Legal Medical Minority Opinion Exhibits III. Discharge Under Review Unit CDR Recommended Discharge: Date: 070407 Discharge Received: Date: 070507 Chapter: 14-12c(2) AR: 635-200 Reason: Misconduct (Drug Abuse) RE: SPD: JKK Unit/Location: Rear Det, 2nd Bn, 82nd CAB, 82nd Abn Div, Fort Bragg, NC Time Lost: None Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): 070301, wrongfully used cocaine (070208-070212), reduction to E-1, forfeiture of $650 for 2 months (suspended), 45 days of restriction (FG) Courts-Martial (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None Counseling Records Available: Yes No IV. Soldier’s Overall Record Age at current enlistment: 21 Current ENL Date: 060103 Current ENL Term: 4 Years ????? Current ENL Service: 1 Yrs, 4 Mos, 5 Days ????? Total Service: 1 Yrs, 4 Mos, 5 Days ????? Previous Discharges: None Highest Grade: E-4 Performance Ratings Available: Yes No MOS: 94F1P SPCL ELCTR DEV REP GT: 108 EDU: HS Grad Overseas: None Combat: None Decorations/Awards: GWOTSM, ASR V. Post-Discharge Activity City, State: Brady, TX Post Service Accomplishments: None VI. Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation a. Facts and Circumstances: The evidence of record shows that on 4 April 2007, the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of separation action under the provisions of Chapter 14, paragraph 14-12c, AR 635-200, by reason of misconduct, commission of a serious offense, for wrongfully using cocaine (070208 – 070212); being arrested for driving while impaired with a breathalyzer reading of .13 and speeding (070302), with an under other than honorable conditions discharge. He was advised of his rights. On 11 April 2007, the applicant consulted with legal counsel, was advised of the impact of the discharge action, unconditionally waived his right to an administrative separation board and did not submit a statement in his own behalf. The unit commander subsequently recommended separation from the Army and waiver of further rehabilitative efforts. The intermediate commander reviewed the proposed action and recommended approval of the separation with an under other than honorable conditions discharge. On 20 April 2007, the separation authority waived further rehabilitative efforts and directed the applicant’s discharge with a characterization of service of under other than honorable conditions. b. Legal Basis for Separation: Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Chapter 14 of this regulation 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 absence 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. c. Response to Issues, Recommendation and Rationale: After carefully examining the applicant’s record of service during the period of enlistment under review the issue and documents submitted with the application, the analyst determined that the discharge was both proper and equitable. The analyst determined that the applicant’s discharge was appropriate because his quality of service was not consistent with the Army's standards for acceptable personal conduct and performance of duty by military personnel. 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 his quality of service below that meriting a fully honorable discharge. 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 analyst noted the applicant’s issue of youth and immaturity; however, there is no evidence that the applicant was any less mature than other Soldiers of the same age who successfully completed military service. The analyst acknowledges the applicant's accomplishments and good community service since leaving the Army as stated in his application. However, the analyst did not find the said issue sufficiently mitigating to warrant an upgrade of the discharge under review. At the time of discharge the applicant was appropriately assigned a reentry eligibility (RE) code of “4.” An RE code of “4” cannot be waived and the applicant is no longer eligible for reenlistment. Therefore, the analyst determined the reason for discharge and the characterization of service were both proper and equitable and recommends to the Board to deny relief. VII. Summary of Army Discharge Review Board Hearing Type of Hearing: Date: 6 February 2012 Location: Dallas, TX Did the Applicant Testify? Yes No Counsel: None Witnesses/Observers: None Exhibits Submitted: DD Form 293 with a self-authored statement, Memorandum for Commander and a DD Form 214. VIII. Board Discussion, Determination, and Recommendation After carefully examining the applicant’s record of service during the period of enlistment under review and considering the analyst’s recommendation and rationale, the Board determined that the discharge was both proper and equitable and voted to deny relief. Further, notwithstanding the propriety of the applicant's discharge, the Board found that someone in the discharge process erroneously entered on the applicant's DD Form 214, block 25, separation authority as “AR 635-200, paragraph 14-12c(2)”, block 26 separation code as “JKK”, block 27, reentry code as “4”, and block 28, narrative reason for separation as "Misconduct (Drug Abuse)." In view of these errors, the Board voted to administratively change block 25, separation authority to “AR 635-200, paragraph 14-12c”, block 26, separation code to “JKQ”, block 27, reentry code to “3, and block 28, narrative reason for separation to "Misconduct (Serious Offense)" as approved by the separation authority. Except for the foregoing modifications, the Board determined the discharge was both proper and equitable and voted not to change it. IX. Board Decision XI. Certification Signature Board Vote: Approval Authority: Character - Change 0 No change 5 Reason - Change 0 No change 5 (Board member names available upon request) EDGAR J. YANGER Colonel, U.S. Army X. Board Action Directed President, Army Discharge Review Board Issue a new DD Form 214 Change Characterization to: Change Reason to: Misconduct (Serious Offense)" Other: change block 25, separation authority to “AR 635-200, paragraph 14-12c” and block 26, separation code to “JKQ” RE Code: Grade Restoration: No Yes Grade: NA Legend: AWOL Absent Without Leave GCM General Court Martial NA Not applicable SCM Summary Court Martial BCD Bad Conduct Discharge GD General Discharge NIF Not in the file SPCM Special Court Martial CG Company Grade Article 15 HD Honorable Discharge OAD Ordered to Active Duty UNC Uncharacterized Discharge DD Dishonorable Discharge HS High School Graduate OMPF Official Military Personnel File UOTH Under Other Than Honorable FG Field Grade Article 15 IADT Initial Active Duty Training RE Reentry Code Conditions ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD - CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE Case Number AR20110004998 ______________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 3 pages