Applicant Name: ????? Application Receipt Date: 2008/09/02 Prior Review: Prior Review Date: NA I. Applicant Request: Upgrade Reason Change RE Code Change Issues: The Applicant states: "The reasons for my discharge were not sufficient to warrant separation from the military service, thus I am requesting a upgrade to a Fully Honorable discharge." 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: 071221 Discharge Received: Date: 080115 Chapter: 14-12c AR: 635-200 Reason: Misconduct (Serious Offense) RE: SPD: JKQ Unit/Location: B Co, 96th Aviation Spt Bn, Fort Campbell, KY Time Lost: Total of 44 days. AWOL x 2 (070122-070128 and 070607-070620), civil confinement (070621-070626), military confinement (071212-071228), mode of return from AWOL status is unknown. Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): 070605, failure to report x 3 (070423, 070423, 070508), reduction to E-2, forfeiture of $350 x 2, 30 days of extra duty (FG) 070323, failure to report x 2 (070131, 070201), AWOL (070122-070129), reduction to E-3, forfeiture of $380 x 2 (suspended), 14 days extra duty, oral reprimand (FG) Courts-Martial (Charges/Dates/Punishment): 071212, SCM, AWOL (070607-070621), failure to report x 4 (070709, 070717, 070919, 071004, reduction to E-3 (further reduction to E-2 suspended), 30 days confinement Counseling Records Available: Yes No IV. Soldier’s Overall Record Age at current enlistment: 20 Current ENL Date: 040210 Current ENL Term: 6 Years ????? Current ENL Service: 03 Yrs, 09Mos, 22Days ????? Total Service: 03 Yrs, 09Mos, 22Days ????? Previous Discharges: None Highest Grade: E-4 Performance Ratings Available: Yes No MOS: 15F10/Acft Electrician GT: 127 EDU: HS Grad Overseas: Korea Combat: None Decorations/Awards: NDSM, GWOTSM, ASR, OSR V. Post-Discharge Activity City, State: Richlands, NC Post Service Accomplishments: None listed VI. Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation a. Facts and Circumstances: The evidence of record shows that on 21 December 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—for commission of serious offense for failure to report on divers occasions, for being AWOL (070607-070621), and for being disrespectful and disobeying a lawful order from a non-commissioned officer, with a general under honorable conditions discharge. She was advised of her rights. The applicant’s election of rights is not contained in the available record, however the record does contain a statement of rebuttal to her chapter 14 discharge. Additionally, she provided a copy of her trial defense counsel which indicates she consulted with legal counsel and would have been advised of the impact of the discharge action. The unit commander subsequently recommended separation from the service and waiver of further rehabilitative efforts. The intermediate commander reviewed the proposed discharge action and recommended approval of the separation action with a general under honorable conditions discharge. On 4 January 2008, the separation authority waived further rehabilitative efforts and directed that the applicant be discharged with a characterization of service of general under 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 a careful review of the entire applicant’s military records, and the document submitted with the application, the analyst found no mitigating factors that would merit an upgrade of the applicant's discharge. The applicant’s discharge was appropriate because the quality of the former soldier’s service was not consistent with the Army's standards for acceptable personal conduct and performance of duty by military personnel. By her repeated acts of misconduct the applicant diminished the 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. Furthermore, the applicant was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 14, Paragraph 14-12c, AR 635-200. The narrative reason specified by Army Regulations for a discharge under this paragraph is "Misconduct (Serious Offense)” and the separation code is "JKQ." Army Regulation 635-5, Separation Documents, governs preparation of the DD Form 214 and dictates that entry of the narrative reason for separation, entered in block 28 and separation code, entered in block 26 of the form, will be entered exactly as listed in tables 2-2 or 2-3 of AR 635-5-1, Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes. The regulation further stipulates that no deviation is authorized. There is no provision for any other reason to be entered under this regulation. Therefore, the analyst determined that 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: 10 June 2009 Location: Washington, D.C. Did the Applicant Testify? Yes No Counsel: NA Witnesses/Observers: NA Exhibits Submitted: NA 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. 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: NA Other: NA RE Code: Grade Restoration: No Yes Grade: NA ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD - CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE Case Number AR20080013936 ______________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 3 pages