Applicant Name: ????? Application Receipt Date: 2008/10/20 Prior Review: Prior Review Date: NA I. Applicant Request: Upgrade Reason Change RE Code Change Issues: See DD Form 293 and attached documents submitted by the applicant. 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: 041206 Discharge Received: Date: 050120 Chapter: 14 AR: 635-200 Reason: Misconduct RE: SPD: JKQ Unit/Location: 618TH Eng Co, 307th Eng Bn, Fort Bragg, NC Time Lost: None Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): 040921, Failing to obey a lawful general order dated (040729) by wrongfully failing to follow the prescribed preventive measures prior to operating a motor vehicle within six hours of consuming alcohol and wrongfully consuming alcohol while under the age of twenty-one (040917), reduction to E1, forfeiture of $596.00 pay per month for 1 month (suspended), 45 days extra duty, and 45 days restriction, (FG). Courts-Martial (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None Counseling Records Available: Yes No IV. Soldier’s Overall Record Age at current enlistment: 18 Current ENL Date: 021114 Current ENL Term: 04 Years ????? Current ENL Service: 02 Yrs, 02Mos, 07Days ????? Total Service: 02 Yrs, 02Mos, 07Days ????? Previous Discharges: None Highest Grade: E4 Performance Ratings Available: Yes No MOS: 21E1P/Heavy Construction Equipment Operator GT: 89 EDU: HS Grad Overseas: None Combat: None Decorations/Awards: ARCOM, NDSM, GWOTSM, ASR V. Post-Discharge Activity City, State: ????? Post Service Accomplishments: None Listed VI. Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation a. Facts and Circumstances: Evidence of record shows that on 6 December 2004, the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of separation action under the provisions of Chapter 14, AR 635-200, by reason of misconduct—commission of a serious offense for wrongfully consuming alcohol while under the age of 21 and failure to obey a lawful general order, Policy Letter JA-04-01, with a general, under honorable conditions discharge. He was advised of his rights. The applicant consulted with legal counsel, was advised of the impact of the discharge action, and did not submit a statement in his own behalf. The unit commander subsequently recommended separation from the service and waiver of further rehabilitative efforts. On 15 December 2004, the separation authority waived further rehabilitative efforts and directed that the applicant be discharged with a characterization of service of general, under honorable conditions. The applicant's record contains a Serious Incident Report dated 17 September 2004. b. Legal Basis for Separation: 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 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, but a general discharge under honorable conditions or an honorable discharge may be granted. c. Response to Issues, Recommendation and Rationale: After a careful review of all the applicant’s military records during the period of enlistment under review, the documents and the issues he submitted, 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 his service was not consistent with the Army's standards for acceptable personal conduct and performance of duty by military personnel. By his misconduct, the applicant diminished the quality of his 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 analyst noted the applicant's issue, however, eligibility for veteran's benefits to include educational benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill does not fall within the purview of the Army Discharge Review Board. Accordingly, the applicant should contact a local office of the Department of Veterans Affairs for further assistance. Further, the analyst acknowledges the documents submitted by the applicant from the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, which make reference to the applicant having problems with PostTraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood. Having examined the above documentation, the analyst determined that the applicant's discharge was not the result of any medical condition and was administratively discharged under the provisions of Chapter 14, AR 635-200 by reason of misconduct- commission of a serious offense. In view of the foregoing, 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: 24 April 2009 Location: Washington, DC 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 1 No change 4 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 AR20080016465 ______________________________________________________________________________ Page 2 of 3 pages