Applicant Name: ????? Application Receipt Date: 2009/01/12 Prior Review: Prior Review Date: 081210/ADRB Records Review 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: NIF Discharge Received: Date: 940916 Chapter: 8-27(g) NGR: 600-200 Reason: Unsatisfactory Participation RE: SPD: NA Unit/Location: D Co, 2/130th In Bn, Urbana, IL Time Lost: NIF Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): NIF Courts-Martial (Charges/Dates/Punishment): NIF Counseling Records Available: Yes No IV. Soldier’s Overall Record Age at current enlistment: 18 Current ENL Date: 881110 Current ENL Term: 08 Years ????? Current ENL Service: 05 Yrs, 10Mos, 07Days ????? Total Service: 06 Yrs, 04Mos, 00Days ????? Previous Discharges: USAR-880517-880612/NA IADT-880613-880812/NA ARNG-880813-890522/NA IADT-8980523-890721/HD (Concurrent Service) Highest Grade: E4 Performance Ratings Available: Yes No MOS: 11H10/Heavy Anti-Armor Weapons Crewman GT: 126 EDU: HS Grad Overseas: None Combat: None Decorations/Awards: AAM, NDSM, HSM, ASR, IL-MAR, IL-SAD V. Post-Discharge Activity City, State: APO, AA Post Service Accomplishments: The applicant makes reference to being employed by the US Department of State as a Diplomat and that since his discharge he has achieve a PH. D. VI. Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation a. Facts and Circumstances: The specific facts and circumstances pertaining to the applicant’s discharge from the Army National Guard State of Illinois are not contained in the available records. However, the record does contain a properly constituted NGB Form 22 (Report of Separation and Record of Service), which the applicant was unavailable for signature. It indicates that the applicant was discharged under the provisions of Paragraph 8-27(g), NGR 600-200, by reason of unsatisfactory participation with a characterization of service of general, under honorable conditions, and a reenlistment eligibility (RE) Code of " 3." On 8 September 1994, Department of Military Affairs, State of Illinois , Camp Lincoln, Springfield, IL, Orders 174-102, discharged the applicant from the Army National Guard and assigned him to USAR Control Group (Annual Training), effective date: 16 September 1994, with a general, under honorable conditions discharge. b. Legal Basis for Separation: National Guard Regulation (NGR) 600-200 and Army Regulation 135-91, govern procedures covering enlisted personnel management of the Army National Guard. Chapter 8 of NGR 600-200 covers, in pertinent part, reasons for discharge and separation of enlisted personnel from the State Army Reserve National Guard. Paragraph 8-27(g) of that regulation provides in pertinent part that individuals can be separated for being an unsatisfactory participant. Army Regulation 135-91 states that a member is an unsatisfactory participant when nine or more unexcused absences from scheduled drills occur during a 1 year period. 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 available military records for the period of enlistment under review, the issues and documents he submitted, the analyst found no mitigating factors that would merit an upgrade of the applicant's discharge. The applicant’s record is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events that led to his discharge from the Army National Guard State of Illinois and assignment to the USAR Control Group (Annual Training). However, the record does contain a properly constituted NGB Form 22 (Report of Separation and Record of Service), which the applicant was unavailable for signature. This document identifies the reason and characterization of the service and the analyst presumed Government regularity in the discharge process. The evidence of record shows the applicant was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 8, paragraph 8-27(g), NGR 600-200, by reason of unsatisfactory participation with a characterization of service of general, under honorable conditions discharge. Barring evidence to the contrary, the analyst was satisfied that all requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process. Furthermore, the analyst noted the applicant's issues and the supporting documents he submitted, however, the analyst found no evidence of arbitrary or capricious actions by the command. Further, the analyst acknowledges the applicant's successful transition to civilian life and noted the many accomplishments outlined with the application and in the documents with the application. However, in review of the applicant’s entire service record, the analyst found that these accomplishments did not overcome the reason for discharge and characterization of service granted. Additionally, the applicant's DD Form 4/2 (Enlistment/Reenlistment Document), shows that he enlisted for a period of eight years on 17 May 1988, and the applicant indicated on page two of DA Form 3540/2 section III-Explanation to applicant/member in block six that he understood the enlistment option that he had selected provided that he would be a member of a troop program for a period of six years and a member of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) for the balance of his eight-year service obligation, which was authenticated by his initials. In view of the foregoing, 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: 8 June 2009 Location: Washington, DC Did the Applicant Testify? Yes No Counsel: None Witnesses/Observers: None Exhibits Submitted: None VIII. Board Discussion, Determination, and Recommendation After carefully examining the applicant’s record of service during the period of enlistment under review, hearing his testimony, and considering the analyst’s recommendation and rationale, the Board determined that the characterization of service was too harsh, and as result it is inequitable. The Board found that the overall length and quality of the applicant's service, the circumstances surrounding the discharge, and his post service accomplishments (i.e., his extraordinary accomplishments as a civil servant and his academic achievements), mitigated the discrediting entries in his service record. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade of the characterization of service to fully honorable. However, the Board determined that the reason for discharge was both proper and equitable and voted not to change it. IX. Board Decision XI. Certification Signature Board Vote: Approval Authority: Character - Change 3 No change 2 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: None Other: Thru: Chief, National Guard Bureau Date: 8 June 2009 To: Adjutant General, State of Illinois The Army Discharge Review Board, established under the provisions of Section 30, Public Law 346, 78th Congress, 22 June 1944 and codified as Title 10, United States Code, Section 1553, in the case of the applicant named in Part I recommends that the applicant be considered for a change of his discharge by the Adjutant General, State of Illinois, with issuance of a new NGB Form 22a, as follows: ( X ) Change characterization of discharge to fully Honorable. RE Code: Grade Restoration: No Yes Grade: NA ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD - CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE Case Number AR20090002549 ______________________________________________________________________________ Page 3 of 3 pages