Applicant Name: ????? Application Receipt Date: 2009/07/21 Prior Review: Prior Review Date: NA I. Applicant Request: Upgrade Reason Change RE Code Change Issues: Applicant in effect believes the characterization of his discharge was too harsh and did not consider the length and quality of his overall service . 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: 050531 Discharge Received: Date: 050722 Chapter: 14-12b AR: 635-200 Reason: Pattern of Misconduct RE: SPD: JKA Unit/Location: HHC, 1/25 Av Regt, Schofield Barracks, HI Time Lost: None Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): 040527, failed to go to place of duty/guard mount x2 (040419 and 040421), wrongfully sit at post/guard mount, disobeying order of commissioned officer, 14 days extra duty (CG) 040806, disobeying a NCO (040712),disobeying order of a NCO (040713),forfeiture of $572 x 2, 14 days extra duty(CG) 040901, disrespect to a NCO (040814),reduction to E4, forfeiture of $1,065 x 2, 45 days extra duty (FG) Courts-Martial (Charges/Dates/Punishment): 041020, SCM, disobeying/disrespecting a NCO (040928), reduction to E2, forfeiture of $891. Counseling Records Available: Yes No IV. Soldier’s Overall Record Age at current enlistment: 20 Current ENL Date: 010315 Current ENL Term: 4 Years ????? Current ENL Service: 4 Yrs, 4Mos, 7Days ????? Total Service: 7 Yrs, 0Mos, 10Days ????? Previous Discharges: RA 980713-010314 HD Highest Grade: E5 Performance Ratings Available: Yes No MOS: 92G1P Food Service Specialist GT: 95 EDU: HS Grad Overseas: SWA Combat: Iraq (040305-050119) Decorations/Awards: ARCOM, AAM, GWOTEM, GWOTSM, AGCM x2, NDSM, NCOPD, ASR, OSR x2 V. Post-Discharge Activity City, State: Clovis, CA Post Service Accomplishments: Applicant provided several academic and culinary accomplishments. VI. Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation a. Facts and Circumstances: The evidence of record shows that on 31 May 2005, the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of separation action under the provisions of Chapter 14, paragraph 14-12b, AR 635-200, by reason of misconduct—for failure to go to his appointed place of duty on two occasions, disobeying a lawful order from a commissioned officer, disobeying a lawful order from a NCO on thee occasions and disrespect to an NCO, with under other than honorable conditions discharge. He was advised of his rights. On 1 June 2005, the applicant consulted with legal counsel, was advised of the impact of the discharge action, conditionally waived his right to an administrative separation board contingent upon receiving a general discharge, 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 discharge action and recommended approval of the separation action with an under other than honorable conditions discharge. On 20 June 2005, the separation authority waived further rehabilitative efforts, approved the conditional waiver request, 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 all the applicant’s military records, and the issue and documents submitted with the application, the analyst found no mitigating factors that would merit an upgrade of the applicant's discharge. There was a full consideration of all faithful and honorable service as well as the infractions of discipline, the extent thereof, and the seriousness of the offenses. The analyst noted the applicant issue that the offenses were minor and isolated. However, the analyst concluded that the applicant committed many discrediting offenses, which constituted a departure from the standards of conduct expected of Soldiers in the Army. Having examined all the circumstances, the analyst determined that the applicant’s numerous incidents of misconduct did indeed adversely affect the quality of service, brought discredit on the Army, and was prejudicial to good order and discipline. These incidents of misconduct clearly diminished the quality of the applicant’s 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 Army Discharge Review Board is authorized to consider post-service factors in the recharacterization of a discharge. However, there is no law or regulation, which provides an unfavorable discharge may be upgraded based solely on the passage of time or good conduct in the civilian life subsequent to leaving the service. Outstanding post-service conduct, to the extent such matters provide a basis for a more thorough understanding of the Applicant’s performance and conduct during the period of service under review, is considered during Board proceedings. The Board reviews each discharge on a case-by-case basis to determine if post-service accomplishments help demonstrate previous in-service misconduct was an aberration and not indicative of the member’s overall character. 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. 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: 24 May 2010 Location: Washington, DC Did the Applicant Testify? Yes No Counsel: NA Witnesses/Observers: NA Exhibits Submitted: Awards, certificates of appreciation, honor society certificates, post service accomplishment documents, discharge documents, EERs. 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: No Change Other: NA 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 AR20090013065 ______________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 3 pages