Applicant Name: ????? Application Receipt Date: 2011/01/12 Prior Review: Prior Review Date: NA I. Applicant Request: Upgrade Reason Change RE Code Change Issues: The applicant states, in effect, that he is not disputing the findings of the original DD Form 214, but is asking that his reentry code or type of discharge be upgraded to general. He is in the process of reenlisting in the US Army and needs the reentry code changed from a 3 to reenlistment status. 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: 000211 Discharge Received: Date: 000818 Chapter: 10 AR: 635-200 Reason: In Lieu of Trial by Court-Martial RE: SPD: KFS Unit/Location: Company A, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry, Fort Benning, GA Time Lost: AWOL x 1 from (990103-990531) for 149 days. The applicant was apprehended by the civilian authorities at Excelsior Springs, MO and was transferred to Fort Knox, KY. Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None Courts-Martial (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None Counseling Records Available: Yes No IV. Soldier’s Overall Record Age at current enlistment: 21 Current ENL Date: 981116 Current ENL Term: 4 Years The applicant required a moral waiver at the time of enlistment, which was approved on (981009). Current ENL Service: 1 Yrs, 4 Mos, 4 Days The computation includes 437 days of excess leave from (990103-990531). Total Service: 1 Yrs, 4 Mos, 4 Days ????? Previous Discharges: None Highest Grade: E-1 Performance Ratings Available: Yes No MOS: None GT: 97 EDU: HS Grad Overseas: None Combat: None Decorations/Awards: None V. Post-Discharge Activity City, State: ????? Post Service Accomplishments: None submitted by the applicant. VI. Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation a. Facts and Circumstances: The evidence of record shows that on 8 June 1999, the applicant was charged with AWOL from (990103-990601). On 8 June 1999, the applicant consulted with legal counsel and voluntarily requested, in writing, discharge under the provisions of Chapter 10, AR 635-200 in lieu of trial by court-martial. In this request, the applicant admitted guilt to the offense, or a lesser included offense. Further, the applicant indicated that he understood that he could receive an under other than honorable conditions discharge and that the discharge would have a significant effect on eligibility for veteran’s benefits. The applicant did not submit a statement in his own behalf. The unit commander recommended approval of an under other than honorable conditions discharge. The separation authority memorandum approving the applicant's request for discharge in lieu of trial by court-martial is not part of the available record and the analyst presumed government regularity in the discharge process. Further, on 11 August 2000, Department of Army, Headquarters US Army Armor Center, Fort Knox, KY, issued Orders 224-0171, which discharged the applicant from the Regular Army with an effective date of : 18 August 2000. b. Legal Basis for Separation: Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Chapter 10 of that regulation provides, in pertinent part, that a member who has committed an offense or offenses for which the authorized punishment includes a punitive discharge may submit a request for a discharge for the good of the Service in lieu of trial by court-martial. The request may be submitted at any time after charges have been preferred and must include the individual’s admission of guilt. Army policy states that although an honorable or general, under honorable conditions discharge is authorized, a discharge under other than honorable conditions is normally considered appropriate. c. Response to Issues, Recommendation and Rationale: After a careful review of all the applicant’s military records, and the issue submitted with the application, the analyst found no mitigating factors which would merit an upgrade of the applicant's discharge. The evidence of record shows the applicant was charged with the commission of an offense punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) with a punitive discharge. The applicant consulted with defense counsel, and voluntarily in writing, requested separation from the Army in lieu of trial by court-martial. In doing so, the applicant admitted guilt to the stipulated or lesser-included offenses under the UCMJ. The analyst noted that all the requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process. It is also noted that the characterization of service for this type of discharge is normally under other than honorable conditions and the applicant was aware of it prior to requesting discharge. Furthermore, notwithstanding the propriety of the applicant's discharge, the analyst found that someone in the discharge process erroneously entered on the applicant's DD Form 214, block 27, re-entry code as “3.” In view of the foregoing, the analyst recommends to the Board that an administrative change be made to block 27, reentry code to read “4,” as it was approved by the separation authority. The analyst noted the applicant's issue asking that his reentry code and the characterization of service be upgraded to general. He is in the process of reenlisting in the US Army and needs the reentry code changed from a 3 to reenlistment status. In view of the aforementioned above, at the time of discharge the applicant should have been assigned a reentry eligibility (RE) code of “4,” which is the appropriate reentry eligibility (RE) code for a discharge under the provisions of Chapter 10, AR 635-200, in lieu of trial by court-martial. An RE code of “4” cannot be waived and the applicant is no longer eligible for reenlistment. Except for the foregoing modification to the applicant's reentry eligibility (RE) code, 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: 19 August 2011 Location: Washington, DC Did the Applicant Testify? Yes No Counsel: None Witnesses/Observers: NA Exhibits Submitted: DD Form 149 dated 10 January 2010, in lieu of a DD Form 293. 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. 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 27, reentry code as “3.” In view of the error, the Board voted to administratively change block 27, reentry code to “4," as it was approved by the separation authority. 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: The Board voted to administratively change block 27, reentry code to “4," as it was approved by the separation authority. RE Code: Grade Restoration: No Yes Grade: No Change 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 AR20110001023 ______________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 3 pages