Applicant Name: ????? Application Receipt Date: 2011/09/19 Prior Review: Prior Review Date: NA I. Applicant Request: Upgrade Reason Change RE Code Change Issues: The applicant states, in effect, it has been three years since her discharge and she is in the process of getting her life back together. She is currently extending her career in aviation by taking a class. She is not qualified to receive tuition assistance from the Veterans Administration. This is a one year course and she needs help. She has corrected all of her wrongs since her time in service. She believes she deserves another chance. She performed her duties as a 94L and a Soldier in Iraq to the best of her abilities. 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: 080102 Discharge Received: Date: 980208 Chapter: 14-12b AR: 635-200 Reason: Misconduct (Serious Offense) RE: SPD: JKQ Unit/Location: C 123d Aviation Regiment, Fort Wainwright, AK Time Lost: None Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): 070205, AWOL, reduction to E-3, forfeiture of $380.00 x 1 (suspended), (CG) 070727, suspension of punishment of $380.00 was vacated for a new failed to go to her appointed place offense, (070515) 070625, failed to go to her appointed place of duty x 3 (070515, 061016, and 061020); disrespectful in language towards a noncommissioned officer x 2 (061016 and 061016); and making a false official statement (061127), reduction to E-1 (suspended), forfeiture of $650.00 x 2 (suspended), and extra duty for 45 days, suspended. (FG) 071119, wrongfully used marijuana (070830-070928), reduction to E-1, forfeiture of $650.00 x 2 (suspended) restriction and extra duty for 30 days, suspended (FG) Courts-Martial (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None Counseling Records Available: Yes No IV. Soldier’s Overall Record Age at current enlistment: 19 Current ENL Date: 040806 Current ENL Term: 06 Years ????? Current ENL Service: 03 Yrs, 06 Mos, 04 Days ????? Total Service: 03 Yrs, 06 Mos, 04 Days ????? Previous Discharges: None Highest Grade: E-4 Performance Ratings Available: Yes No MOS: 94L10 Aviation Communication Equipment Repairer GT: 99 EDU: HS Grad Overseas: SWA Combat: Iraq (050417-051030) Decorations/Awards: NDSM, GWOTSM, ASR V. Post-Discharge Activity City, State: ????? Post Service Accomplishments: Taking A & P Mechanic's Class. VI. Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation a. Facts and Circumstances: The evidence of record shows that on 28 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 Commission of Serious Offense—for wrongfully using marijuana (070830-070928) Failure to Report x 15 (060213, 060927, 061115, 061120, 070529 (2), 070531, 070626, 070706, 070710, 070730, 070808, 070815, 070828, and 071108); Company Grade Article 15 (070208); Field Grade Article 15 x 2 (070710 and 071119), with a general, under honorable conditions discharge. She was advised of his rights. On 2 January 2008, the applicant consulted with legal counsel, was advised of the impact of the discharge action and did not submit a statement in her own behalf. The unit commander subsequently recommended separation from the Army and waiver of further rehabilitative efforts. The intermediate commander reviewed the proposed action and recommended approval of the separation with a general, under honorable conditions discharge. On 23 January 2008, the separation authority waived further rehabilitation and directed the applicant’s discharge 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 carefully examining the applicant’s record of service during the period of enlistment under review and the issue and documents submitted with the application, the analyst determined that the discharge was both proper and equitable. The analyst determined that the applicant’s discharge was appropriate because the quality of her service was not consistent with the Army's standards for acceptable personal conduct and performance of duty by military personnel. The applicant, by violating the Army's policy not to possess or use illegal drugs, compromised the trust and confidence placed in a Soldier. The applicant, as a Soldier, had the duty to support and abide by the Army's drug policies. By abusing illegal drugs, the applicant knowingly risked a military career and diminished the quality of service below that meriting a fully honorable discharge. The applicant contends she performed her duties as a 94L and a Soldier in Iraq to the best of her abilities. The analyst acknowledges the applicant’s in-service accomplishments and considered the quality of her service during the initial portion of the enlistment under review. However, this service was determined not to be sufficiently mitigating to warrant an upgrade to the characterization of discharge as shown by the repeated incidents of misconduct or by the multiple negative counseling statements, and the documented actions under Article 15 of the Uniformed Code of Military Justice. Furthermore, the applicant contends she would like to extend her career in aviation by taking an A & P Mechanics Class, but she needs to be able to receive tuition assistance from the Veterans Administration. However, eligibility for veteran's benefits to include educational benefits under the Post-9/11 or Montgomery GI Bill does not fall within the purview of the Army Discharge Review Board. Therefore, 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: 23 March 2012 Location: Washington, DC Did the Applicant Testify? Yes No Counsel: None Witnesses/Observers: NA Exhibits Submitted: DD Form 293 and DD Form 214 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 Board Vote: Character - Change 0 No change 5 Reason - Change 0 No change 5 (Board member names available upon request) X. Board Action Directed Issue a new DD Form 214 Change Characterization to: Change Reason to: No Change Other: NA RE Code: Grade Restoration: No Yes Grade: NA XI. Certification Signature Approval Authority: EDGAR J. YANGER Colonel, U.S. Army President, Army Discharge Review Board BONITA E. TROTMAN Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Army Secretary Recorder ????? 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 AR20110019432 ______________________________________________________________________________ Page 3 of 3 pages