Applicant Name: ????? Application Receipt Date: 2012/04/13 Prior Review: Prior Review Date: 2009/07/08, denied. I. Applicant Request: Upgrade Reason Change RE Code Change Issues: The applicant states: "I have already submitted a DD149 back in July of 2009 and my upgrade was denied. It was a 3-2 vote not in my favor. I served with the 10th MTN DIV in Afhganistan and Iraq honorably. Due to my two combat deployments I now suffer from PTSD and have a service connected rating of 70%. I feel that I was suffering from this while I was still in the service which lead to my misconduct. Since then I have been going to school and attend my local VA hospital. I am gathering some support letters that I would like to present in front of the board. There was never and adverse action taken on me during my entire enlistment. Thank you for taking to the time to consider my request and I hope to here from you soon." 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: 070322 Discharge Received: Date: 070402 Chapter: 9 AR: 635-200 Reason: Drug Rehabilitation Failure RE: SPD: JPC Unit/Location: A Co, 2nd Bn, 22nd Infantry Rgt, Fort Drum, NY Time Lost: None 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: 19 Current ENL Date: 030916 Current ENL Term: 4 Years ????? Current ENL Service: 03 Yrs, 06Mos, 16Days ????? Total Service: 05 Yrs, 06Mos, 26Days ????? Previous Discharges: RA 010907-030915/HD Highest Grade: E-5 Performance Ratings Available: Yes No MOS: 11B20/Infantryman GT: 93 EDU: HS GRAD Overseas: Afghanistan, Iraq Combat: Iraq (050807-060801), Afghanistan (030814-040801) Decorations/Awards: ARCOM-3, AAM, AGCM, NDSM, ICM, GWOTSM, ASR, OSR, CIB V. Post-Discharge Activity City, State: ????? Post Service Accomplishments: Applicant states that he is attending school. VI. Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation a. Facts and Circumstances: The evidence of record indicates that on 22 January 2007, the unit commander in consultation with the Clinical Director/ASAP declared the applicant a rehabilitation failure. On 15 March 2007, the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of separation action under the provisions of Chapter 9, AR 635-200, by reason of drug rehabilitation/ASAP failure, with an honorable characterization of service. 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. The intermediate commander reviewed the proposed discharge action and recommended approval of the separation action with a honorable discharge. On 26 March 2007, the separation authority directed that 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 9 contains the authority and outlines the procedures for discharging individuals because of alcohol or other drug abuse. A member who has been referred to the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Program (ADAPCP) for alcohol/drug abuse may be separated because of inability or refusal to participate in, cooperate in, or successfully complete such a program if there is a lack of potential for continued Army service and rehabilitation efforts are no longer practical. Army policy states that an honorable or general discharge is authorized depending on the applicant’s overall record of service. However, an honorable discharge is required if restricted use information is used in the discharge process. c. Response to Issues, Recommendation and Rationale: After a careful review of all the applicant’s military records, and the issues he submitted, the analyst found no mitigating factors that would merit an upgrade of the applicant's discharge. The analyst noted that the applicant was enrolled in the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Program and was aware of the consequences of any action which would demonstrate any inability or refusal to participate in, cooperate in, or successfully complete such a program. As a result of the applicant’s actions and after consultation with the drug and alcohol abuse counselor, the command declared the applicant a rehabilitation failure. The evidence of record establishes the fact that the applicant was properly counseled and afforded a reasonable opportunity to overcome his problems. Furthermore, the analyst noted the applicant's issue about his diagnosis of PTSD. However, in review of the applicant’s entire service record, the analyst found that this medical condition did not overcome the reason for discharge and characterization of service granted, the applicant fully understood the difference between right and wrong when he committed the misconduct that caused the unit commander to initiate the separation action. Moreover, the analyst noted the applicant's issue that his discharge was based on a single incident. However, the applicable Army regulation states that there are circumstances in which the conduct or performance of duty reflected by a single incident provides the basis for a characterization. The analyst having examined all the circumstances determined that the applicant had several incidents of misconduct that did indeed adversely affect the quality of his 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. 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: 20 August 2012 Location: Washington, D.C. Did the Applicant Testify? Yes No Counsel: None Witnesses/Observers: His former commander and an applicant's friend.. Exhibits Submitted: On-line application, two character reference letters, a college acceptance letter, and an unofficial transcript.. 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 noted that the government introduced a document into the discharge process revealing that the applicant had self-referred to the Army Substance Abuse Program (ASA), for substance abuse. This is limited use information as defined in AR 600-85. Use of this information mandates award of an honorable discharge. Accordingly, the Board voted to change the characterization of service to honorable. However, the board found that the reason for discharge was fully supported by the record and voted not to change it. IX. Board Decision Board Vote: Character - Change 5 No change 0 Reason - Change 0 No change 0 (Board member names available upon request) X. Board Action Directed Issue a new DD Form 214 Change Characterization to: Change Reason to: NA Other: NA RE Code: Grade Restoration: No Yes Grade: NA XI. Certification Signature Approval Authority: ARCHIE L. DAVIS III 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 AR20120007418 ______________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 3 pages