1. APPLICANT’S NAME: a. Application Date: 11 August 2015 b. Date Received: 24 August 2015 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, REASON, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of his general, under honorable conditions discharge to honorable. The applicant states, in effect, he feels like the opportunities he is trying to get are being rejected because of the discharge he received. He feels like he committed a serious crime. He is trying to reenlist and serve this country again to become a better person. In a records review hearing conducted at Arlington, VA on 21 March 2016, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board denied the request upon finding the separation was both proper and equitable. (Board member names available upon request.) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason/Authority/Codes/Characterization: Misconduct (Drug Abuse) / AR 635-200, Paragraph 14-12c(2) / JKK / RE-4 / General, Under Honorable Conditions b. Date of Discharge: 3 April 2015 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 27 February 2015 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was informed of the following reason for his discharge; wrongfully using methylenedioxyamphetamine (24 November 2014) (3) Recommended Characterization: General, Under Honorable Conditions (4) Legal Consultation Date: 2 March 2015 (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date/Characterization: 20 May 2015 / / General, Under Honorable Conditions Discharge 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date/Period of Enlistment: 24 January 2015 / 3 years and 20 weeks b. Age at Enlistment/Education/GT Score: 19 years / HS Graduate / 90 c. Highest Grade Achieved/MOS/Total Service: PFC / E-3 / 13D10, Field Artillery Automation / 2 years, 2 months and 10 days d. Prior Service/Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service/Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: AAM, NDSM, GWOTSM, ASR g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s)/Evidentiary Record: Positive urinalysis test coded IR (Inspection Random) dated, 24 November 2014, for MDA. Negative counseling statement with duplicates, dated 18 December 2014, for a positive urinalysis test. FG Article 15, dated 13 January 2015, for wrongfully using methylenedioxyamphetamine (24 November 2014); reduction to PVT/E-1, forfeiture of $733 pay for two months and extra duty for 45 days. DA Form 3822 (Report of Mental Status Evaluation, dated 28 January 2015, indicates the applicant had negative screens for PTSD and mTBI. He was psychiatrically cleared and competent to undergo administrative separation. i. Lost Time: None j. Diagnosed PTSD/TBI/Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: Online application (six pages); and a handwritten statement. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None provided by the applicant. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Chapter 14 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 being absent 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 an under other than honorable conditions discharge is normally considered appropriate; however, a general, under honorable conditions or an honorable discharge may be granted. Paragraph 14-12c(2) terms abuse of illegal drugs as serious misconduct. It continues; however, by recognizing relevant facts may mitigate the nature of the offense. Therefore, a single drug abuse offense may be combined with one or more minor disciplinary infractions or incidents of other misconduct and processed for separation under paragraph 14-12a or 14-12b as appropriate. 8. DISCUSSION OF ISSUE(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of his general, under honorable conditions discharge to honorable. The applicant’s record of service, the issues and document submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. The record confirms the applicant’s discharge was appropriate because the quality of his service was not consistent with the Army's standards for acceptable personal conduct and performance of duty by military personnel. It brought discredit on the Army, and was prejudicial to good order and discipline. 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 his service below that meriting an honorable discharge at the time of his separation. The applicant seeks relief contending, he feels like the opportunities he is trying to get are being rejected because of the discharge he received. The Board does not grant relief for the purpose of gaining employment or enhancing employment opportunities. The applicant further contends, he feels like he committed a serious crime. In pertinent part, AR 600-85, paragraph 1-8 states, alcohol and drug abuse by Soldiers and civilians corps members can seriously damage their physical and behavioral health, jeopardize their safety and the safety of those around them, can lead to criminal and administrative disciplinary actions. Alcohol and drug abuse is detrimental to unit’s operational readiness and command climate and is inconsistent with Army Values and the Warrior Ethos. The Army Strives to be free of all effects of alcohol and drug abuse. The applicant is trying to reenlist and serve this country again to become a better person. Soldiers being processed for separation are assigned reentry codes based on their service records or the reason for discharge. Based on Army Regulation 635-5-1 and the SPD Code/RE Code Cross Reference Table the applicant was appropriately assigned an RE code of 4. An RE code of 4 cannot be waived and the applicant is no longer eligible for reenlistment. The discharge was consistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of the regulation, was within the discretion of the separation authority, and the applicant was provided full administrative due process. 9. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a New DD-214: No b. Change Characterization to: No Change c. Change Reason to: No Change d. Change SPD/RE Code to: No Change e. Restore Grade to: NA AUTHENTICATING OFFICIAL: COL, US ARMY Presiding Officer Army Discharge Review Board Legend: AWOL - Absent Without Leave GD - General Discharge NIF - Not in File SPCM - Special Court Martial BCD - Bad Conduct Discharge HS - High School OAD - Ordered to Active Duty SPD - Separation Program Designator CG - Company Grade Article 15 HD - Honorable Discharge OMPF - Official Military Personnel File TBI – Traumatic Brain Injury CID - Criminal Investigation Division MP – Military Police PTSD – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder UNC - Uncharacterized Discharge ELS – Entry Level Status IADT – Initial Active Duty Training RE - Reentry UOTHC - Under Other Than Honorable Conditions FG - Field Grade Article 15 NA - Not applicable SCM - Summary Court Martial ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE AR20150013897 4