1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 9 February 2016 b. Date Received: 11 February 2016 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of his general (under honorable conditions) discharge to honorable. However, the record of evidence reflects the applicant received an under other than honorable conditions discharge at the time of separation. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, an under other than honorable conditions discharge is not an option on job applications and he is tired of being looked down on for not having an honorable discharge. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 19 May 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined that the characterization of service was too harsh based on the applicant's length and quality of service, to include his combat service, and circumstances surrounding the discharge (i.e. command's recommendation for general discharge), and as a result it is inequitable. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant partial relief in the form of an upgrade to the characterization of service to general (under honorable conditions). The Board determined the reason for discharge was proper and equitable and voted not to change it. (Board member names available upon request) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason / Authority / Codes / Characterization: Unsatisfactory Participation / AR 135-178 / Chapter 13 / NA / Under Other Than Honorable Conditions b. Date of Discharge: 23 August 2013 c. Separation Facts: Yes (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 8 February 2013 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant accumulated over nine unexcused absences from scheduled unit training assemblies within a 12 month period. (3) Recommended Characterization: General (Under Honorable Conditions) (4) Legal Consultation Date: The applicant's executed election of rights are not contained in the available record and government regularity is presumed in the discharge process. (5) Administrative Separation Board: An extension was granted, the applicant failed to deliver the completed endorsement within 30 days of the date his receipt of this memorandum will constituted waiver of his rights. (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 7 August 2013 / Under Other Than Honorable Conditions / the applicant was reduced to the lowest enlisted rank. 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 23 October 2010 / transfer to USAR for completion of service obligation of (4 July 2014). b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 17 / GED / 101 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-4 / 91C10, Utilities Equipment Repairer / 7 years, 1 month, 7 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: RA, 17 July 2006 to 22 January 2008 / HD RA, 23 July 2007 to 22 October 2010 / HD e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: SWA, Kuwait / Iraq, 8 October 2008 to 25 September 2009 f. Awards and Decorations: ARCOM, AGCM, NDSM, ICM-2CS, NCOPDR, ASR, OSR g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: None i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293 and DD Form214. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation (AR) 135-178 governs procedures covering enlisted personnel management of the Army Reserve. Chapter 13 provides in pertinent part, that individuals can be separated for being an unsatisfactory participant. AR 135-91 states that a member is an unsatisfactory participant when nine or more unexcused absences from scheduled drills accrue during a one-year period and attempts to have the Soldier respond or comply with orders or correspondence have resulted in the Soldier's refusal to comply with orders or correspondence; or a notice sent by certified mail was refused, unclaimed, or otherwise undeliverable; or verification that the Soldier has failed to notify the command of a change of address and reasonable attempts to contact the Soldier have failed. Discharge action may be taken when the Soldier cannot be located or is absent in the hands of civil authorities in accordance with the provisions of AR 135-91, paragraph 2-18, and Chapter 3, section IV, of AR 135-178. Army policy states possible characterizations of service include an honorable, general, under honorable conditions, under other than honorable conditions, or uncharacterized if the Soldier is in entry-level status. However, the permissible range of characterization varies based on the reason for separation. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of his general (under honorable conditions) discharge to honorable. However, the record of evidence shows that the applicant received an under other than honorable conditions discharge at the time of separation. 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 and diminished the quality of his service by his refusal to participate in unit drills. 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, such that he should have been retained in the US Army Reserve. The applicant contends that an under other than honorable conditions discharge is not an option on job applications and that he is tired of being looked down on for not having an honorable discharge. The Board does not grant relief for the purpose of gaining employment or enhancing employment opportunities. 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 DETERMINATION: In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 19 May 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined that the characterization of service was too harsh based on the applicant's length and quality of service, to include his combat service, and circumstances surrounding the discharge (i.e. command's recommendation for general discharge), and as a result it is inequitable. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant partial relief in the form of an upgrade to the characterization of service to general (under honorable conditions). The Board determined the reason for discharge was proper and equitable and voted not to change it. 10. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a new Separation Order: Yes b. Change Characterization to: General, Under Honorable Conditions c. Change Reason to: No Change d. Change Authority to: No Change e. Change SPD/RE Code to: No Change f. Restore (Restoration of) Grade to: No Change To: ARBA Promulgation Team, Arlington, VA Date: 25 May 2017 The Army Discharge Review Board, under the provisions of Title 10, United States Code, Section 1553, in the case of the applicant named in page 1, directs the ARBA Promulgation Team, Arlington, VA to issue a new discharge order to the applicant which reflects the following directed changes: (X) Change characterization of discharge to General, Under Honorable Conditions. AUTHENTICATING OFFICIAL: Legend: AWOL - Absent Without Leave GD - General Discharge NCO - Noncommissioned Officer SCM - Summary Court Martial BCD - Bad Conduct Discharge HS - High School NIF - Not in File SPCM - Special Court Martial BH - Behavioral Health HD - Honorable Discharge NOS - Not Otherwise Specified SPD - Separation Program Designator CG - Company Grade Article 15 IADT - Initial Active Duty Training OAD - Ordered to Active Duty TBI - Traumatic Brain Injury CID - Criminal Investigation Division MP - Military Police OMPF - Official Military Personnel File UNC - Uncharacterized Discharge ELS - Entry Level Status MST - Military Sexual Trauma PTSD - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder UOTHC - Under Other Than Honorable Conditions FG - Field Grade Article 15 NA - Not applicable RE - Reentry VA - Veterans Affairs ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE AR20160003891 1