1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 27 December 2015 b. Date Received: 8 February 2016 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests a narrative reason change and an RE code change. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, he was not given the opportunity to keep his career while others were given multiple chances. Since his discharge, he has been motivated and dedicated to personally improving himself. He has grown and has learned to manage his emotions. As soon as the applicant completed his initial training, he reported to his first unit and was informed that the unit would be deploying to Afghanistan. Many Soldiers in his unit began to commit acts of misconduct and he began to think those were not the Soldiers he wanted to be in combat with. It was during this time that he made the decision to go AWOL. He was an impulsive little boy and did not think about commitment, passion, or purpose. He believes deep inside he is a Soldier and desires the opportunity to rejoin the military. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 19 April 2017, 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 (AWOL) / AR 635-200 / Chapter 14-12c(1) / JKD / RE-3 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 24 February 2012 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 30 January 2012 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was AWOL (from 13 October until 22 November 2011). (3) Recommended Characterization: General (Under Honorable Conditions) (4) Legal Consultation Date: Waived, 8 February 2012 (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 13 February 2012 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 9 May 2011 / 3 years, 16 weeks b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 21 / HS Graduate / 100 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-2 / 11B10, Infantryman / 8 months, 7 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: NDSM, GWOTSM, ASR g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: Three Personnel Action forms, reflect the applicant's duty status changed as follows: from "Present for Duty (PDY)" to "AWOL," effective 13 October 2011 from "AWOL" to "Dropped From Rolls (DFR)," effective 12 November 2011 from "DFR" to "PDY," effective 22 November 2011 Report of Mental Status Evaluation, dated 16 December 2011, reflects the applicant was cleared for administrative actions deemed appropriate by the command. The applicant could understand the difference between right and wrong and could participate in the proceedings. FG Article 15, dated 3 January 2012, for AWOL (between 13 October and 22 November 2011). The punishment consisted of a reduction to E-1, forfeiture of $733 pay per month for two months, and 45 days of extra duty and restriction. Several Developmental Counseling Forms for AWOL, recommendation for Article 15, intent to separate from service, and administrative separation. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: 39 days (AWOL, 13 October 20111 to 21 November 2011) / surrendered to military authorities. j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 149 and a self-authored statement. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application. 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 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. Paragraph 14-12c(1) allows for an absentee returned to military control from a status of absent without leave or desertion to be separated for commission of a serious offense. Army Regulation 635-5-1 (Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes) provides the specific authorities (regulatory or directive), reasons for separating Soldiers from active duty, and the SPD codes to be entered on the DD Form 214. It identifies the SPD code of "JKD" as the appropriate code to assign enlisted Soldiers who are discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 14, Misconduct (AWOL). The SPD Code/RE Code Cross Reference Table shows that a Soldier assigned an SPD Code of "JKD" will be assigned an RE Code of 3. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests a narrative reason change and an RE code change. The applicant's record of service, the issues and documents submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. The record confirms that 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 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 be retained on active duty. The applicant desires to rejoin the Military Service. However, 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 3. There are no basis upon which to grant a change to the reason or to the RE code. An RE Code of 3 indicates the applicant requires a waiver prior to being allowed to reenlist. If reenlistment is desired, the applicant should contact a local recruiter to determine eligibility to reenlist. Recruiters can best advise a former service member as to the needs of the Army at the time, and are required to process waivers of reentry eligibility (RE) codes if appropriate. The applicant contends that he was impulsive, young, and immature at the time he went AWOL. The record shows the applicant met entrance qualification standards to include age. There is no evidence to indicate the applicant was any less mature than other Soldiers of the same age who successfully completed military service. The applicant contends that other Soldiers with similar offenses were not discharged from the Army. However, the method in which another Soldier's case was handled is not relevant to the applicant's case. Applicable regulations state that each case must be decided on an individual basis considering the unique facts and circumstances of that particular case. 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 April 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board denied the request upon finding the separation was both proper and equitable. 10. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a New DD-214 / Issue a New Separation Order: No b. Change Characterization to: No Change c. Change Reason to: No Change d. Change SPD / RE Code to: No Change e. Restore (Restoration of) Grade to: No Change 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 AR20160004117 4