1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 7 February 2017 b. Date Received: 27 February 2017 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of the characterization of service from general (under honorable conditions) to honorable. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, he tried on multiple occasions to get off from his job on the weekends and could not get off; he explained this to the 1SG. He is trying to rejoin the service and needs an honorable discharge to do so. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 11 June 2018, 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: Unsatisfactory Participation / AR 135- 178 / Chapter 13 / NA / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 17 September 2015 c. Separation Facts: Yes (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 29 April 2015 and 11 June 2015 (2) Basis for Separation: On 29 April 2015, the applicant was informed of the following reason for his discharge; he accrued nine or more unexcused absences in a twelve month period The commander suspended the action for 30 days to afford the applicant an opportunity to exercise his rights. On 11 June 2015, the applicant was informed of the following reasons for his discharge; he accrued nine or more unexcused absences in a twelve month period, and failed to provide valid excuses for those absences. The applicant failed or refused to respond within 30 calendar days. (3) Recommended Characterization: General (Under Honorable Conditions) (4) Legal Consultation Date: NIF, government regularity is presumed in the discharge process. (5) Administrative Separation Board: Unless an extension is granted, failure to respond in writing within 30 calendar days of his receipt of notification memorandum constitutes a waiver of his rights. (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 3 September 2015 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: USAR / 9 October 2014 / US Army Reserve Service Obligation expires on 11 August 2016. b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 22 years / HS Graduate / 98 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-3 / 88M10, Motor Transport Operator / 6 years, 5 months, 10 day d. Prior Service / Characterizations: RA, 20 August 2008 to 20 February 2014 / HD USARCG, 21 February 2014 to 8 October 2014 / NA e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: SWA / Iraq, 30 October 2009 to 1 November 2010 f. Awards and Decorations: ARCOM, AGCM, NDSM, ICM-CS, ASR, OSR, CAB g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: NIF i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: NIF j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: NIF 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: Online application. 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 the characterization of service from general (under honorable conditions) to honorable. The applicant's record of service and the issues 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 seeks relief contending, he tried on multiple occasions get off from his job on the weekends and could not get off; he explained this to the 1SG. The applicant bears the burden of presenting substantial and credible evidence to support this contention. There is no evidence in the record, nor has the applicant produced any evidence to support the contention that he attempted to get off his job to attend unit assemblies. The applicant is trying to rejoin the service and needs an honorable discharge to do so. 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 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 11 June 2018, 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 Authority to: No Change e. Change SPD / RE Code 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 AR20170002950 1