1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 2 October 2017 b. Date Received: 10 October 2017 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of his general (under honorable conditions) discharge to honorable. The applicant seeks relief contending, in pertinent part and in effect, he has conducted himself honorably since his discharge. He would like to receive his educational, health, and disability benefits, and also use his VA home loan. Per the Board's Medical Officer, a voting member, the information available for review in the service record, AHLTA, and JLV, were reviewed. The SMs electronic military medical records and VA medical records were void of any behavioral health diagnoses and/or treatment. In summary, there are no mitigating circumstances associated with the misconduct that led to an early separation. In a personal appearance hearing conducted at Sacramento, CA on 18 September 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: NA / AR 135-178 / NA / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 11 October 2012 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 6 March 2012 (2) Basis for Separation: Applicant tested positive for cocaine on a 4 Nov 2011 urinalysis. (3) Recommended Characterization: Under Other Than Honorable Conditions (4) Legal Consultation Date: Applicant's election of rights response is incomplete (5) Administrative Separation Board: NIF (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 29 November 2016 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 1 June 2007 / 8 years (USAR) b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 18 / HS Letter / 101 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-4 / 63B10, Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic / 5 years, 4 months, 11 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: USAR (1 June 2007 to 21 July 2008) / NA IADT (22 July 2008 to 31 October 2008) / UNC USAR (1 November 2008 - Continuous Service) e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None / None f. Awards and Decorations: NDSM; ASR g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: An electronic copy of DD Form 2624 (Specimen Custody Document - Drug Testing), dated 10 November 2011, indicates the specimen collected on 4 November 2011, on an "IR" (Inspection, Random) basis, provided by the applicant, tested positive for cocaine. An Affidavit of Service by Mail, dated 8 March 2012, indicates a notification of separation was mailed on 6 March 2012, to the applicant's last known address in Bremerton, WA 98310, with tracking number and mail receipt 7007 0710 0003 6855 1772. Affidavit further shows the memorandum was delivered on 12 March 2012; however, the applicant failed to submit his response within 30 days. Discharge Orders, dated 3 October 2012 i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None / NA j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293 (Application for the Review of Discharge), dated 2 October 2017. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None provided with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 135-178 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel from the United States Army Reserve. Chapter 12 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, and convictions by civil authorities. 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. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of his general (under honorable conditions) discharge to honorable. The applicant's available record of service and the issues submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. The available 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, 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 marred the quality of his service that ultimately caused his discharge from the US Army Reserve. 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 an upgrade would enable him to receive his educational, health, and disability benefits, and also use his VA home loan. However, eligibility for veterans' benefits to include educational benefits under the Post-9/11 or Montgomery GI Bill does not fall within the purview of the Army Discharge Review Board. Accordingly, the applicant should contact a local office of the Department of Veterans Affairs for further assistance. Based on the available record, 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. DOCUMENTS / TESTIMONY PRESENTED DURING PERSONAL APPEARANCE: In addition to the evidence in the record, the Board carefully considered the additional document(s) and testimony presented by the applicant at the personal appearance hearing. a. The applicant submitted the following additional document(s): NA b. The applicant presented the following additional contention(s): NA c. Witness(es) / Observer(s): NA 10. BOARD DETERMINATION: In a personal appearance hearing conducted at Sacramento, CA on 18 September 2018, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board denied the request upon finding the separation was both proper and equitable. 11. 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 AR20170018391 3