1. Applicant's Name: 2. Application Date: 23 October 2017 b. Date Received: 20 December 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 does not know why he was discharged. He was told the reason was due to shoulder surgery. He requests his rank be changed to E-4. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 24 October 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: 27 May 2013 c. Separation Facts: Yes (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 10 December 2012 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was informed of the following reason for his discharge; he accrued in a one year period eighteen (18) unexcused absences and failed to provide a valid reason for his absences. (3) Recommended Characterization: Under Other Than Honorable Conditions (4) Legal Consultation Date: 27 December 2012 (5) Administrative Separation Board: The applicant voluntarily waived consideration of his case by an administrative separation board, contingent upon him receiving a characterization of service no less favorable than general, under honorable conditions. (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 3 May 2013 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 7 June 2005 / 8 years b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 18 years / HS Graduate / 99 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-4 / 88M10, Motor Transport Operator / 7 years, 6 months, 21 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: IADT, 22 June 2005 to 1 November 2005 / HD (Concurrent Service) e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: NIF / applicant received active duty orders dated 24 May 2011; however, it could not be determined if he actually reported, no DD Form 214 to substantiate he reported for active duty. f. Awards and Decorations: ARCAM, AFRM, NDSM, GWOTEM, GWOTSM, ASR, MUC / the only awards verified were the ARCAM and ASR. g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: None i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: NIF j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: NIF 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: Online application (five pages); and several orders. 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, the issues and documents 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. His unsatisfactory participation brought discredit on the Army, and was prejudicial to good order and discipline and diminished the quality of his service below that meriting an honorable discharge 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 does not know why he was discharged; and he was told the reason was due to shoulder surgery. The record of evidence shows that the applicant was discharged because he accrued in a one year period eighteen (18) unexcused absences and failed to provide a valid reason for his absences. The record of evidence shows on 27 December 2012, the applicant acknowledged receipt of the notification of separation proceedings under AR 135-178, Chapter 13, dated 10 December 2012. The applicant requests his rank be changed to E-4. The Army Discharge Review Board is not empowered to restore former service member's grade, rate or rank. The Board may only change the characterization or reason for discharge. If an applicant believes there is an error or injustice in his discharge, he may make an application to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records, using DD Form 149, which can be obtained online or from a Veterans Service Organization. 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 24 October 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 AR20170019339 1