1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 20 July 2018 b. Date Received: 23 July 2018 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of general (under honorable conditions) discharge to honorable. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, was an active member of the United States Army Reserves for six years. The applicant served in three different units during this time and held two job titles; Cargo Specialist and Parachute Rigger. During service, the applicant never had any disciplinary issues and always was a top contender in any and all physical assessments (PT tests) in which the applicant participated. The applicant achieved the rank of sergeant in approximately four years and was in charge of a squad of Soldiers at the final unit. The applicant voluntarily went through both airborne school and parachute rigger school and graduated in the top five of Basic Leader's Course (BLC). The applicant's time in the Army Reserve is close to the heart where the applicant met many very best friends in the Army and gained more life experience than ever thought possible. The Army was never just a paycheck for the applicant, and the applicant left for basic training two days after graduating high school, while many friends were spending their final summer together before leaving for college. The applicant is extremely proud of the service to the country and the hope is to have the characterization of discharge upgraded to something which more properly reflects the applicant's time as a Soldier. The applicant states, while in the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR), SFC D., who worked in the 1188th retention building, reached out to the applicant about a position that the applicant had previously spoken to the NCO about before being assigned to the IRR. The position was with the second unit, the 421st QM Company. The goal is to at the time was to rejoin the Army Reserve and to use tuition assistance to finish a bachelor's degree. SFC D., assured the applicant that if the applicant entered the Reserve, and later decided that the applicant wanted to get back out, the applicant would be able to get the applicant back into the IRR without issue. This assurance is documented in an email conversation between the two of them, which the applicant provides with the application. Shortly after rejoining the active Army Reserve, the applicant decided that it was not going to work out based on a multitude of factors, most predominantly being the drill schedule, lack of ability to RST, and a civilian police job schedule. Per the previous conversations, the applicant spoke with SFC D. about going into the IRR, who told the applicant about composing an "IRR justification letter," and send it to the 421st QM Company on the applicant's behalf, which the NCO never did. Since discharge, the applicant has continued to work as a police officer. The discharge has affected the applicant as a civilian and an upgrade would allow the applicant to continue to pursue career goals, which has been put on hold because of the discharge. The applicant further details the contentions in a self-authored statement provided with the application. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 22 January 2020, 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: NIF / AR 135-178 / NIF / NIF / NIF / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 26 March 2018 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: NIF (2) Basis for Separation: NIF (3) Recommended Characterization: NIF (4) Legal Consultation Date: NIF (5) Administrative Separation Board: NIF (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: Orders 18 -078-00008, dated 19 March 2018, reflect the applicant was discharged effective 26 March 2018. / General (Under Honorable Conditions) 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 18 March 2011 / 8 years (USAR) b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 18 / HS Graduate / NIF c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-5 / 92R2P, Parachute Rigger / 7 years, 8 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: IADT, 23 May 2011 - 30 September 2011 / HD (Concurrent Service) e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: NDSM, GWOTSM, ASR g. Performance Ratings: 1 August 2015 - 31 August 2016 / Qualified 1 September 2016 - 31 August 2017 / Highly Qualified h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: NIF i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: NIF j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293; Time of events; justification letter; email documentation. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: The applicant states he is employed as a police officer. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 135-178 sets forth the policies, standards, and procedures to ensure the readiness and competency of the U.S. Army while providing for the orderly administrative separation of Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) enlisted Soldiers for a variety of reasons. The separation policies throughout the different Chapters in this regulation promote the readiness of the Army by providing an orderly means to judge the suitability of persons to serve on the basis of their conduct and their ability to meet required standards of duty performance and discipline. 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. The characterization is based upon the quality of the Soldier's service, including the reason for separation and determined in accordance with standards of acceptable personal conduct and performance of duty as found in the UCMJ, Army regulations, and the time-honored customs and traditions of the Army. The reasons for separation, including the specific circumstances that form the basis for the discharge are considered on the issue of characterization. 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. The applicant's available record of service, and the issues and documents submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. However, the service record is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events which led to his discharge from the Army Reserve. However, the applicant's record does contain a properly constituted discharge Orders 18 -078-00008, dated 19 March 2018. Barring evidence to the contrary, it appears all requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process. The applicant provided no independent corroborating evidence demonstrating that either the command's action was erroneous or that his service mitigated the type of discharge he received from the U.S. Army Reserve. The orders indicate the applicant was discharged under the provisions of AR 135-178, with a characterization of service of general (under honorable conditions). The applicant's contentions about the retention NCO not submitting his request to return to the IRR, was carefully considered. However, there is insufficient evidence available in the official record to make a determination upon the applicant's quality of service. Moreover, there is a presumption of regularity in the conduct of governmental affairs which is applied in all Army discharge reviews unless there is substantial credible evidence to rebut the presumption. There is no evidence in the record, nor has the applicant produced any evidence, to support a change to the characterization of service granted. The applicant's statements alone do not overcome the presumption of government regularity and the application contains no documentation or further evidence in support of this request for an upgrade of the discharge. The applicant contends that he had good service. The applicant's service accomplishments and the quality of his service prior to the incidents that caused the initiation of discharge proceeding were carefully considered. The applicant is to be commended for his accomplishments. The Army Discharge Review Board is authorized to consider post-service factors in the recharacterization of a discharge. However, there is no law or regulation which provides an unfavorable discharge may be upgraded based solely on the passage of time or good conduct in civilian life subsequent to leaving the service. Outstanding post-service conduct, to the extent such matters provide a basis for a more thorough understanding of the applicant's performance and conduct during the period of service under review, is considered during Board proceedings. The Board reviews each discharge on a case-by-case basis to determine if post-service accomplishments help demonstrate previous in-service misconduct was an aberration and not indicative of the member's overall character. The applicant contends that an upgrade of his discharge will allow him to obtain better employment. However, the Board does not grant relief for the purpose of gaining employment or enhancing employment opportunities. If the applicant desires a personal appearance hearing, it will be his responsibility to meet the burden of proof and provide the appropriate documents (i.e., the discharge packet) or other evidence sufficient to explain the facts, circumstances, and reasons underlying the separation action, for the Board's consideration because they are not available in the official record. 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 that the applicant was provided full administrative due process. 9. BOARD DETERMINATION: In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 22 January 2020, 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 AR20180011319 1