1.	Applicant's Name:  

	a.	Application Date:  14 May 2020

	b.	Date Received:  14 May 2020

	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 did not submit any issues of equity or propriety to be considered by the Board.

In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 30 October 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:  Misconduct (Serious Offense) / AR 
635-200, Paragraph 14-12c / JKQ / RE-3 / General (Under Honorable Conditions)

	b.	Date of Discharge:  19 January 2017

	c.	Separation Facts:  Yes

		(1)	Date of Notification of Intent to Separate:  9 November 2016

		(2)	Basis for Separation:  The applicant was informed of the following reasons for his 
discharge;

	he wrongfully sought out to fraudulently obtain Basic Subsistence Allowance (BAS) and back pay 
in the amount of $2,024.69, while having a meal card (3 August 2016); 

	he made a false official statement stating that he did not talk to PFC M.L., about pay issues and 
his family issues, when in fact, on or about 6 October 2016, he admitted he did speak to PFC L., 
about his financial troubles (30 September 2016); and

	he disrespected CPL T.B., by not addressing him as a Corporal and stated that he did not care 
and go ahead and counsel him (12 September 2016).

		(3)	Recommended Characterization:  General (Under Honorable Conditions)

		(4)	Legal Consultation Date:  16 November 2016

		(5)	Administrative Separation Board:  NA

		(6)	Separation Decision Date / Characterization:  7 December 2016 / General 
(Under Honorable Conditions)

4.	SERVICE DETAILS:

	a.	Date / Period of Enlistment:  26 January 2015, 4 years

	b.	Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score:  20 years / HS Graduate / 99

	c.	Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service:  E-4 / 88N1P, Transportation 
Management Coordinator / 1 year, 11 months, 24 days

	d.	Prior Service / Characterizations:  None

	e.	Overseas Service / Combat Service:  None

	f.	Awards and Decorations:  AAM, NDSM, GWOTSM, ASR

	g.	Performance Ratings:  NA

	h.	Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record:  Report of Mental Status Evaluation, 
dated 24 October 2016, revealed the applicant met the medical retention requirements of 
Chapter 3 of AR 40-501 and did not require a medical board.  He was screened for PTSD, TBI, 
and substance use disorders.  He did not meet criteria for PTSD or TBI.

The applicant received negative counseling for misconduct and being recommended for 
separation.

	i.	Lost Time / Mode of Return:  None

	j.	Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health:  None

5.	APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE:  DD Form 293 (two pages); DD Form 293, unsigned (two 
pages); support statement, applicant's spouse; letter of recommendation; and VA verification of 
honorable service.

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 states a Soldier is subject to action per this section for commission of a 
serious military or civilian offense, if the specific circumstances of the offense warrant 
separation and a punitive discharge is, or would be, authorized for the same or a closely related 
offense under the Manual for Courts-Martial.

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.  By the documented misconduct (serious offense), the applicant 
diminished the quality of his service below that meriting an honorable discharge at the time of 
separation.

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 on Active Duty.

The applicant did not submit any issues of equity or propriety to be considered by the Board.

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 30 October 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 / 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
AR20200005180
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