1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 17 February 2021 b. Date Received: 17 March 2021 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: a. Applicant's Requests and Issues: The current characterization of service for the period under review is general (under Honorable conditions). The applicant requests an upgrade to honorable along with a reentry (RE) code, separation program designator (SPD) code and a narrative reason change. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, the discharge was not conducted according to regulatory procedures and did not properly consider the entire record and conduct of service. The command climate at Fort Hood Fostered an environment detrimental to Soldiers. The leadership has been reprimanded severely for actions taken and not taken against Soldiers in recent years. The applicant completed one period of honorable service. The applicant's marital issues created significant stress and caused the applicant's depression and mental health to worsen. The command dismissed the applicant's condition and challenged whether the applicant was truly ill. The applicant self-enrolled in the Army Substance Abuse Program for alcoholism and was admitted into the hospital from April 16-23, 2018. The applicant's depression was accelerated with a formal separation and eventual divorce. The applicant was drug tested seven times while on active duty. The first six times the tests were negative. On the seventh time, four days after the previous test, an inadequate sample was taken. The applicant contends there was no probable cause for a drug test. Due to the systemic and pervasive attitude of commanders towards the applicant's mental illness the chain of command used the ill-gotten sample to discharge the applicant. The applicant's economic impact and ability to gain employment has been compromised because procedures and policies were not adhered to. The applicant has been routinely drug tested for civilian employment and has not test positive. b. Board Type and Decision: In a records review conducted on 22 September 2023, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined the discharge is inequitable based on the circumstances surrounding the discharge (OBHI diagnosis). Therefore, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade of the characterization of service to Honorable and changed to the separation authority to AR 635-200, paragraph 14-12a, the narrative reason for separation to Misconduct (Minor Infractions), with a corresponding separation code of JKN. Based on the applicant's medical diagnosis, the board determined the reentry code was proper and equitable and voted not to change it. Please see Section 9 of this document for more detail regarding the Board's decision. (Board member names available upon request) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason / Authority / Codes / Characterization: Misconduct (Drug Abuse) / AR 635- 200 / Chapter 14-12c(2) / JKQ / RE-4 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 28 March 2019 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: NIF (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was informed of the following reasons: NIF (3) Recommended Characterization: NIF (4) Legal Consultation Date: NIF (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: NIF 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 30 November 2017 / 5 years b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 20 / HS Graduate / 126 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-4 / 35G10, Geospatial Intelligence Imagery Analyst / 3 years, 10 months, 10 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: RA, 19 May 2015 - 29 November 2017 / HD e. Overseas / Combat Service: Korea / None f. Awards and Decorations: AAM, AGCM, GWOTSM, KDSM, ASR, OSR g. Performance Ratings: None h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: The applicant provides Memorandum For Record, issued by the Drug Test Coordinator, Army Substance Abuse Program, which states, in part, a specimen with the applicant DOD ID number, was less than 30ml of urine submitted for testing and indicated the proper procedures were not followed. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Behavioral Health Condition(s): (1) Applicant provided: None (2) AMHRR Listed: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293, personal statement, Legal Memorandum, Supplemental Legal Memorandum, ERB, DA Form 638, Electronic DD Form 2624, Specimen Custody Document-Drug Testing, Patient Service Information, Memorandum For Record, excerpt of AR 600-85 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application. 7. STATUTORY, REGULATORY AND POLICY REFERENCE(S): a. Section 1553, Title 10, United States Code (Review of Discharge or Dismissal) provides for the creation, composition, and scope of review conducted by a Discharge Review Board(s) within established governing standards. As amended by Sections 521 and 525 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, 10 USC 1553 provides specific guidance to the Military Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records and Discharge Review Boards when considering discharge upgrade requests by Veterans claiming Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), sexual trauma, intimate partner violence (IPV), or spousal abuse, as a basis for discharge review. The amended guidance provides that Boards will include, as a voting board member, a physician trained in mental health disorders, a clinical psychologist, or a psychiatrist when the discharge upgrade claim asserts a mental health condition, including PTSD, TBI, sexual trauma, IPV, or spousal abuse, as a basis for the discharge. Further, the guidance provides that Military Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records and Discharge Review Boards will develop and provide specialized training specific to sexual trauma, IPV, spousal abuse, as well as the various responses of individuals to trauma. b. Multiple Department of Defense Policy Guidance Memoranda published between 2014 and 2018. The documents are commonly referred to by the signatory authorities' last names (2014 Secretary of Defense Guidance [Hagel memo], 2016 Acting Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness [Carson memo], 2017 Official Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness [Kurta memo], and 2018 Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness [Wilkie memo]. (1) Individually and collectively, these documents provide further clarification to the Military Discharge Review Boards and Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records when considering requests by Veterans for modification of their discharge due to mental health conditions, including PTSD; TBI; sexual assault; or sexual harassment. Liberal consideration will be given to Veterans petitioning for discharge relief when the application for relief is based in whole or in part on matters relating to mental health conditions, including PTSD; TBI; sexual assault; or sexual harassment. Special consideration will be given to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) determinations that document a mental health condition, including PTSD; TBI; or sexual assault/harassment potentially contributed to the circumstances resulting in a less than honorable discharge characterization. Special consideration will also be given in cases where a civilian provider confers diagnoses of a mental health condition, including PTSD; TBI; or sexual assault/harassment if the case records contain narratives supporting symptomatology at the time of service or when any other evidence which may reasonably indicate that a mental health condition, including PTSD; TBI; or sexual assault/harassment existed at the time of discharge might have mitigated the misconduct that caused a discharge of lesser characterization. (2) Conditions documented in the service record that can reasonably be determined to have existed at the time of discharge will be considered to have existed at the time of discharge. In cases in which a mental health condition, including PTSD; TBI; or sexual assault/harassment may be reasonably determined to have existed at the time of discharge, those conditions will be considered potential mitigating factors in the misconduct that caused the characterization of service in question. All Boards will exercise caution in weighing evidence of mitigation in cases in which serious misconduct precipitated a discharge with a less than Honorable characterization of service. Potentially mitigating evidence of the existence of undiagnosed combat related PTSD, PTSD-related conditions due to TBI or sexual assault/harassment as causative factors in the misconduct resulting in discharge will be carefully weighed against the severity of the misconduct. PTSD is not a likely cause of premeditated misconduct. Caution shall be exercised in weighing evidence of mitigation in all cases of misconduct by carefully considering the likely causal relationship of symptoms to the misconduct. c. Army Regulation 15-180 (Army Discharge Review Board), dated 25 September 2019, sets forth the policies and procedures under which the Army Discharge Review Board is authorized to review the character, reason, and authority of any Servicemember discharged from active military service within 15 years of the Servicemember's date of discharge. Additionally, it prescribes actions and composition of the Army Discharge Review Board under Public Law 95-126; Section 1553, Title 10 United States Code; and Department of Defense Directive 1332.41 and Instruction 1332.28. d. Army Regulation 635-200 provides the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. (1) Chapter 3, Section II provides the authorized types of characterization of service or description of separation. (2) Paragraph 3-7a states an Honorable discharge is a separation with honor and is appropriate when the quality of the Soldier's service generally has met the standards of acceptable conduct and performance of duty for Army personnel or is otherwise so meritorious that any other characterization would be clearly inappropriate. (3) Paragraph 3-7b states a General discharge is a separation from the Army under honorable conditions and is issued to a Soldier whose military record is satisfactory but not sufficiently meritorious to warrant an honorable discharge. (4) 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. (5) Paragraph 14-3 prescribes a discharge under other than honorable conditions is normally appropriate for a Soldier discharged under this chapter. However, the separation authority may direct a general discharge if such is merited by the Soldier's overall record. (6) Paragraph 14-12c(2) terms abuse of illegal drugs as serious misconduct. It continues; however, by recognizing relevant facts may mitigate the nature of the offense. Therefore, a single drug abuse offense may be combined with one or more minor disciplinary infractions or incidents of other misconduct and processed for separation under paragraph 14- 12a or 14-12b as appropriate. e. Army Regulation 635-5-1 (Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes) provides the specific authorities (regulatory or directive), reasons for separating Soldiers from active duty, and the SPD codes to be entered on the DD Form 214. It identifies the SPD code of "JKK" as the appropriate code to assign enlisted Soldiers who are discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 14, paragraph 12c(2), misconduct (drug abuse). f. Army Regulation 601-210, Regular Army and Reserve Components Enlistment Program, governs eligibility criteria, policies, and procedures for enlistment and processing of persons into the Regular Army, the U.S. Army Reserve, and Army National Guard for enlistment per DODI 1304.26. It also prescribes the appointment, reassignment, management, and mobilization of Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets under the Simultaneous Membership Program. Chapter 4 provides the criteria and procedures for waiverable and nonwaiverable separations. Table 3-1, defines reentry eligibility (RE) codes: RE-1 Applies to: Person completing his or her term of active service who is considered qualified to reenter the U.S. Army. Eligibility: Qualified for enlistment if all other criteria are met. RE-3 Applies to: Person who is not considered fully qualified for reentry or continuous service at time of separation, but disqualification is waiverable. Eligibility: Ineligible unless a waiver is granted. RE-4 Applies to: Person separated from last period of service with a nonwaiverable disqualification. This includes anyone with a DA imposed bar to reenlistment in effect at time of separation or separated for any reason (except length of service retirement) with 18 or more years active Federal service. Eligibility: Ineligible for enlistment. 8. SUMMARY OF FACT(S): The Army Discharge Review Board considers applications for upgrade as instructed by Department of Defense Instruction 1332.28. The applicant requests an upgrade to honorable along with a RE code, SPD code and a narrative reason change. The applicant's Army Military Human Resources Record (AMHRR), the issues, and documents submitted with the application were carefully reviewed. The applicant's service AMHRR is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events which led to his discharge from the Army. The applicant's record does contain a properly constituted DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty). The DD Form 214 indicates the applicant was discharged under the provisions of AR 635-200, paragraph 14- 12c(2), by reason of Misconduct (Drug Abuse), with a characterization of service of General (Under Honorable Conditions). The applicant requests the narrative reason for the discharge be changed. The applicant was separated under the provisions of Chapter 14, paragraph 14-12c(2), AR 635-200 with a general (under honorable conditions) discharge. The narrative reason specified by Army Regulations for a discharge under this paragraph is "Misconduct (Drug Abuse)," and the separation code is "JKK." Army Regulation 635-8, Separation Processing and Documents, governs the preparation of the DD Form 214, and dictates the entry of the narrative reason for separation, entered in block 28 and separation code, entered in block 26 of the form, will be listed in tables 2-2 or 2-2 of AR 635-5-1, Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes. The regulation stipulates no deviation is authorized. There is no provision for any other reason to be entered under this regulation. The applicant requests the SPD and RE codes be changed. Separation codes are three- character alphabetic combinations that identify reasons for, and types of, separation from active duty. The primary purpose of SPD codes is to provide statistical accounting of reasons for separation. They are intended exclusively for the internal use of DoD and the Military Services to assist in the collection and analysis of separation data. SPD Codes are controlled by OSD and then implemented in Army policy AR 635-5-1 to track types of separations the SPD code specified by Army Regulations for a discharge under Chapter 14-12c(2), is "JKK." Army Regulation 635-8, Separation Documents, governs the preparation of the DD Form 214 and dictates the entry of the separation code entered in block 26 of the form, will be as listed in tables 2-2 or 2-3 of AR 635-5-1, Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes. The regulation stipulates no deviation is authorized. There is no provision for any other SPD code to be entered under this regulation. RE-4 Applies to: Person separated from last period of service with a nonwaiverable disqualification. This includes anyone with a DA imposed bar to reenlistment in effect at time of separation or separated for any reason (except length of service retirement) with 18 or more years active Federal service. Eligibility: Ineligible for enlistment. The applicant contends, in effect, the discharge was not conducted according to regulatory procedures and did not properly consider the entire record and conduct of service. The applicant provides Memorandum For Record, issued by the Drug Test Coordinator, Army Substance Abuse Program, which states, in part, a specimen with the applicant DOD ID number, was less than 30ml of urine submitted for testing and indicated the proper procedures were not followed. The Board will consider the applicant's service accomplishments and the quality of service according to the DODI 1332.28. The applicant contends, in effect, the command climate at Fort Hood Fostered an environment detrimental to Soldiers. The leadership has been reprimanded severely for actions taken and not taken against Soldiers in recent years. The record does not contain any indication or evidence of arbitrary or capricious actions by the command and all requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process. The applicant contends, in effect, the applicant's marital issues created significant stress and caused the applicant's depression and mental health to worsen. The command dismissed the applicant's condition and challenged whether the applicant was truly ill. The applicant states the applicant self-enrolled in the Army Substance Abuse Program for alcoholism and was admitted into the hospital from April 16-23, 2018. The applicant's depression was accelerated with a formal separation and eventual divorce. The applicant's AMHRR is void of amental health diagnosis and the applicant did not submit any evidence of a mental health diagnosis. The applicant contends, in effect, the applicant was drug tested seven times while on active duty. The first six times the tests were negative. On the seventh time, four days after the previous test, an inadequate sample was taken and there was no probable cause for the drug test and due to the systemic and pervasive attitude of commanders towards the applicant's mental illness the chain of command used the ill-gotten sample to discharge the applicant. The record does not contain any indication or evidence of arbitrary or capricious actions by the command and all requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process. The applicant contends, in effect, the applicant's economic impact and ability to gain employment has been compromised because procedures and policies were not adhered to. The applicant states the applicant has been routinely drug tested for civilian employment and has not test positive. The Board does not grant relief to gain employment or enhance employment opportunities. The Army Discharge Review Board is authorized to consider post-service factors in the recharacterization of a discharge. No law or regulation provides for the upgrade of an unfavorable discharge based solely on the passage of time or good conduct in civilian life after leaving the service. 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. If the applicant desires a personal appearance hearing, it is the applicant's 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. 9. BOARD DISCUSSION AND DETERMINATION: a. As directed by the 2017 memo signed by A.M. Kurta, the board considered the following factors: (1) Did the applicant have a condition or experience that may excuse or mitigate the discharge? Yes. The Board's Medical Advisor, a voting member, reviewed the applicant's DOD and VA health records, applicant's statement, and/or civilian provider documentation and found that the applicant has the following potentially-mitigating diagnoses/experiences: the applicant was diagnosed in-service with Adjustment Disorder, Dysthymic Disorder, Anxiety Disorder NOS, and Alcohol Dependence. Additionally, FAP confirmed he was a victim of IPV. The applicant is not service connected, although a February 2023 C&P diagnosed an Adjustment Disorder. However, the applicant does hold a treatment combat related PTSD diagnosis for application. (2) Did the condition exist or experience occur during military service? Yes. The applicant was diagnosed in-service with Adjustment Disorder, Dysthymic Disorder, Anxiety Disorder NOS, and Alcohol Dependence. Additionally, FAP confirmed he was a victim of IPV. (3) Does the condition or experience actually excuse or mitigate the discharge? Yes. The Board's Medical Advisor applied liberal consideration and opined that given the nexus between trauma and substance use, the basis for separation is mitigated. Additional consideration involved FAP confirmation he was a victim of IPV. (4) Does the condition or experience outweigh the discharge? Yes. After applying liberal consideration to the evidence, including the Board Medical Advisor opine, the Board determined that the applicant's Adjustment Disorder, Dysthymic Disorder, Anxiety Disorder NOS, and Alcohol Dependence outweighed the drug abuse basis for separation for the aforementioned reason(s). b. Response to Contention(s): (1) The applicant contends the discharge was not conducted according to regulatory procedures and did not properly consider the entire record and conduct of service. The Board considered this contention and acknowledged the specimen provided during the drug test was less than 30 ml and voted to grant relief. (2) The applicant contends the command climate at Fort Hood fostered an environment detrimental to Soldiers. The leadership has been reprimanded severely for actions taken and not taken against Soldiers in recent years. The Board considered this contention and found no specific evidence to corroborate the applicant's assertion, however found relief was warranted based on the applicant's behavioral health diagnosis. (3) The applicant contends the applicant's marital issues created significant stress and caused the applicant's depression and mental health to worsen. The command dismissed the applicant's condition and challenged whether the applicant was truly ill. The applicant states the applicant self-enrolled in the Army Substance Abuse Program for alcoholism and was admitted into the hospital from April 16-23, 2018. The applicant's depression was accelerated with a formal separation and eventual divorce. The Board considered this contention and found the applicant's behavioral health diagnosis mitigated the drug abuse. (4) The applicant contends the applicant was drug tested seven times while on active duty. The first six times the tests were negative. On the seventh time, four days after the previous test, an inadequate sample was taken and there was no probable cause for the drug test and due to the systemic and pervasive attitude of commanders towards the applicant's mental illness the chain of command used the ill-gotten sample to discharge the applicant. The Board considered this contention and acknowledged the specimen provided during the drug test was less than 30 ml and voted to grant relief. (5) The applicant contends the applicant's economic impact and ability to gain employment has been compromised because procedures and policies were not adhered to. The applicant states the applicant has been routinely drug tested for civilian employment and has not test positive. The Board considered this contention but does not grant relief to gain employment or enhance employment opportunities, however the Board also found the applicant's behavioral health diagnosis mitigated the drug abuse and voted to grant relief. c. The Board determined the discharge is inequitable based on the circumstances surrounding the discharge (OBHI diagnosis). Therefore, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade of the characterization of service to Honorable and changed to the separation authority to AR 635-200, paragraph 14-12a, the narrative reason for separation to Misconduct (Minor Infractions), with a corresponding separation code of JKN. Based on the applicant's medical diagnosis, the board determined the reentry code was proper and equitable and voted not to change it. However, the applicant may request a personal appearance hearing to address further issues before the Board. The applicant is responsible for satisfying the burden of proof and providing documents or other evidence sufficient to support the applicant's contention(s) that the discharge was improper or inequitable. d. Rationale for Decision: (1) The Board voted to change the applicant's characterization of service to Honorable because the applicant's Adjustment Disorder, Dysthymic Disorder, Anxiety Disorder NOS, and Alcohol Dependence mitigated the applicant's drug abuse. Thus, the prior characterization is no longer appropriate. (2) The Board voted to change the reason for discharge to Misconduct (Minor Infractions) under the same pretexts, thus the reason for discharge is no longer appropriate. The SPD code associated with the new reason for discharge is JKN. (3) Given the applicant's medical condition, the board determined the RE code was proper and equitable and voted not to change it. 10. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a New DD-214: Yes b. Change Characterization to: Honorable c. Change Reason / SPD Code to: Misconduct (Minor Infractions)/JKN d. Change RE Code to: No Change e. Change Authority to: AR 635-200 Authenticating Official: Legend: AWOL - Absent Without Leave AMHRR - Army Military Human Resource Record BCD - Bad Conduct Discharge BH - Behavioral Health CG - Company Grade Article 15 CID - Criminal Investigation Division ELS - Entry Level Status FG - Field Grade Article 15 GD - General Discharge HS - High School HD - Honorable Discharge IADT - Initial Active Duty Training MP - Military Police MST - Military Sexual Trauma N/A - Not applicable NCO - Noncommissioned Officer NIF - Not in File NOS - Not Otherwise Specified OAD - Ordered to Active Duty OBH (I) - Other Behavioral Health (Issues) OMPF - Official Military Personnel File PTSD - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder RE - Re-entry SCM - Summary Court Martial SPCM - Special Court Martial SPD - Separation Program Designator TBI - Traumatic Brain Injury UNC - Uncharacterized Discharge UOTHC - Under Other Than Honorable Conditions VA - Department of Veterans Affairs ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE AR20210010959 1