Applicant Name: ????? Application Receipt Date: 2009/11/02 Prior Review: Prior Review Date: NA I. Applicant Request: Upgrade Reason Change RE Code Change Issues: The applicant states, in effect, that he is requesting an upgrade so that he can 1. continue enhancing his family life and also his career; 2. he is truly sorry and remorseful for his alcohol influenced isolated incident that he regrets daily. 3. Since his discharge he has received professional and spiritual help to find out why he would do such a thing. 4. He has come to find years of pass sexual abuse, that he believed he was over and his alcohol abuse was the cause behind his actions. 5. He has been clean and clear for over four years and sure nothing like that will ever happen again. 6. He is now working as a engineer for the department of transportation and working on his engineer degree that he hopes to have in the next few years. Having misconduct removed from his dishcarge will open up lots of doors because its very hard to explain and most people are not forgiving. 7. He also would like to serve his country again in some way even if its just as a civilian. II. Were Proper Discharge and Separation Authority procedures followed? Tender Offer: NA See Attachments: Legal Medical Minority Opinion Exhibits III. Discharge Under Review Unit CDR Recommended Discharge: Date: 050118 Discharge Received: Date: 050203 Chapter: 14-12c AR: 635-200 Reason: Misconduct RE: SPD: JKQ Unit/Location: HQ & HQ Detachment, 516th Personnel Services Battalion, APO, AP Korea Time Lost: None Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None Courts-Martial (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None Counseling Records Available: Yes No IV. Soldier’s Overall Record Age at current enlistment: 21 Current ENL Date: 040429 Current ENL Term: 3 Years 19 Weeks Current ENL Service: 0 Yrs, 9 Mos, 5 Days ????? Total Service: 0 Yrs, 9 Mos, 5 Days ????? Previous Discharges: None Highest Grade: E-3 Performance Ratings Available: Yes No MOS: 92Y10 Unit Supply Spec GT: 88 EDU: HS Grad Overseas: Korea (040919-050203) Combat: None Decorations/Awards: NDSM, GWOTSM, ASR V. Post-Discharge Activity City, State: ????? Post Service Accomplishments: The applicant states in his issue that he has received professional and spiritual help to find out why he would do such a thing. He has been clean and clear for over four years and sure nothing like that will ever happen again. He is now working as a engineer for the Department of Transportation and working on his Engineer Degree that he hopes to have in the next few years. VI. Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation a. Facts and Circumstances: The evidence of record shows that on 18 January 2005, the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of separation action under the provisions of Chapter 14-12c, AR 635-200, by reason of misconduct-commission of a serious offense; in that he committed the offense of indecent assault against a PV2 on or about (041011), with a general, under honorable conditions discharge. He was advised of his rights. The applicant consulted with legal counsel, was advised of the impact of the discharge action, voluntarily waived consideration of his case by an administrative separation board contingent upon him receiving a characterization of service no less favorable than a general, under honorable conditions discharge and did not submit a statement in his own behalf. The unit commander subsequently recommended separation from the service and waiver of further rehabilitative efforts. The intermediate commander reviewed the proposed discharge action and recommended approval of the separation action with a general, under honorable conditions discharge. On 25 January 2005, the separation authority waived further rehabilitative efforts and directed that the applicant be discharged with a characterization of service of general, under honorable conditions. The record contains a CID Report of Investigation in reference to the applicant's offense of indecent assault dated 12 October 2004. b. Legal Basis for Separation: 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 absence 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, but a general discharge under honorable conditions or an honorable discharge may be granted. c. Response to Issues, Recommendation and Rationale: After a careful review of all the applicant’s military records, and the issues submitted with the application, the analyst found no mitigating factors that would merit an upgrade of the applicant's discharge. The analyst determined that 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. By the misconduct, the applicant diminished the quality of his service below that meriting a fully honorable discharge. 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. The analyst noted the applicant's issues numbered (1 through 7). The issues are rejected. The applicant contends that he wants to continue enhancing his family life and also his career. The Board does not grant relief solely for the purpose of gaining employment or enhancing employment opportunities. (2) The applicant contends that he is truly sorry and remorseful for his alcohol influenced isolated incident that he regrets daily. Even though a single incident, the analyst concluded that the discrediting entry constituted a departure from the standards of conduct expected of Soldiers in the Army. The applicable Army regulation states that there are circumstances in which the conduct or performance of duty reflected by a single incident provides the basis for a characterization. Having examined all the circumstances, the analyst determined that the applicant's single incident of misconduct did indeed adversely affect the quality of service, brought discredit on the Army, and was prejudicial to good order and discipline. This single incident of misconduct clearly diminished the quality of the applicant's service below that meriting a fully honorable discharge. (3) The analyst acknowledges the applicant's successful transition to civilian life and noted the many accomplishments outlined in his application and/or in the documents with his application. However, in review of the applicant’s entire service record, the analyst found that these accomplishments did not overcome the reason for discharge and the characterization of service granted. (4) If the applicant desires to reenlist, he should contact the local recruiter to determine his eligibility to reenlist. Those individuals can best advise a former service member as to the needs of the Army at the time, and are required to process waivers of reentry eligibility (RE) codes. (5) The analyst determined that the applicant had many legitimate avenues through which to obtain assistance or relief (i.e., chaplain, army community services, family assistance program), without committing the misconduct, which led to the separation action under review. Issue (6-7) The noted the applicant’s issue he has been clean and clear for over four years and is sure that nothing like that will ever happen again and that he is now working as a engineer for the Department of Transportation and working on his Engineer Degree that he hopes to have in the next few years. The analyst acknowledges the applicant's successful accomplishments since separation from active duty. The applicant is to be commended for his efforts. However, these accomplishments do not provide the Board a basis upon which to grant relief. Additionally, the analyst noted the applicant's issue requesting that his narrartive reason for discharge be changed. The narrative reason for separation is governed by specific directives. The applicant was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 14, paragraph 14-12c, AR 635-200. The narrative reason specified by Army Regulations for a discharge under this paragraph is "Misconduct (Commission of a Serious Offense)", the separation code is "JKQ", and the reentry code is "RE 3". Army Regulation 635-5, Separation Documents, governs preparation of the DD Form 214 and dictates that entry of the narrative reason for separation, entered in block 28, separation code, entered in block 26, and RE Code, entered in block 27 of the form, will be entered exactly as listed in tables 2-2 or 2-3 of AR 635-5-1, Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes. The regulation further stipulates that no deviation is authorized. There is no provision for any other reason to be entered under this regulation. In view of the foregoing, the analyst determined that the reason for discharge and the characterization of service were both proper and equitable and recommends to the Board to deny relief. VII. Summary of Army Discharge Review Board Hearing Type of Hearing: Date: 25 August 2010 Location: Washington, DC Did the Applicant Testify? Yes No Counsel: None Witnesses/Observers: NA Exhibits Submitted: None submitted by the applicant. VIII. Board Discussion, Determination, and Recommendation After carefully examining the applicant’s record of service during the period of enlistment under review and considering the analyst’s recommendation and rationale, the Board determined that the discharge was both proper and equitable and voted to deny relief. IX. Board Decision XI. Certification Signature Board Vote: Approval Authority: Character - Change 0 No change 5 Reason - Change 0 No change 5 (Board member names available upon request) EDGAR J. YANGER Colonel, U.S. Army X. Board Action Directed President, Army Discharge Review Board Issue a new DD Form 214 Change Characterization to: Change Reason to: No Change Other: No Change RE Code: Grade Restoration: No Yes Grade: No Change Legend: AWOL Absent Without Leave GCM General Court Martial NA Not applicable SCM Summary Court Martial BCD Bad Conduct Discharge GD General Discharge NIF Not in the file SPCM Special Court Martial CG Company Grade Article 15 HD Honorable Discharge OAD Ordered to Active Duty UNC Uncharacterized Discharge DD Dishonorable Discharge HS High School Graduate OMPF Official Military Personnel File UOTH Under Other Than Honorable FG Field Grade Article 15 IADT Initial Active Duty Training RE Reentry Code Conditions ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD - CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE Case Number AR20090019132 ______________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 4 pages