Applicant Name: ????? Application Receipt Date: 2009/12/23 Prior Review: Prior Review Date: NA I. Applicant Request: Upgrade Reason Change RE Code Change Issues: The applicant states, in effect, that he would like to reenlist back into the US Military. He made a very big mistake while he was in the military in the past, and over the years he has thought about his decision and why he did it. He has not forgiven himself every since and nothing would please him more than to be able to come back into the military and finish serving his country the right way. 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: 051110 Discharge Received: Date: 060303 Chapter: 14-12c(2) AR: 635-200 Reason: Misconduct (Drug Abuse) RE: SPD: JKK Unit/Location: C Battery, 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment (MLRS/HIMARS), Fort Bragg, NC Time Lost: None Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): 051003, wrongfully used cocaine between on or about (050826-050829); reduction to Specialist (E-4); forfeiture of $938.00 pay per month for two months; extra duty and restriction for 45 days (FG) Courts-Martial (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None Counseling Records Available: Yes No IV. Soldier’s Overall Record Age at current enlistment: 20 Current ENL Date: Reenl/021029 Current ENL Term: 6 Years ????? Current ENL Service: 3 Yrs, 4 Mos, 5 Days ????? Total Service: 5 Yrs, 6 Mos, 6 Days ????? Previous Discharges: RA 000828-021028/HD Highest Grade: E-5 Performance Ratings Available: Yes No MOS: 13P1P MLRS/Fire Dir Spec GT: 91 EDU: HS Grad Overseas: Korea (031026-041025), Southwest Asia Combat: Iraq (dates-NIF) Decorations/Awards: PH, ARCOM (3), AAM (2), GCMDL, NDSM, GWOTSM, KDSM, NCOPDR, ASR, OSR V. Post-Discharge Activity City, State: ????? Post Service Accomplishments: None submitted by the applicant. VI. Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation a. Facts and Circumstances: The evidence of record shows that on 1 November 2005, the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of separation action under the provisions of Chapter 14-12c(2), AR 635-200, by reason of misconduct-abuse of illegal drugs; in that he wrongfully used cocaine and failed to go to his appointed place of duty, with an under other than honorable conditions discharge. He was advised of his rights. On 2 November 2005, the applicant consulted with legal counsel, was advised of the impact of the discharge action, requested consideration of his case by an administrative separation board and submitted 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 an under other than honorable conditions discharge. On 2 November 2005, the applicant again consulted with legal counsel and 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. On 22 November 2005, the separation approving authority reviewed the request for a conditional waiver; disapproved the request and referred the case to a standing administrative separation board. On 1 December 2005, the applicant was notified to appear before a board of officers and advised of his rights. The administrative separation board proceedings are not part of the available record and the analyst presumes government regularity in the discharge process. On 9 February 2006, the separation authority reviewed the recommendation for separation and directed that the applicant be discharged from the Army with a characterization of service of general, under honorable conditions. 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 carefully examining the applicant’s record of service during the period of enlistment under review and the issue and documents submitted with the application, the analyst found no mitigating factors which 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. The applicant by violating the Army's policy not to possess or use illegal drugs, compromised the special trust and confidence placed in a non-commissioned officer (NCO). The applicant, as a NCO, had the duty to support and abide by the Army's drug policies. By abusing illegal drugs, the applicant knowingly risked a military career and the misconduct diminished the quality of his service below that meriting a fully honorable discharge. The analyst noted the applicant's issue that he would like to reenlist back into the US Military and finish serving his country the right way. 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. Therefore, 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: 15 September 2010 Location: Washington, DC Did the Applicant Testify? Yes No Counsel: None Witnesses/Observers: NA Exhibits Submitted: DD Form 293 dated 1 November 2009; four copies of DA Form 4980-18, Certificates awarding the applicant the AAMDL, PHMDL, ARCOMDL(2ndAwd), with various dates during his tenure in the Army. 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 AR20100000436 ______________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 3 pages