DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
                         Army Discharge Review Board
                           1901 South Bell Street
                          Arlington, VA  22202-4508
                                25 March 2005


Office of the President



      After careful review of your application, military records and all
other available evidence, the Army Discharge Review Board determined that
you were properly and equitably discharged.  Accordingly, your request for
a change in the character and/or reason of your discharge is denied.

      You may reapply to the Army Discharge Review Board for a personal
appearance hearing and/or you may apply to the Army Board for Correction of
Military Records.  Enclosed are the necessary applications for requesting a
review from both boards.  If you choose to apply to the Army Board for
Correction of Military Records you must do so within three years from the
date of this letter.

      Be advised that the Army Discharge Review Board operates on a 15-year
statute of limitations from the date of discharge; therefore, you must
reapply within this time frame for a hearing.

      If you believe that the decision in your case is unclear, not
responsive to the issues raised, or does not otherwise agree with the
decisional document requirements of DoD Directive 1332.28, you may submit a
complaint in accordance with Enclosure 5 of that Directive.  The complaint
procedure does not permit you to challenge the merits of the decision, but
is designed solely to ensure that the decisional document meets applicable
requirements for clarity and responsiveness.  You may obtain a copy of DoD
Directive 1332.28 by writing to:  Army Review Board Agency, Attention:
(Reading Room), The Pentagon, Washington, DC 20310-1809.

                                  Sincerely,




                                  Robert L. House
                                  Colonel, U.S. Army
                                  President

Enclosure


                           MILITARY REVIEW BOARDS

                           Case Report & Directive


                        PART I - IDENTIFICATION DATA

NAME:       ADDRESS:


SSN:        PHONE:




COUNSEL:    ADDRESS:

      PHONE:




ALTERNATE PERSON(S) TO BE NOTIFIED:     ADDRESS:

RELATIONSHIP:                     PHONE:



TYPE REPORT:

   ( X ) Original
   (   ) Addendum




                                   REMARKS
                            Case Management Data

(   )  Response to other correspondence required upon completion of case.

(   )  DD Form 149 in file.  Send case to ABCMR.


















OSA FORM 172 (REVISED) 22 May 98     Cover Sheet
                         PART II - APPLICATION DATA

      (Note: Part I deleted under the Privacy Act on Reading Room copy)

1.  Character of Discharge:  General, Under Honorable Conditions

2.  Date of discharge (or REFRAD):  980317

3.  Authority for separation:

      a.  Regulation:  Chapter 14, Paragraph 14-12c(2), AR 635-200

      b.  Reason:  Misconduct

4.  Prior review(s):  NONE



                         PART III - SERVICE HISTORY

                 SECTION A - Period of Service Under Review

1.    Service data:                              2.  Awards and
    decorations:
                                           NDSM
    a.  Period entered for:  4 Years               ASR
    b.  Entry date:  970130
    c.  Age:  19 Years   DOB:  780104
    d.  Educational level:  GED
    e.  Aptitude area score:
          GT:  101                               3.  Highest grade
achieved:
    f.  Length of Service:                         E2
          1 Year  1 Month  18 Days

                                               4.  Performance evaluations:

                                                   NONE

                         PART III - SERVICE HISTORY
           SECTION A - Period of Service Under Review - Continued

5.  Periods of unauthorized absence:  NONE

    Status       Inclusive dates
      AWOL

      Mil conf

      Civil conf

      Other


6.  Nonjudicial punishment:

      Date  Offense(s)
      980202     Wrongfully used marijuana (between 971213 and
             980112)(Company Grade)
      971009     Wrongfully used THC, a controlled substance
             (970904)(Company Grade)


7.  Court-Martial data:  NONE

      a.  SCM:
            Date   Offense(s)


      b.  SPCM:
            Date   Offense(s)


      c.  GCM:
            Date   Offense(s)


8.    Remarks:  The suspension of forfeiture of $210.00 imposed on 971009
was
              vacated on 980218.  The basis for the vacation was on 980212,

              the applicant was arrested for driving while intoxicated
(under
              the age of 21.)

              The suspension of reduction to Private (E1) imposed on 971009

              was vacated on 980114.  The basis for the vacation was on
              980113, the applicant willfully disobeyed a lawful order from
a
              CPT to not leave the Fort Bragg Military Installation.


                       SECTION B - Prior Service Data
                                    NONE

Other discharge(s):

      Service    From  To    Type Discharge





                         PART IV - PREHEARING REVIEW

                       SECTION A-ANALYST’S ASSESSMENT
l.  Facts and Circumstances:

      a.  Evidence of record shows that on 23 February 1998, the unit
commander notified the applicant of initiation of separation action under
the provisions of Chapter l4, AR 635-200, by reason of
misconduct—commission of a serious offense-abuse of illegal drugs, with a
general, under honorable conditions discharge.  The reasons for the
proposed action were on two separate occasions he wrongfully used
marijuana.  He was advised of his rights.  On 23 February 1998, the
applicant waived his right to consult with legal counsel, was advised of
the impact of the discharge action, and did not submit a statement in his
own behalf.  On 24 February 1998, the unit commander recommended separation
from the service and waiver of further rehabilitative efforts.  On 24
February 1998, the separation authority directed that the applicant be
discharged with a characterization of service of general, under honorable
conditions.

      b.  On 17 March 1998, the applicant was discharged.  At the time of
discharge, the applicant had completed 1 year, 1 month, and 18 days of
active military service in the period under review.

2.  Legal/Regulatory Basis for Separation Action:  Army Regulation 635-200
sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.
Chapter l4 establishes policy and prescribes procedures for separating
members for misconduct.  Specific categories include minor disciplinary
infractions, a pattern of misconduct, 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.


                      SECTION B-APPLICANT’S SUBMISSIONS


1.  Issue(s) of propriety and/or equity submitted by applicant or counsel.
    As stated on applicant’s DD Form 293.

2.  Exhibit(s) submitted:

      A-1:  DD Form 293, dated 040419, with no enclosures.
      A-2:  Counsel Issues:  NONE
      B-l:  Other Documents: NONE


                   PART IV - PREHEARING REVIEW (CONTINUED)

              SECTION C - Medical and/or Legal Advisory Opinion


Referred to ( ) Medical Advisor      ( ) Legal Advisor



      a.  Medical prehearing comments (if applicable):


      b.  Legal prehearing comments (if applicable):











                         PART V - SUMMARY OF HEARING

                      SECTION A-Attendees and exhibits

1.  Review/hearing information:


      a. Type requested:
         ( X ) Records review             (   ) Hearing

      b. Type Held:
         ( X )Records review              (   ) Hearing
                                          (   ) Tender Offer

      c. Review/hearing location and date:  Dallas, Texas on 16 March 2005.

      d. Appearance by:
         Applicant                 (   ) Yes   ( X ) No
         Counsel                   (   ) Yes   ( X ) No

      e.  Applicant testified:     (   ) Yes   ( X ) No

      f.  Counsel presentation:    (   ) Yes   ( X ) No

      g.  Witness(es) testified:   (   ) Yes   ( X ) No

2.  Exhibit(s) submitted at hearing:
                        PART VI - ISSUES AND FINDINGS

1.  a.  Applicant's issue(s) of propriety and/or equity:

          ( X )  Same as those listed on DD Form 293 and Part IV, Section A
              of this case report and directive.
          (   )  Revised issue(s) furnished in writing by applicant as
              follows:
          (   )  Additional issue(s) identified during review/hearing as
              follows:

      b.  Request:  ( X ) Recharacterization     (   ) Change of Reason

2.  Finding(s), conclusion(s), and reason(s) for the Board's decision(s) on
issues of propriety and/or equity:

      a.  Propriety:   The applicant has not submitted an issue of
                   propriety and the ADRB has not otherwise relied upon an
                   issue of propriety to change the discharge.

      b.  Equity:      The parenthetical number(s) below correspond(s) to
                   the issue number(s) on the DD Form 293, or in Part VI,
                   Paragraph 1, above.

        (1)  The issue is rejected.  The Board carefully examined the
applicant’s record of service during the period of enlistment under review.
 There was a full consideration of all faithful and honorable service as
well as the infractions of discipline, the extent thereof, and the
seriousness of the offenses.  The Board noted that in the applicant’s
relatively short period of service he received nonjudicial action on four
occasions, three in which ]nvolved illegal drugs and/or driving while
intoxicated.  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
violating the Army's policy not to possess or use illegal drugs, the
applicant compromised the trust and confidence placed in a soldier.  The
applicant, as a soldier, had the duty to support and abide by the Army's
drug policies.  By abusing alcohol and illegal drugs, the applicant
knowingly risked a military career and 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.  Before initiating action to separate the
applicant, the command ensured the applicant was appropriately counseled
about the deficiencies that could lead to separation.  The Board noted that
the command made an assessment thereafter of the applicant's potential for
becoming a fully satisfactory soldier, and the command appropriately
determined the applicant did not demonstrate the potential for further
military service.  The Board determined that the applicant was
appropriately assigned an RE code of 4, which indicates that the applicant
was separated from his last period of service with a disqualification which
cannot be waived and he is ineligible for reenlistment.  The Board, being
convinced that the reason for discharge and the characterization of service
were both proper and equitable, voted to deny relief.

3.  Response(s) to item(s) not addressed as decisional issue(s):  NONE

                           PART VII - BOARD ACTION
                   SECTION A - Conclusions/Decisions/Vote

1.    Board conclusion(s):

      The discharge was:

      ( X ) Proper.
      (   ) Improper as to characterization.  Change characterization to
                                               .
      (   ) Improper as to reason.  Change reason to
                                   under                      .

      ( X ) Equitable.
      (   ) Inequitable as to characterization.  Change characterization to
                                         .
      (   ) Inequitable as to reason.  Change reason to
                                 
            under                                 .
      (   ) Both proper and equitable, but characterization/reason for
           separation cited was an administrative/clerical error and should
           be changed to                      under
                                   .

2.  Voting record:      Change   No Change
                  Reason       0         5
    Characterization       0         5

        The names and votes of the members of the Board are recorded in
Part IX of this document and can be obtained by writing to the address
below.  The request must contain the CASE NO. located in the upper right
corner of this document.

                  Department of the Army Review Boards Agency
                  ATTN:  Promulgation Team
                  1901 South Bell Street, 2nd Floor
                  Arlington, VA  22202-4508



3.  Minority views:  NONE
                           PART VII - BOARD ACTION
                 SECTION B - Verification and Authentication

Case report reviewed and verified

                          
Ms. McKim-Spilker
Case Reviewing Official

                     PART VIII - DIRECTIVE/CERTIFICATION
                            SECTION A - DIRECTIVE

                                    NONE

                          SECTION B - CERTIFICATION

Approval Authority:


ROBERT L. HOUSE
Colonel, U.S. Army
President, Army Discharge
   Review Board

Official:




MARY E. SHAW
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
Chief, Secretary Recorder

EXHIBITS:
A - Application for review of discharge                  C - Other
B - Material submitted by applicant

INDEX RECORD:

AR Number:  20040000455                   INDEX NUMBERS:  A9217
Date of Review:  050316                                   A9445
Character of Service:  GD                                 A0101
Date of Discharge:  980317
Authority:  AR 635-200 C14
Reason:  A6770
Results of Board Action/
Vote/Affirmation:  NC 5-0 A













                           PART IX - VOTING RECORD

    Name                                   Reason          Characterization
                                           CHANGE   NC     HON  UHC   NC
UNCHAR

    1.      Mbr          X                 X       

    2.      Mbr          X                 X       

    3.      Mbr          X                 X       

    4.      Mbr          X                 X       

    5.      PO           X                 X