Applicant Name:  

Application Receipt Date: 2007/09/17	

Prior Review    Prior Review Date: None	

I.  Applicant Request
Request:  Upgrade     Reason Change     RE Code Change    

Issues: See DD Form 293 and attached document submitted by the Applicant

II.  Were Proper Discharge and Separation Authority procedures followed?  
Yes    No        Tender Offer:   ?????

See Attachments:  Legal     Medical     Minority Opinion     Exhibits 

III.  Original Character of Discharge
Unit CDR Recommended Discharge:    Date: NIF 
Discharge Received:     Date: 060601   
Chapter: 14-12c      AR: 635-200
Reason: Misconduct (Serious Offense)
RE:     SPD:   JKQ   
Unit/Location: A Co, 426th BSB, 1st BCT, FOB Warrior, Iraq 

Time Lost: None

Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): 051123, wrongfully use ecstasy, reduced to E1, forfeiture of $617.00 x 2 mos, 45 days extra duty. (FG).

Court-Martials (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None	

Counseling Records Available: Yes    No 

IV.  Soldier’s Overall Record
Year/Month:  8301  
HOR City, State: Beaumont, TX
Current ENL Date: 040909    Current ENL Term:   3  Years    19 weeks
Current ENL Service:   01   Yrs,   08  Mos,   23  Days ?????
Total Service:    01   Yrs,   08  Mos,   23  Days ?????
Previous Discharges: None	
Highest Grade:   E3
Performance Ratings Available: Yes    No 
MOS: 19K10    M1 Armor Crewman   GT:   88     EDU:   HS Grad	   Overseas: SWA	   Combat: Kuwait/ Iraq (050923-060423)
Decorations/Awards: ASR / NDSM / GWOTSM / ICM

V.  Post-Discharge Activity
Post Service Accomplishments:   None Listed

VI.  Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation

      a.  Facts and Circumstances:
      The evidence of record shows that on 21 April 2006, the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of separation action under the provisions of Chapter 14, AR 635-200, by reason of misconduct—for wrongful use of ecstasy (050815), with a recommendation for retention.  He was advised of his rights.  The applicant consulted with legal counsel, was advised of the impact of the discharge action and did not submit a statement in his own behalf.  The unit commander subsequently recommended retention.  The intermediate commander reviewed the proposed discharge action and recommended the applicant be retained in service.  The separation authority waived further rehabilitative efforts, directed that the applicant be discharged with a characterization of service of general under honorable conditions, and suspended the discharge until 9 December 2006.  The suspension was vacated after the applicant was caught consuming alcohol in violation of General Order #1 while deployed to Kirkuk, Iraq. 

      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, however, a general 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 issue he submitted, the analyst found no mitigating factors that would merit an upgrade of the applicant's discharge.  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 his 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 issue and found no evidence of arbitrary or capricious actions by the command.  Furthermore, at the time of discharge the applicant was appropriately assigned a reentry eligibility (RE) code of “3.”  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.  The analyst was satisfied that all requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process.  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: 23 July 2008              
Location: Washington D.C. 

Did the Applicant Testify?  Yes     No  

Counsel: NA	

Witnesses/Observers: NA 

Exhibits Submitted: NA	




VIII.  Board Decision
The discharge was:			Proper	 	Improper	
				                 	Equitable	 	Inequitable	

The characterization of service was:   Proper	 	Improper	
				                 	Equitable	 	Inequitable	

The narrative reasons were: 	       	Equitable	 	Inequitable	

DRB voting record:  		      Change    0      No change   5      - Character
		 			      Change    0      No change   5      - Reason
					      (Board member names available upon request)

IX.  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. 

								        
X.  Board Action Directed
No Change 
Issue a new DD Form 214  
Change Characterization to:    
Change Reason to: NA
Other: NA
RE Code:  
Grade Restoration:   No   Yes  Grade: NA

XI.  Certification Signature and Date
Approval Authority: 

MARK E. COLLINS
Colonel, U.S. Army
President, Army Discharge Review Board

Official: 


CHRISTINE U. MARTINSON			DATE: 25 July 2008
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
Chief, Secretary Recorder
ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD - CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE

Case Number AR20070012954
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