Applicant Name:  

Application Receipt Date: 2008/02/11	

Prior Review    Prior Review Date: None	

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

Issues: See DD Form 293 and attached documents 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: 031222   
Chapter: 10    AR: 635-200
Reason: In lieu of trial by court martial
RE:     SPD: KFS 
Unit/Location: B Co, Installation Support Bn, FT Dix, NJ 

Time Lost: None	

Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): NIF	

Court-Martials (Charges/Dates/Punishment): NIF	

Counseling Records Available: Yes    No 

IV.  Soldier’s Overall Record
Year/Month:  6910  
HOR City, State: Pottsville, PA
Current ENL Date: 030210    Current ENL Term: NIF Years  ?????
Current ENL Service:  00  Yrs,  10 Mos,  13Days ?????
Total Service:   12  Yrs,   09   Mos,   25Days  Includes 11 years, 6 months, and 20 days of inactive service.
Previous Discharges: 
ARNG 910228-970227/ HD (Extended on 940206 for additional 3 years)
RFAD 910722-911213 / UNC
USAR 990109-000627  / NA (Discharged for unsatisfactory participation by Order Number 00-179-022, 99th RSC, dated 000627.)
USAR 010406-030209/ NA

Highest Grade: E4 
Performance Ratings Available: Yes    No 
MOS: 63B10  Light Wheel Vehicle Mechanic   GT: NIF   EDU: HS Grad   Overseas: None   Combat: Kuwait/ Iraq (030320-030701)
Decorations/Awards: AAM / AFRM w/ Bronze Hour Glass and M device / ASR / NDSM / ARCOTB (2d Award) 

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

VI.  Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation

      a.  Facts and Circumstances:
      The applicant’s record is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events that led to his discharge from the Army.  However, the record does contain a properly constituted DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), which was authenticated by the applicant’s signature.  His DD Form 214 indicates that he was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 10, AR 635-200, for the good of the service in lieu trial by court-martial with a characterization of service of under other than honorable conditions.  Furthermore, the DD Form 214 shows a Separation Code of KFS (i.e., for the good of the service-in lieu of court-martial) with a reentry eligibility (RE) code of "4."   

      b.  Legal Basis for Separation:  
      Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.  Chapter 10 of that regulation provides, in pertinent part, that a member who has committed an offense or offenses for which the authorized punishment includes a punitive discharge may submit a request for a discharge for the good of the service in lieu of trial by court-martial.  The request may be submitted at any time after charges have been preferred and must include the individual’s admission of guilt.  Army policy states that although an honorable or general discharge is authorized, a discharge under other than honorable conditions is normally considered appropriate.  

      c.  Response to Issues, Recommendation and Rationale:  
      After a careful review of all the applicant’s available military records during the period of enlistment under review, the issues and documents he submitted, the analyst recommends that the applicant’s characterization of service be upgraded to general, under honorable conditions.  This recommendation was made after full consideration of his faithful and honorable service, as well as his record of misconduct.  The evidence in this case supports a conclusion that the applicant’s characterization of service was too harsh, and as a result it is inequitable.  While the applicant's misconduct is not condoned, the analyst noted that the overall length and quality of the applicant's service, to include his combat service mitigated the discrediting entries in his service record.  Furthermore, the analyst noted the applicant’s issue and the available record supports the applicant’s claim that he was injured in an accident while deployed to a designated combat area and he was medically evacuated.  The file was void of any evidence of a diagnosis for PTSD however, the available record does reference an amnestic diagnosis as well as anger management counseling within one (1) month of his return.  Accordingly, the analyst recommends to the Board that the applicant’s characterization of service be upgraded to general, under honorable conditions.  However, the reason for discharge remains both proper and equitable.   

VII.  Summary of Army Discharge Review Board Hearing 

Type of Hearing: 			Date: 1 August 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    5      No change    0     - 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 characterization of service was too harsh based on the applicant’s overall length of service, quality of service and combat service and as a result, it is inequitable.  Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade of the characterization of service to general under honorable conditions.  The Board determined that the reason for discharge was proper and equitable and voted not to change it.  




								        
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: 4 August 2008
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
Chief, Secretary Recorder
ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD - CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE

Case Number AR20080002319
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