Applicant Name:  ?????

Application Receipt Date: 2009/12/14	Prior Review:     Prior Review Date: NA     

I.  Applicant Request:  Upgrade     Reason Change     RE Code Change    

Issues: The applicant states, in effect, that his entire military enlistment he has dedicated to the job of defending his country. He has always maintain a motivated attitude and excelled in all aspects of his training until the incident that caused his discharge. He has given the US Army 100% of him and he only asked that his discharge be upgraded to honorable to obtain employment. 

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: 980113
Discharge Received: 			   Date: 980129   Chapter: 14-12b       AR: 635-200
Reason: Misconduct	   RE:     SPD: JKA   Unit/Location: Company D, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry, Fort Stewart, GA 

Time Lost: None

Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): 970325, dishonorably failed to pay just debt to various Soldiers x 3 for a total amount of $830.00 on or about (951220); (960101-961025); (961001-961210); (961001-970120); borrow money from two subordinate Soldiers in his unit, and under the circumstances, his conduct was to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces on or between (951200-960400); made an utter to a Soldier, a bad check in the amount of $150.00 on or about (960101-961025); reduction to the grade of Specialist (E-4); forfeiture of $650.00 pay per month for two months; suspended, to be automatically remitted if not vacated before (970921) and extra duty for 45 days (FG)

Courts-Martial (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None

Counseling Records Available: Yes    No 

IV.  Soldier’s Overall Record
Age at current enlistment:  24
Current ENL Date: Reenl/960909    Current ENL Term: 3 Years  ?????
Current ENL Service: 	1 Yrs, 4 Mos, 21 Days ?????
Total Service:  		6 Yrs, 5 Mos, 17 Days ?????
Previous Discharges: 	USAR 910228-910812/NA
                                       RA      910813-940331/HD
                                       RA      940401-960908/HD
Highest Grade: E-5		Performance Ratings Available: Yes    No 
MOS: 11M10 Fighting Vehicle Infantryman   GT: NIF   EDU: HS Letter   Overseas: NIF/See DD Form 214, block 12f   Combat: None
Decorations/Awards: ARCOM, AAM, GCMDL, NDSM, AFEMDL, ASR

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 9 January 1998, the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of separation action under the provisions of Chapter 14-12b, AR 635-200, by reason of a pattern of misconduct in that he borrowed money from subordinate Soldiers in his unit and dishonorably failed to pay such debt, which under the circumstances, his conduct was prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces, with an under other than honorable conditions discharge.  He was advised of his rights. 
       
       The applicant's election of rights document indicating he consulted with an officer of the Judge Advocate General's Office (JAG) is not part of the available record and the analyst presumed government regularity in the discharge process.  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 20 January 1998, the separation authority waived further rehabilitative efforts and directed that the applicant be discharged 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 a careful review of all the applicant’s military records, and the issue 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.  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 issue that he has always maintained a motivated attitude and excelled in all aspects of his training until the the incident that caused his discharge.  The analyst considered the applicant’s quality of service during the initial portion of the enlistment under review.  However, this service was determined not to be sufficiently meritorious to warrant an upgrade to the characterization of discharge. 
       
       The applicant also contends that he needs the upgrade of his discharge for employment purposes.  The Board does not grant relief solely for the purpose of gaining employment or enhancing employment opportunities. 
       
       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 2 December 2009.

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 AR20090021502
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