Applicant Name:  ?????

Application Receipt Date: 2010/01/06	Prior Review:     Prior Review Date: NA     

I.  Applicant Request:  Upgrade     Reason Change     RE Code Change    

Issues: THe applicant states, in effect, that due to the time served considering his National Guard and his Army history, he should be able to take advantage of VA benefits. He is a productive citizen of society and would love to be able to continue his career by attending college. He has stayed out of trouble, although he is between jobs now. He could use this opportunity to go back to school.  

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: 020328
Discharge Received: 			   Date: 020412   Chapter: 14-12b       AR: 635-200
Reason: Misconduct	   RE:     SPD: JKA   Unit/Location: HQ & HQ Service Battery, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Field Artillery, Fort Sill, OK 

Time Lost: None

Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): 020114, wrongfully used marijuana on or about (011214, reduction to Private (E-1), forfeiture of $521.00 pay per month for two months, extra duty for 45 days (FG)

Article 15, 010119, failed to go to his appointed place of duty x 3 on or about (001212), (001218) and (001219), reduction to Private (E-2), forfeiture of $263.00 pay per month for 1 month, suspended, to be automatically remitted if not vacated before (010619), and extra duty for 14 days (CG)

The suspension of the punishment of forfeiture of $263.00 pay per month for one month imposed on (010119) was vacated, effective (010222) based on the applicant's offense of failing to go to his appointed place of duty on or about (010221)

Article 15, 010227, failed to go to his appointed place of duty x 2 on or about (010221), and (010222), reduction to Private (E-1), forfeiture of $234.00 pay per month for one month, extra duty for 14 days (CG)


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

Counseling Records Available: Yes    No 

IV.  Soldier’s Overall Record
Age at current enlistment:  20
Current ENL Date: 000224    Current ENL Term: 3 Years  ?????
Current ENL Service: 	2 Yrs, 1 Mos, 19 Days ?????
Total Service:  		4 Yrs, 0 Mos, 13 Days ?????
Previous Discharges: 	ARNG 980227-980329/NA
                                       ADT    980330-980717/UNC
                                       ARNG 980718-000223/NA
Highest Grade: E-3		Performance Ratings Available: Yes    No 
MOS: 13B10 Cannon Crewmember   GT: NIF   EDU: HS Grad   Overseas: None   Combat: None
Decorations/Awards: AAM, 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 20 March 2002, 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 received numerous counseling statements for failing to report for duty, he tested positive for marijuana, and based on these offenses, he received formal punishment under the UCMJ, and his conduct is not conducive to the good order and discipline of the Army.  The unit commander recommended that the applicant be separated from the Army with a general, under honorable conditions discharge. 
       
       He was advised of his rights.  The applicant consulted with legal counsel, was advised of the impact of the discharge action, waived consideration of his case by an administrative separation board and did not submit 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 a general, under honorable conditions discharge.  On 4 April 2002, 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 due to the time served in the National Guard and his Army history, he should be able to take advantage of his VA benefits.  He is a productive citizen of society and would love to be able to continue his career by attending college.  He has stayed out of trouble, although he is between jobs now, and would use that opportunity to go back to school.  
       
       The analyst acknowledged the applicant’s issue with his application outlining his successful accomplishments since separation from active duty.  The applicant is to be commended for his efforts.  However, the analyst concluded that the discrediting entries in the applicant's record were not outweighed by prior or subsequent service of sufficient merit to warrant an upgrade of the discharge being reviewed.  Further, eligibility for veteran's benefits to include educational benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill does not fall within the purview of the Army Discharge Review Board.  Accordingly, the applicant should contact a local office of the Department of Veterans Affairs for further assistance.
       
       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: 29 September 2010         Location: Washington, DC

Did the Applicant Testify?  Yes     No  

Counsel: None

Witnesses/Observers: NA 

Exhibits Submitted: DD Form 293 dated 9 August 2010.

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 AR20100000489
______________________________________________________________________________


Page 2 of 3 pages