Applicant Name:  ?????

Application Receipt Date: 2010/08/09	Prior Review:     Prior Review Date: NA     

I.  Applicant Request:  Upgrade     Reason Change     RE Code Change    

Issues: The applicant states, in effect, that his discharge was inequitable because it was based on the incidents in his record within the 24 months of his service with no other adverse actions prior to the ones he had. 

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: 081113
Discharge Received: 			   Date: 081210   Chapter: 14-12c (1)       AR: 635-200
Reason: Misconduct (AWOL)	   RE:     SPD: JKD   Unit/Location: HQS & A Company, 447th Signal Battalion, 15th Signal Brigade, Fort Gordon, GA 

Time Lost: AWOL x 4 from (080714-080716), (080807-080808), (080819-080822), (080909-081016) for a total of 47 days. The applicant returned to his unit from each period of AWOL.

Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): 081022, AWOL from (080909-081016), reduction to Private (E-1), forfeiture of $673.00 pay per month for 2 months, extra duty and restriction for 45 days (FG)

080905, AWOL x 3 from (080819-080822), (080807-080808), and (080714-080716), reduction to Private (E-2), forfeiture of $754.00 pay per month for 2 months, extra duty and restriction for 30 days (FG)

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

Counseling Records Available: Yes    No 

IV.  Soldier’s Overall Record
Age at current enlistment:  39
Current ENL Date: Reenl/080326    Current ENL Term: 4 Years  ?????
Current ENL Service: 	0 Yrs, 6 Mos, 28 Days ?????
Total Service:  		13  Yrs, 1 Mos, 13 Days ?????
Previous Discharges: 	USAR 861212-870603/NA
                                        ADT   870604-870724/HD
                                        USAR 870725-871216/NA
                                        USAF 871217-960808/HD
                                        USAR 060211-061217/NA
                                        RA      061218-080325/HD
Highest Grade: E-4		Performance Ratings Available: Yes    No 
MOS: None   GT: 126   EDU: HS Grad   Overseas: None   Combat: None
Decorations/Awards: AAM, AFOUA (2), AFCRMDL, AFGCMDL (2), NDSM (2), NCOPDR, ASR AFLSAR (2), AFTR, AFNCOPMEGR

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 13 November 2008, the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of separation action under the provisions of Chapter 14-12c, AR 635-200, by reason of misconduct-commission of a serious offense; in that he went AWOL x 4, with a general, under honorable conditions discharge.  He was advised of his rights.  On 13 November 2008, 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.  On 14 November 2008, the intermediate commander reviewed the proposed discharge action and recommended approval of the separation action with a general, under honorable conditions discharge.  On 25 November 2008, 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 of this regulation 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 and document 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 his discharge was inequitable because it was based on the incidents in his record within the 24 months of his service with no other adverse action prior to the ones he had.  The analyst concluded that the discrediting entries constituted a departure from the standards of conduct expected of soldiers in the Army. 
       
       The applicable Army regulation states that there are circumstances in which the conduct or performance of duty reflected by these incidents of misconduct provides the basis for a characterization.  Having examined all the circumstances, the analyst determined that the applicant's incidents of misconduct did indeed adversely affect the quality of service, brought discredit on the Army, and was prejudicial to good order and discipline.  These incidents of misconduct clearly diminished the quality of the applicant's service below that meriting a fully honorable discharge.
       
       Further, 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. 
       
       Furthermore, the analyst noted the applicant's issue about getting his clearance back; however, the correction the applicant requests to be made does not fall within the purview of this Board.   
       
       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: 27 April 2011         Location: Washington, DC

Did the Applicant Testify?  Yes     No  

Counsel: None

Witnesses/Observers: NA 

Exhibits Submitted: DD Form 293 dated 3 August 2010, and a self authored statement.

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 AR20100017947
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