Applicant Name:  ?????

Application Receipt Date: 2010/09/02	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 one isolated incident in 3 years of service with no other adverse action, he was chaptered for patterns of misconduct with no pattern, and all paper work was done wrong. The time lost was approximately one and one half months, listed as 5 months. His DD Form 214 shows no deployments or his first honorable discharge. The discharge limits all aspects of his life. 

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: 041118
Discharge Received: 			   Date: 041216   Chapter: 14-12c(1)       AR: 635-200
Reason: Misconduct	   RE:     SPD: JKD   Unit/Location: C Battery, 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery, Fort Bliss, TX 

Time Lost: AWOL x 1 from (040504-041004) for 154 days. The applicant returned to his unit.

Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None

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

Counseling Records Available: Yes    No 

IV.  Soldier’s Overall Record
Age at current enlistment:  22
Current ENL Date: Reenl/031201    Current ENL Term: 4 Years  ?????
Current ENL Service: 	0 Yrs, 7 Mos, 15 Days ?????
Total Service:  		2 Yrs, 3 Mos, 19 Days ?????
Previous Discharges: 	RA 011023-031130/HD
Highest Grade: E-4		Performance Ratings Available: Yes    No 
MOS: 63B10 Light Wheel Vehicle Mech   GT: 110   EDU: GED Cert   Overseas: Southwest Asia   Combat: Kuwait/Saudi Arabia
Decorations/Awards: AAM (2), NDSM, GWOTEM, GWOTSM, 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 18 November 2004, 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 from (040505-041005), with an under other than honorable conditions discharge.  He was advised of his rights.  On 18 November 2004, the applicant waived legal counsel and consideration of his case by an administrative separation board, was advised of the impact of the discharge action, 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's reviewed the proposed discharge action and recommended approval of the separation action with an under other than honorable conditions discharge.  On 13 December 2004, the separation authority waived further rehabilitative efforts and directed that the applicant be discharged with a characterization of service of under other than 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 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 one isolated incident in 3 years of service with no other adverse action, and he was chaptered for patterns of misconduct with no pattern, and all the paper work was done wrong.  Even though the applicant claims it was a single incident, the analyst concluded that the discrediting entry 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 a single incident provides the basis for a characterization.  Having examined all the circumstances, the analyst determined that the applicant's single incident of misconduct did indeed adversely affect the quality of service, brought discredit on the Army, and was prejudicial to good order and discipline.  This single incident of misconduct clearly diminished the quality of the applicant's service below that meriting a fully honorable discharge. 
       
       Additionally, the evidence of record shows that the applicant was discharged under the provisions of AR 635-200, Chapter 14-12c(1) by reason of misconduct-commission of a serious offense, due to his AWOL, and not for a pattern of misconduct.  Further, the analyst found no evidence of arbitrary or capricious actions by the command.  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. 
       
       The applicant further contends that his DD Form 214 does not show deployments or his first honorable discharge.  The correction the applicant requests to be made to the DD Form 214, does not fall within the purview of this Board.  The applicant may apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR), utilizing the enclosed DD Form 149 regarding this matter.  A DD Form 149 may also be obtained from a Veterans' Service Organization.  
       
       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: 21 March 2011         Location: Washington, DC

Did the Applicant Testify?  Yes     No  

Counsel: The American Legion
                 Attn: 
                1608 K Street, N.W.
                 Washington, DC 2006-2847

Witnesses/Observers: NA 

Exhibits Submitted: DD Form 293 dated 14 April 2010, DD Form 214 for the period of service ending 16 December 2004.

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 AR20100022908
______________________________________________________________________________


Page 3 of 3 pages