Applicant Name:  ?????

Application Receipt Date: 2012/04/12	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 based on one incident that occurred in a nine year period of service.  He contends he was discharged under the Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy which is no longer in effect.  The incident that occurred involved a same-sex partner and was a consenting relationship. The applicant contends the other service member was not comfortable with whom he is and he felt that the applicant would tell someone about him; so he accused the applicant of sexual assault.  Additionally, he thought the other service member was 21 years of age and did not check his ID card when he brought alcohol to his barracks room.  The applicant was never found guilty although it has cost him several job offers.  He has tried everything to get this taken off his record. 

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: 090709
Discharge Received: 			   Date: 090915   Chapter: 10       AR: 635-200
Reason: In Lieu Of Trial By Court-Martial	   RE:     SPD: KFS   Unit/Location: 551st Medical Company (LOG), 56th Multi-Functional Medical Battalion, 62d Medical Brigade, Fort Lewis, Washington  

Time Lost: None

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:  25
Current ENL Date: 080430    Current ENL Term: 4  Years  6 Weeks
Current ENL Service: 	1  Yrs, 4  Mos, 16  Days ?????
Total Service:  		8  Yrs, 9  Mos, 1    Days DD Form 214 shows 7 years 4 months 15 days prior service
Previous Discharges: 	Navy DD Form and enlisment contract are not in record
Highest Grade: E-4		Performance Ratings Available: Yes    No 
MOS: 92G10 Food Service Operations   GT: 93   EDU: HS Grad   Overseas: Panama (030615 - 040115)   Combat: DD 214 indicates applicant served in an imminent dager area.
Decorations/Awards: Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal x 2, NDSM, GWOTEM, GWOTSM, ASR, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon

V.  Post-Discharge Activity
City, State:  ?????
Post Service Accomplishments: None

VI.  Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation

       a.  Facts and Circumstances:
       The evidence of record shows that on 9 July 2009, the applicant was charged with engaging in a sexual act, with a person, who was substantially incapacitated and substantially incapable of appraising the nature of the sexual contact or substantially incapable of declining participation in the sexual act (090312); violated a lawful general regulation by wrongfully allowing a person under the age of 21, to consume alcoholic beverages in his barracks room (090312).
       
       On 27 July 2009, the applicant consulted with legal counsel and voluntarily requested, in writing, discharge under the provisions of Chapter 10, AR 635-200 in lieu of trial by court-martial.  In this request, the applicant admitted guilt to the offense, or a lesser-included offense.  Further, the applicant indicated he understood that he could receive an under other than honorable conditions discharge and that the discharge would have a significant effect on eligibility for veteran’s benefits.  The applicant did not submit a statement in his own behalf.  The unit commander and intermediate commanders recommended approval of an under other than honorable conditions discharge.  
       
       On 20 August 2009, the separation authority approved the Chapter 10 request and directed the discharge with a characterization of service of under other than honorable conditions.  The applicant was to be reduced to the lowest enlisted rank. 

       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, under honorable conditions 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 the applicant’s available military records, the issue and documents submitted with the application, the analyst found no mitigating factors which would merit an upgrade of the applicant's discharge.  The evidence of record shows the applicant was charged with the commission of an offense punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) with a punitive discharge.  The applicant consulted with defense counsel, and voluntarily in writing, requested separation from the Army in lieu of trial by court-martial.  In doing so, the applicant admitted guilt to the stipulated or lesser-included offenses under the UCMJ.  
       
       The analyst noted that all the requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process.  It is also noted that the characterization of service for this type of discharge is normally under other than honorable conditions and the applicant was aware of it prior to requesting discharge. 
       
       The applicant contends that he was discharged under the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Policy; however, the applicant was separated under the provisions of Chapter 10, AR 635-200 with an under other than honorable conditions discharge.  The narrative reason specified by Army Regulations for a discharge under this paragraph is "In Lieu Of Trial By Court-Martial", and the separation code is "KFS."  Army Regulation 635-5, Separation Documents, governs preparation of the DD Form 214 and dictates that entry of the narrative reason for separation, entered in block 28 and separation code, entered in block 26 of the form, will be entered exactly as listed in tables 2-2 or 2-3 of AR 635-5-1, Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes.  The regulation further stipulates that no deviation is authorized.  There is no provision for any other reason to be entered under this regulation.  
       
       Furthermore, the analyst noted the applicant’s issue of a single incident; however, 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.  The analyst having examined all the circumstances 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. 
       
       The analyst noted the applicant's employment issue; however, the Board does not grant relief solely for the purpose of gaining employment or enhancing employment opportunities.
       Therefore, the analyst determined 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: 7 September 2012         Location: Washington, D. C.

Did the Applicant Testify?  Yes     No  

Counsel: None

Witnesses/Observers: None 

Exhibits Submitted: DD Form 293, with a self authored statement, DD Form 149, 2 memoranda from the discharge, various developmental counseling forms, congressional correspondence and a DD Form 214.

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						
Board Vote:
Character - Change 0     No change 5 
Reason -     Change 0     No change 5
(Board member names available upon request)

X.  Board Action Directed
Issue a new DD Form 214  
Change Characterization to: 
Change Reason to: No Change
Other: NA
RE Code: 
Grade Restoration:   No   Yes   Grade: NA

XI.  Certification Signature
Approval Authority:




ARCHIE L. DAVIS III
Colonel, U.S. Army
President, Army Discharge Review Board




BONITA E. TROTMAN
Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Army
Secretary Recorder


















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 AR20120006688
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