IN THE CASE OF:  	Mr. 

      BOARD DATE:  	28 June 2013

      CASE NUMBER:  	AR20130002947
___________________________________________________________________________

Board Determination and Directed Action

After carefully examining the applicant's record of service during the period of enlistment under review and considering the Discussion and Recommendation which follows, the Board determined the discharge was both proper and equitable and voted to deny relief.




      
      
      Presiding Officer
      
I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Department of the Army Discharge Review Board in this case.

THE APPLICANT’S REQUEST AND STATEMENT:

1.  The applicant requests an upgrade of his discharge from under other than honorable conditions to general, under honorable conditions.

2.  The applicant states, in effect, he was 17 years old, lonely and depressed upon arrival at his unit.  He went AWOL because his girlfriend was pregnant and having problems with her family.  He desires to further his education and do more for his family.

DISCHARGE UNDER REVIEW INFORMATION:

a. Application Receipt Date:		8 February 2013
b. Discharge Received:		Under Other Than Honorable Conditions
c. Date of Discharge:			23 December 2011
d. Reason/Authority/SPD/RE Code:	In Lieu of Trial by Court-Martial/AR-635-200       						Chapter 10/KFS/RE-4
e. Unit of assignment:			C Co, 1-75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat 						Team, Fort Campbell, KY
f. Current Enlistment Date/Term:	11 June 2009, 3 years, 16 weeks
g. Current Enlistment Service:	11 months, 21 days
h. Total Service:			11 months, 21 days
i. Time Lost:				567 days
j. Previous Discharges:		None
k. Highest Grade Achieved:		E-2
l. Military Occupational Specialty:	11B10, Infantryman
m. GT Score:				94
n. Education:				HS Graduate
o. Overseas Service:			None
p. Combat Service:			None
q. Decorations/Awards:		NDSM, GWOTSM, ASR
r. Administrative Separation Board: 	No
s. Performance Ratings:		None
t. Counseling Statements:		No
u. Prior Board Review:			No

SUMMARY OF SERVICE:		
	
The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army 11 June 2009, for a period of 3 years and 16 weeks.  He was 17 years old at the time of entry and a HS Graduate.  The record does not contain any evidence of acts of valor or meritorious achievements.  He was serving at Fort Campbell, KY, when his discharge was initiated.



SEPARATION FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES:

1.  The evidence of record contains a DD Form 458, Charge Sheet which indicates that on      3 November 2011, the applicant was charged with absenting himself from his unit (AWOL) (100202-110824).

2.  On 30 November 2011, 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.  The applicant indicated he understood 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 submitted a statement on his behalf.  The unit commander recommended approval of the Chapter 10 request with an under other than honorable conditions discharge.  The intermediate and senior commanders recommended approval of the Chapter 10 request with an under other than honorable conditions discharge.  

3.  On 19 December 2011, 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 reduced to the lowest enlisted rank.

4.  The applicant was discharged from the Army on 23 December 2011, with a characterization of service of under other than honorable conditions under the provisions of Chapter 10,             AR 635-200, by reason of in lieu of trial by court-martial, a Separation Program Designator code (SPD) of KFS and a RE code of 4.

5.  The applicant's record of service shows he was AWOL during the period 2 February 2010 through 23 August 2011, for 567 days, until he surrendered.   

EVIDENCE OBTAINED FROM THE APPLICANT'S RECORD:

The record of service does not contain any negative counseling statements or actions under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

EVIDENCE SUBMITTED BY THE APPLICANT:

The applicant provided a DD Form 293; a handwritten statement, two pages; DD Form 214; and Discharge Orders 355-0613.

POST-SERVICE ACTIVITY: 

The applicant did not provide any with the application.





REGULATORY AUTHORITY:

1.  Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.  Chapter 10 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.  

2.  Paragraph 3-7a provides that an honorable discharge is a separation with honor and entitles the recipient to benefits provided by law.  The honorable characterization is appropriate when the quality of the member's service generally has met the standards of acceptable conduct and performance of duty for Army personnel or is otherwise so meritorious that any other characterization would be clearly inappropriate.

3.  Army Regulation 635-200, paragraph 3-7b, provides that a general discharge is a separation from the Army under honorable conditions.  When authorized, it is issued to a Soldier whose military record is satisfactory but not sufficiently meritorious to warrant an honorable discharge.  A characterization of under honorable conditions may be issued only when the reason for the Soldier’s separation specifically allows such characterization.

DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION:

1.  The applicant’s request for an upgrade of his characterization of service was carefully considered.  However, after examining the applicant’s record of service, the issue and documents submitted with the application, there are insufficient mitigating factors to merit an upgrade of the applicant's discharge or a change to the narrative reason for separation.

2.  The evidence of record confirms the applicant was charged with the commission of an offense punishable under the UCMJ with a punitive discharge.  It also shows that after consulting with defense counsel, the applicant voluntarily requested discharge for the good of the service in lieu of trial by court-martial.  All requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process.  

3.  The under other than honorable conditions discharge received by the applicant was normal and appropriate under the regulatory guidance.  His record documents no acts of significant achievement or valor and did not support the issuance of an uncharacterized discharge and did not support the issuance of an uncharacterized discharge by the separation authority and it does not support an upgrade of an uncharacterized discharge at this late date.  

4.  The applicant contends he was 17 years old, lonely and depressed upon arrival at his unit.  The record shows the applicant met entrance qualification standards to include age.  There is no evidence to indicate the applicant was any less mature than other Soldiers of the same age who successfully completed military service.

5.  The applicant further contends he went AWOL because his girlfriend was a pregnant and having problems with her family.  However, he had many legitimate avenues through which to obtain assistance or relief and there is no evidence in the record that he ever sought such assistance before committing the misconduct which led to the separation action under review.  

6.  The applicant desires to further his education and do more for his family.  However, eligibility for veteran's benefits to include educational benefits under the Post-9/11 or 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.

7.  The records show the proper discharge and separation authority procedures were followed in this case.  

8.  Therefore, the reason for discharge and the characterization of service being both proper and equitable, recommend the Board deny relief.  

SUMMARY OF ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD HEARING:

Type of Hearing:  Records Review     Date:  28 June 2013           Location: Washington, DC

Did the Applicant Testify:  NA 

Counsel:  NA

Witnesses/Observers: NA 

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

Board Action Directed:
Issue a new DD Form 214:		No
Change Characterization to:	No Change
Change Reason to:			No Change
Change Authority for Separation:	NA
Change RE Code to:		NA
Grade Restoration to:		NA
Other:					NA


Legend:
AMHRR - Army Military Human Resource Record	FG - Field Grade	IADT – Initial Active Duty Training	 	RE - Reentry
AWOL - Absent Without Leave	GD - General Discharge	NA - Not applicable	SCM- Summary Court Martial
BCD - Bad Conduct Discharge	HS - High School	NIF - Not in File	SPCM - Special Court Martial
CG - Company Grade Article 15	HD - Honorable Discharge	OAD - Ordered to Active Duty	UNC - Uncharacterized Discharge  
CID - Criminal investigation Department	MP – Military Police	OMPF - Official Military Personnel File	UOTHC - Under Other Than                           			               Honorable Conditions


ADRB Case Report and Directive (cont)		AR20130002947



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ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD (ADRB)

CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE



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