IN THE CASE OF:  	Mr. 

      BOARD DATE:  	4 April 2014

      CASE NUMBER:  	AR20130014537
___________________________________________________________________________

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 general, under honorable conditions discharge to fully honorable and a change to the narrative reason for discharge.

2.  The applicant states, in effect, he is requesting an upgrade of his discharge and change to the narrative reason because he received only one Article 15 and his unit waited until a week before his expired term of service (ETS) to start the separation process.  He contends the process was rushed and he remained in service an additional nine days after his ETS.  He states he would like to reenlist in the military in order to continue serving his country.
 
DISCHARGE UNDER REVIEW INFORMATION:

a. Application Receipt Date:			5 August 2013
b. Discharge Received:			General, Under Honorable Conditions
c. Date of Discharge:				23 July 2012
d. Reason/Authority/SPD/RE Code:		Pattern of Misconduct, AR 635-200, Chapter 
14-12b, JKA, RE-3
e. Unit of assignment:				47CSCO G FSC FA FC, Fort Bliss, TX
f. Current Enlistment Date/Term:		8 January 2009/3 years, 27 weeks
g. Current Enlistment Service:		3 years, 5 months, 29 days
h. Total Service:				3 years, 5 months, 29 days
i. Time Lost:					16 days
j. Previous Discharges:			None
k. Highest Grade Achieved:			NIF
l. Military Occupational Specialty:		91P10, Artillery Mechanic
m. GT Score:					NIF
n. Education:					GED
o. Overseas Service:				SWA
p. Combat Service:				Iraq (091113-100722)
q. Decorations/Awards:			NDSM, GWOTSM, ICM-CS, ASR
r. Administrative Separation Board: 		NA
s. Performance Ratings:			NA
t. Counseling Statements:			NIF
u. Prior Board Review:				No
SUMMARY OF SERVICE:		
	
The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 8 January 2009 for a period of 3 years and 27 weeks.  He was 19 years old at the time of entry and had a General Equivalency Diploma (GED).  He served in Iraq and did not earn any significant awards of valor or achievement.  He completed 3 years, 5 months, and 29 days of active duty service.  When his discharge proceedings were initiated, he was serving at Fort Bliss, Texas.
SEPARATION FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES:

1.  The applicant’s service record is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events which led to the discharge from the Army.  However, the record contains a properly constituted DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), which was not authenticated by the applicant’s signature.  

2.  The applicant's record shows he was absent without leave (AWOL) during the period 
31 March 2012 through 17 April 2012.  His mode of return is unknown.

3.  The DD Form 214 indicates that on 23 July 2012, the applicant was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 14-12b, AR 635-200, for a pattern of misconduct, with a characterization of service of general, under honorable conditions.  The DD Form 214 also shows a Separation Program Designator (SPD) code of JKA and a reentry (RE) code of 3.  

EVIDENCE OBTAINED FROM THE APPLICANT'S RECORD:

1.  Orders Number 139-0007, dated 18 May 2012, Department of the Army, Headquarters, 1st Armored Division & Fort Bliss, Fort Bliss, Texas, reassigned the applicant to the USAR Control Group, Fort Knox, Kentucky effective 14 July 2012.  His reserve obligation was to terminate on 15 December 2016.

2.  Orders Number 199-0029, dated 17 July 2012, Department of the Army, Headquarters, 1st Armored Division & Fort Bliss, Fort Bliss, Texas, rescinded Order Number 139-0007, under the provisions of AR 635-200.

EVIDENCE SUBMITTED BY THE APPLICANT:

The applicant provided an online application, dated 5 June 2013, an undated self-authored statement, a DA Form 4856, dated 6 June 2012, a DD Form 2648, dated 4 May 2012, a cover letter for Verification of Military Experience and Training (VMET), dated 28 December 2011, and Orders Number 139-0007, dated 18 May 2012.

POST-SERVICE ACTIVITY: 

The applicant does not provide any in support of his application.  

REGULATORY AUTHORITY:

1.  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 being absent 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.   

2.  Army Regulation 635-200, 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.  Whenever there is doubt, it is to be resolved in favor of the individual.

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.

4.  Army Regulation 635-5-1 (Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes) provides the specific authorities (regulatory or directive), reasons for separating Soldiers from active duty, and the SPD codes to be entered on the DD Form 214.  It identifies the SPD code of "JKA" as the appropriate code to assign enlisted Soldiers who are discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 14, pattern of misconduct.

DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION:

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

2.  The applicant’s record is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events which led to his discharge from the Army.  However, the record contains a properly constituted DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), which was not authenticated by the applicant's signature.  This document identifies the reason and characterization of the discharge and government regularity is presumed in the discharge process.  

3.  The DD Form 214 also indicates the applicant was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 14, AR 635-200, paragraph 14-12b by reason of a pattern of misconduct, with a characterization of service of general, under honorable conditions.  Barring evidence to the contrary, the presumption of government regularity prevails as it appears that all the requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process.  

4.  The applicant's contentions that he only received one Article 15 and that he was kept past his ETS date were carefully considered.  However, there is insufficient evidence available in the official record to make a determination upon the applicant's quality of service.  Moreover, the evidence of record is void of the Article 15 the applicant mentions in his online application and any evidence to support he was extended past his ETS.  In addition, there is a presumption of regularity in the conduct of governmental affairs which is applied in all Army discharge reviews unless there is substantial credible evidence to rebut the presumption.  There is no evidence in the record, nor has the applicant produced any evidence, to support a change to the characterization of service granted.  The applicant’s statements alone do not overcome the presumption of government regularity and the application contains no documentation or further evidence in support of this request for an upgrade of the discharge.  

5.  The applicant requests a change in the reason for the discharge.  However, Army Regulation 635-5-1 (Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes) provides the specific authorities (regulatory or directive), reasons for separating Soldiers from active duty, and the SPD codes to be entered on the DD Form 214.  It identifies the SPD code of "JKA" as the appropriate code to assign enlisted Soldiers who are discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 14, paragraph 14-12b, for a pattern of misconduct.  The regulation further stipulates that no deviation is authorized.

6.  The applicant desires to rejoin the military service.  However, Soldiers being processed for separation are assigned reentry codes based on their service records or the reason for discharge.  Based on Army Regulation 635-5-1 and the SPD Code/RE Code Cross Reference Table the applicant was appropriately assigned an RE code of 3.  There is no basis upon which to grant a change to the reason or to the RE code.  An RE Code of 3 indicates the applicant requires a waiver prior to being allowed to reenlist.  If reenlistment is desired, the applicant should contact a local recruiter to determine eligibility to reenlist.  Recruiters 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 if appropriate. 

7.  If the applicant desires a personal appearance hearing, it will be his responsibility to meet the burden of proof and provide the appropriate documents (i.e., the discharge packet) or other evidence sufficient to explain the facts, circumstances, and reasons underlying the separation action, for the Board’s consideration because they are not available in the official record.

8.  Therefore, based on the available evidence and the government presumption of regularity, it appears the reason for discharge and the characterization of service are both proper and equitable, thus recommend the Board deny relief. 










SUMMARY OF ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD HEARING:

Type of Hearing:  Records Review       Date:  4 April 2014       Location:  Washington, DC

Did the Applicant Testify?  NA 

Counsel:  None

Witnesses/Observers:  NA 

Board Vote:
Character Change:  1	No Change:  4
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)		AR20130014537



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ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD (ADRB)

CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE



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