man man man
geez nobody even reads these topics...
ok hero, here goes. I got the same thing you did.
I would like to know how hard would it be for me to upgrade my discharge to an honarable discharge?
okay here goes, the ADRB will change discharges based on Propriety and Equity. Propriety is another term for correctness, i.e. did the MILITARY follow the proper procedures when handling your case. Equity is an educated term for "fairness," i.e. was the punishment FAIR compared to the crime. So let me break it down for you. YOU admited you were guilty of one of more offenses charged against you. You knew full well the discharges you could recieve. And you were advised of the effects of each possible discharge. So the ADRB views it like this: You said you were guilty, you knew the possiblities, you aggreed to those terms. So YES it is fair. it is EQUITABLE
Propriety is the only possible way to really get a "standard" chpt 10 changed. By means of if the army didn't follow the proper steps from notification of charges to kicking your ass to the curb. Which chances are they did. And unless they commited some GREVIOUS infraction of civil rights, don't expect a change.
By my experience, it SOUNDS like you got what I refer to as a "standard" Chapter 10. Meaning you muffed up, and the punishment WAS just. Unless you can prove you went awol for a MORALLY correct reason, i.e. someone threatened to kill you and you were scared ****less, or if you read the 2nd reply I wrote to my own topic should be on the 1st page of "military law." And you better come to the board correct, no halfassin. The board can take into consideration other things, like age etc etc, letters from former NCO or OFFICERS would help a great deal. But ultimatly even with a gold brick wrapped in your paper work a Chpt 10 isn't going to get changed. Also don't bother with a congressman, my lawyer advised me that it carrys about as much weight as the ink it took to write it. The ADRB knows the congressman doesn't know his constituants, and will give a letter out to damn near anybody. So unless your Rep. is activly involved make even talking with their office a last priority. But they WILL listen to NCO's and CO's.
OKay,
I also have a reentry code 4 on my DD 214 what does that mean?
since you were army, i'll give you the army version of what RE-4 means:
"RE–4 Applies to: Person separated from last period of service with a nonwaivable disqualification. This includes anyone with a Department of the Army imposed bar to reenlistment in effect at time of separation, or separated for any reason (except length of service retirement) with 18 or more AFS.
Eligibility: Ineligible for enlistment."
//thats from AR 601-210, chapter 3-21; find the PDF on usapa.army.mil //
what it "means" is you muffed up, and they don't want you back. Since you were army, you can't get into the ARMY NG or Reserves. As recruiters will happily read you from NGR (AR) 600-200, 2-26 Enlistment Criteria, pg, 19. They wont even look at you.
if you were navy, marines or airforce then yes, they can look past the RE4, but not for the army. You will not get into the Navy or Navy reserves, Air force or Airforce reserves, OR USMC or their reserve components. Don't believe me? just call around.
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I regret going AWOL and would like to serve my country again.
Unless you are like the 1 and a million billion trillion zillion thathillion shabadabadooo person to get your chapter 10 altered, then IT AINT GOING TO HAPPEN. So take a second, get a few deep breaths, and get yourself out of the mindset.
Your narritive reads "Discharge in lieu of trial by courts-martial," too obvious to go into. Your Separation code is undoubtly "KFS," which means "For the good of the Service, in lieu of court martial." Remember that.
So I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you're pretty much stuck. Best thing to do, is, go to school. get a degree and try to get a good job. It can be hard, but if you put a few years between yourself and your discharge you will be able to say you are not the same person, and it was a poor choice you made long ago. If you then decide to try the ADRB route, having been doing respectable things, like college and staying out of trouble, it will help. If it does get changed, it won't be anytime soon. They arn't going to kick you out on monday and change it on friday. Give yourself time to improve yourself a little bit, then move on. wait awhile, but not like 5 years or anything. i would say wait about 2. The ADRB isn't going anywhere, and neither is your discharge, so you might aswell wait and prepare the best case possible. BTW the process, from submission to result is roughly 9-12 months.
