Applicant Name: ????? Application Receipt Date: 2010/03/08 Prior Review: Prior Review Date: NA I. Applicant Request: Upgrade Reason Change RE Code Change Issues: The applicant states, in effect, that he wishes to get his discharge changed so that he can join the Florida Army National Guard. He can not do so with a uncharacterized discharge. He would need either an honorable or an under honorable conditions discharge. 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: 070203 Discharge Received: Date: 070323 Chapter: 5-17 AR: 635-200 Reason: Condition, Not a Disability RE: SPD: JFV Unit/Location: RHU, 30th Adjutant General Battalion (Reception), 192nd Infantry Brigade, Fort Benning, GA 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: 18 Current ENL Date: OADT/060912 Current ENL Term: NIF Years ????? Current ENL Service: 0 Yrs, 6 Mos, 12 Days ????? Total Service: 0 Yrs, 9 Mos, 15 Days ????? Previous Discharges: ARNG 060609-060911/UNC Highest Grade: E-2 Performance Ratings Available: Yes No MOS: None GT: 98 EDU: GED Cert Overseas: None Combat: None Decorations/Awards: None 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: On 3 February 2007, the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of separation action under the provisions of Chapter 5, paragraph 5-17, AR 635-200, by reason of other designated physical or mental condition for being diagnosed by competent medical authority with an adjustment disorder with depressed mood, related continued deficiencies in conduct, and performance as follows: depression, insomnia, and panic attacks, which were incompatible with military service and recommended the applicant’s discharge with an entry level uncharacterized separation of service. He was advised of his rights. On 26 January 2007, the applicant waived legal counsel, 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. On 15 March 2007, the separation authority waived further rehabilitative efforts and directed the applicant be discharged with an uncharacterized separation of service. b. Legal Basis for Separation: Army Regulation 635-200 provides the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Paragraph 5-17 specifically provides that a Soldier may be separated for other physical or mental conditions not amounting to a disability under Army Regulation 635-40, which interferes with assignment to or performance of duty. The regulation requires that the condition interferes with the Soldiers’ ability to perform duty, and requires that the diagnosis be so severe that the Soldier’s ability to function in the military environment is significantly impaired. Army Regulation 635-200 states that a Soldier being separated under this paragraph will be awarded a characterization of service of honorable, under honorable conditions, or an uncharacterized description of service if in entry-level status. A general, under honorable conditions discharge is normally inappropriate for individuals separated under the provisions of Chapter 5-17 unless properly notified of the specific factors in the service that warrant such characterization. c. Response to Issues, Recommendation and Rationale: After a careful review of all the applicant’s military records, document and the issue he submitted, the analyst found no mitigating factors which would merit an upgrade of the applicant's discharge. The evidence of record shows the applicant while in training status was diagnosed by competent medical authority with an adjustment disorder with depressed mood, related continued deficiencies in conduct, and performance as follows: depression, insomnia, and panic attacks, which were incompatible with military service and recommended the applicant’s discharge with an entry level uncharacterized separation of service. A Soldier is in entry-level status (ELS) for the first 180 days of continuous active duty. The purpose of the entry-level status is to provide the Soldier a probationary period. Army Regulation 635-200 also provides, except in cases of serious misconduct, that a Soldier’s service will be uncharacterized when the separation is initiated while the Soldier is in entry level status. A general discharge is not authorized under ELS conditions). Further, for Soldiers in entry-level status, a fully honorable discharge may be granted only in cases which are clearly warranted by unusual circumstances involving outstanding personal conduct and or performance of duty. The analyst determined that no such unusual circumstances were present in the applicant’s record and his service did not warrant an honorable discharge. The analyst noted the applicant's issue that he wants to join the Florida Army National Guard. Notwithstanding the propriety of the applicant's discharge, the analyst found that someone in the discharge process erroneously entered on the applicant's DD Form 214, block 27, reentry code as “NA.” In view of the foregoing, the analyst recommends to the Board that an administrative change be made to block 27, reentry code to read “3” in accordance with AR 601-210, which determines the Regular Army and US Army Reserve reentry eligibility (RE) codes, and as it was indicated on the Orders 089-046; issued by the Dept of the Army & Air Force, Florida National Guard in the applicant's record. If the applicant desires to reenlist, he should continue to contact the local recruiter to determine his eligibility to reenlist. Those individuals 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. Except for the foregoing modification to the applicant's DD Form 214, the 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: 5 November 2010 Location: Washington, DC Did the Applicant Testify? Yes No Counsel: None Witnesses/Observers: NA Exhibits Submitted: Online application dated 5 March 2010 and a copy of his DD Form 214 for the period of service ending 23 March 2007. 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. However, notwithstanding the propriety of the applicant's discharge, the Board found that someone in the discharge process erroneously entered on the applicant's DD Form 214, block 27, reentry code as “NA.” In view of the error, the Board voted to administratively change block 27, reentry code to “3. Except for the foregoing modification, the Board determined that the discharge was both proper and equitable and voted not to change it. 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: The Board directs Army Review Boards Agency Case Management Division (CMD) to correct block 27 to reflect Reentry Eligibility Code “3”; and issue a new DD Form 214. 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 AR20100010325 ______________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 3 pages