Applicant Name: ????? Application Receipt Date: 2010/05/27 Prior Review: Prior Review Date: NA I. Applicant Request: Upgrade Reason Change RE Code Change Issues: The applicant states, in effect, that the date in 12c does not match the dates in 12a and 12b. Additionally, part 24 states that his characterization of discharge is uncharacterized, which is obviously unacceptable. The total time served in part 12c, should actually be about 1 year, 8 months, and 3 days. Part 24 should be corrected to state honorable or satisfactory discharge characterization. He and fellow Soldiers with the same MOS submitted their DD-214s from OIF deployments in 2008-2009 and were both accepted for 100% post 9-11 GI Bill educational benefits. He is currently only receiving 60% and his wife and he are picking up the dividends. He owns a house, pays bills, and has a 9 month old daughter. He is currently working part-time at the [ redacted ] VA Hospital as a nurse to pick up the slack. Getting the maximum benefits he is entitled to would surely suffice. 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: NA Discharge Received: Date: 061003 Chapter: Self-Terminating Orders AR: 635-200 Reason: Completion of Period of ADT RE: SPD: NA Unit/Location: W RED AMC STU CO HS, DC 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: 20 Current ENL Date: 050131 Current ENL Term: NIF Years ????? Current ENL Service: 1 Yrs, 8 Mos, 2 Days Current DD Form 214 incorrectly states 1 YR, 1 MO, 5 DAYS. Total Service: 1 Yrs, 8 Mos, 2 Days ????? Previous Discharges: USAR 041210 - 050130/NA Highest Grade: E-5 Performance Ratings Available: Yes No MOS: 91W10 Health Care Specialist GT: NIF EDU: HS Grad Overseas: None Combat: None Decorations/Awards: NDSM, ASR V. Post-Discharge Activity City, State: Little Rock, Arkansas Post Service Accomplishments: None VI. Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation a. Facts and Circumstances: The applicant’s record is void of the orders releasing him from active duty training. The record contains a properly constituted DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), which was authenticated by the applicant’s signature. His DD Form 214 indicates he was released from active duty training through the provisions of self-terminating orders by reason of completion of active duty training, with service uncharacterized. Such orders would typically have released the applicant under the provisions of AR 635-200, Chapter 4, paragraph 4-2i(1), by reason of completion of required active service for IADT, with service uncharacterized. The DD Form 214 shows a Separation Code of NA which is a minor administrative error; typically the Separation Code would be MBK (i.e., completion of required active service). Following completion of the MOS training course, the applicant was released from active duty training, back to the USAR. b. Legal Basis for Separation: Army Regulation 635-200, in effect at the time, set forth the basic authority for separation of enlisted personnel. Chapter 4 of that regulation provided, in pertinent part, for the separation of individuals at completion of required service (i.e., expiration term of service). c. Response to Issues, Recommendation and Rationale: After a careful review of all the applicant's available military records during the period of enlistment under review, the issue and documents he submitted, the analyst recommends that relief be granted in this case. The evidence of record shows that the applicant, was not in entry-level status and was released from active duty for training under the provisions of Chapter 4, AR 635-200, by reason of completion of required active service, with service uncharacterized. The characterization of service for Soldiers separated under this provision of the regulation will normally be honorable, unless the Soldier is in entry-level status. A Soldier is in entry-level status for the first 180 days of continuous active duty. Army Regulation 635-200 also provides, except in cases of serious misconduct, that a Soldier’s service will be uncharacterized when separated in entry-level status. For ARNG and USAR Soldiers ordered to IADT/ADT, entry-level status terminates 180 days after the beginning of training. Furthermore, for Soldiers in entry-level status, a general, under honorable conditions discharge is not authorized. Further, the applicant revealed a mathematical error in computing his active duty time served in block 12c, block 24, and block 26 of the DD Form 214 issued at the time of his release from IADT back to the USAR. The analyst concluded that block 12c should be changed to reflect a net active service time of 1 year, 8 months, and 2 days; block 24 should reflect a character of service of honorable, and the separation code should reflect MBK. The reentry code should remain NA, because the applicant was released immediately back to the USAR. However, this issue does not fall within the purview of this Board, if the applicant desires to pursue a correction, he should apply to the Army Board of Correction for Military records on the enclosed DD Form 149. In view of the aforementioned, the analyst determined the characterization of the applicant's service was improper as he was no longer in entry level status and had served for 1 year, 8 months, and 2 days of continuous active federal service. The analyst recommends to the Board that the characterization of the applicant's service be upgraded to honorable. VII. Summary of Army Discharge Review Board Hearing Type of Hearing: Date: 25 February 2011 Location: Washington D. C. Did the Applicant Testify? Yes No Counsel: None Witnesses/Observers: NA Exhibits Submitted: DD Form 293 with a self-authored statement and an attached 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 applicant’s characterization of service is improper. The evidence of record supports that he was released from active duty, under the provisions of Chapter 4, Army Regulation 635-200, after completion of his active duty for training. The board noted that the applicant completed 1 year 8 months and 2 days of continuous active service and was no longer in entry level status. AR 635-200 stipulates Soldiers being separated upon expiration of enlistment or fulfillment of their service obligation will be awarded a character of service of honorable unless in entry level status. In view of the aforementioned, the Board voted to grant relief by changing the characterization of service to fully honorable and a separation code of MBK. The Board determined the reason to be proper and equitable and voted not to change it. IX. Board Decision XI. Certification Signature Board Vote: Approval Authority: Character - Change 5 No change 0 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: Change SPD Code to MBK. RE Code: Grade Restoration: No Yes Grade: NA 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 AR20100015680 ______________________________________________________________________________ Page 3 of 3 pages