Applicant Name: ????? Application Receipt Date: 2011/10/19 Prior Review: Prior Review Date: 2008/03/18 Records Review I. Applicant Request: Upgrade Reason Change RE Code Change Issues: The applicant states, in effect, that he requests a change to the narrative reason for separation, due to time out of service has been long enough to cope with loss of 6 month old child, there was never a personality disorder. 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: NIF Date: NIF Discharge Received: Date: 040504 Chapter: 5-13 AR: 635-200 Reason: Personality Disorder RE: SPD: LFX Unit/Location: C Trp, 5-15th CAV, Fort Knox, KY Time Lost: None Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): NIF Courts-Martial (Charges/Dates/Punishment): NIF Counseling Records Available: Yes No IV. Soldier’s Overall Record Age at current enlistment: 19 Current ENL Date: 040315/OIADT Current ENL Term: 00 Years 18 Weeks Current ENL Service: 00 Yrs, 01 Mos, 20 Days ????? Total Service: 00 Yrs, 09 Mos, 18 Days ????? Previous Discharges: ARNG-030717-040314/NA (Concurrent Service) Highest Grade: E-2 Performance Ratings Available: Yes No MOS: None GT: NIF EDU: GED Overseas: None Combat: None Decorations/Awards: None V. Post-Discharge Activity City, State: Post Service Accomplishments: The applicant submitted a document that indicates he is certified Emergency Medical Technician. VI. Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation a. Facts and Circumstances: The specific facts and circumstances leading to the applicant's discharge from the Army are not contained in the available records. However, the record does contain a properly constituted DD Form 214, (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), which was authenticated by the applicant's signature. The DD Form 214 indicates he was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 5, paragraph 5-13, AR 635-200, by reason of personality disorder, with an uncharacterized separation of service. Furthermore, the DD Form 214 shows a Separation Code of LFX (i.e., personality disorder), with a reentry eligibility (RE) code of "3." b. Legal Basis for Separation: Army Regulation 635-200, provides the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Paragraph 5-13 provides that a Soldier may be separated for personality disorder, not amounting to disability under Army Regulation 635-40 that interferes with assignment to or performance of duty. The regulation requires that the condition is a deeply ingrained maladaptive pattern of behavior of long duration that interferes with the Soldier's ability to perform duty. The regulation also directs that commanders will not take action prescribed in this Chapter in lieu of disciplinary action; requires that the diagnosis concludes the disorder is so severe that the Soldier’s ability to function in the military environment is significantly impaired; and states that separation for personality disorder is not appropriate when separation is warranted under Chapter 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, or 15; Army Regulation 604-10 or Army Regulation 635-40. Army policy requires the award of a fully honorable discharge in such case. Characterization of service under honorable conditions may be awarded to a soldier who has been convicted of an offense by general court-martial or who has been convicted by more than one special court-martial in the current enlistment, period of obligated service, or any extension thereof. 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 issues and documents submitted with the application, the analyst found no mitigating factors that would merit a change to the applicant's narrative reason for separation. The applicant requested a change to the narrative reason for separation. The narrative reason for separation is governed by specific directives. The applicant was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 5, paragraph 5-13, AR 635-200. The narrative reason specified by Army Regulations for a discharge under this paragraph is "Personality Disorder" and the separation code is "LFX," and the reentry code is "RE 3." Army Regulation 635-5, Separation Documents, governs preparation of the DD Form 214 and dictates that entry of the narrative reason for separation, entered in block 28 and separation code, entered in block 26 of the form, will be entered exactly as listed in tables 2-2 or 2-3 of AR 635-5-1, Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes. The regulation further stipulates that no deviation is authorized. There is no provision for any other reason to be entered under this regulation. The applicant contends his time out of service has been enough time for him to cope with the loss of his six month old child, there was never a personality disorder. The applicant's contentions were carefully considered. However, the analyst is unable to determine whether his contentions have merit because the facts and circumstances leading to the discharge are unknown. The burden of proof remains with the former Soldier to provide the appropriate documents or other evidence sufficient to explain the facts, circumstances, and reasons underlying the separation action, for the Board's consideration. Further, there is a presumption of regularity in the conduct of governmental affairs that shall be applied in any review unless there is substantial credible evidence to rebut the presumption. The applicant bears the burden of overcoming this presumption through the presentation of substantial and credible evidence to support his contention. There is no evidence in the record, nor has the applicant produced any evidence, to support the contention that he was wrongfully diagnosed. Therefore, based on the available evidence, the analyst presumes government regularity in the discharge process and concludes that it appears based on the DD Form 214, the narrative reason for discharge was both proper and equitable and recommends to the Board to deny relief. VII. Summary of Army Discharge Review Board Hearing Type of Hearing: Date: 8 February 2012 Location: Dallas, TX Did the Applicant Testify? Yes No Counsel: yes [redacted] Witnesses/Observers: No Exhibits Submitted: DD Form 293, dated (110929); Self-Authored Statement, two (2) pages, dated (060627); two (2) Handwritten Statements; three (3) Letters, [redacted] Psychological Associates, dated (060308), (060308), (060317); three (3) Letters, [redacted] Clinic, dated (061031), (061025); (061025); Doctor's Letter, dated (080327); two (2) Letters, [redacted] Physician Services, dated (081022), (081014); Department of Veterans Affairs, Rating Decision, five (5) pages, dated (090717); NGB Form 22, dated (040504); three (3) Supporting Statements; two (2) Certificates of Completion, [redacted] College, dated (090814), (090509); Medical Documents, consisting of forty-nine (49) pages; and Personnel Documents, consisting of eight (8) pages. The applicant submitted seven additional pages of documents in support of his personal appearance hearing. VIII. Board Discussion, Determination, and Recommendation After carefully examining the applicant's record of service during the period of enlistment under review, hearing his testimony and considering the analyst's recommendation and rationale, the Board determined that the discharge was both proper and equitable and voted to deny relief. IX. Board Decision Board Vote: Character - Change 0 No change 5 Reason - Change 0 No change 5 (Board member names available upon request) X. Board Action Directed Issue a new DD Form 214 Change Characterization to: Change Reason to: No Change Other: NA RE Code: Grade Restoration: No Yes Grade: None XI. Certification Signature Approval Authority: EDGAR J. YANGER Colonel, U.S. Army President, Army Discharge Review Board BONITA E. TROTMAN Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Army Secretary Recorder ????? 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 AR20110020949 ______________________________________________________________________________ Page 3 of 3 pages