PART II - APPLICATION DATA

      (Note: Part I deleted under the Privacy Act on Reading Room copy)

1.  Character of Discharge:  Uncharacterized

2.  Date of discharge (or REFRAD):  030930

3.  Authority for separation:

      a.  Regulation:  Chapter 5, Paragraph 5-17, AR 635-200

      b.  Reason:  Physical Condition, Not a Disability

4.  Prior review(s):  NONE



                         PART III - SERVICE HISTORY

                 SECTION A - Period of Service Under Review

1.    Service data:                              2.  Awards and
    decorations:
                                           NONE
    a.  Period entered for:  3 Years
    b.  Entry date:  030103
    c.  Age:  20 Years   DOB:  820116


    d.  Educational level:  GED


    e.  Aptitude area score:
          GT:  127                               3.  Highest grade
achieved:
    f.  Length of Service:                         E2
          0 Year(s)  8 Month(s)  28 Day(s)


                                               4.  Performance evaluations:

                                                   NONE

                         PART III - SERVICE HISTORY
           SECTION A - Period of Service Under Review - Continued

5.  Periods of unauthorized absence:  NONE

    Status       Inclusive dates
      AWOL

      Mil conf

      Civil conf

      Other


6.  Nonjudicial punishment:  NONE

      Date  Offense(s)



7.  Court-Martial data:  NONE

      a.  SCM:
            Date   Offense(s)


      b.  SPCM:
            Date   Offense(s)


      c.  GCM:
            Date   Offense(s)


8.    Remarks:  NONE


                       SECTION B - Prior Service Data
                                    NONE

Other discharge(s):

      Service    From  To    Type Discharge





                         PART IV - PREHEARING REVIEW

                       SECTION A-ANALYST’S ASSESSMENT
l.  Facts and Circumstances:

      a.  Evidence of record shows that on 4 June 2003, the applicant
arrived at the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Program due to calcaneal
stress reactions of the right and left heels sustained while in basic
combat training.  On 15 August 2003, the applicant’s physical therapist
indicated that he had not made adequate progress towards increasing his
function and returning to training.  He was expected to heal fully if given
more time to do so.  He was recommended for discharge since he had
exhausted all rehabilitative care options.  On 18 September 2003, the unit
commander notified the applicant of separation action under the provisions
of Chapter 5-17, AR 635-200, by reason of physical condition, not a
disability, with a general, under honorable conditions discharge.  He was
advised of his rights.  The applicant waived his right to consult with
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 and waiver of further
rehabilitative efforts.  On 19 September 2003, the separation authority
waived further rehabilitative efforts and directed that the applicant be
discharged with an uncharacterized discharge.

      b.  On 30 September 2003, the applicant was discharged.  At the time
of discharge, the applicant had completed 8 months and 28 days of active
military service in the period under review.

2.  Legal/Regulatory Basis for Separation Action:  Army Regulation 635-200
provides the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.
Paragraph 5-17 provides that a soldier may be separated for other physical
or mental conditions not amounting to a disability under Army Regulation
635-40, that 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 policy states that the service of personnel
separated under this paragraph will be characterized as honorable, general,
under honorable conditions, or uncharacterized if in entry-level status.  A
general, under honorable conditions discharge is normally inappropriate for
individuals separated under the provisions of Chapter 5-17.



                      SECTION B-APPLICANT’S SUBMISSIONS


1.  Issue(s) of propriety and/or equity submitted by applicant or counsel.
    As stated on applicant’s DD Form 293.

2.  Exhibit(s) submitted:

      A-1:  DD Form 293, dated 040330, with multiple enclosure(s).
      A-2:  Counsel Issues:  NONE
      B-l:  Other Documents: NONE


                   PART IV - PREHEARING REVIEW (CONTINUED)

              SECTION C - Medical and/or Legal Advisory Opinion


Referred to ( ) Medical Advisor      ( ) Legal Advisor



      a.  Medical prehearing comments (if applicable):


      b.  Legal prehearing comments (if applicable):











                         PART V - SUMMARY OF HEARING

                      SECTION A-Attendees and exhibits

1.  Review/hearing information:


      a. Type requested:
         ( X ) Records review             (   ) Hearing

      b. Type Held:
         ( X )Records review              (   ) Hearing
                                          (   ) Tender Offer

      c. Review/hearing location and date:  Washington, D.C. on 1 December
2004.

      d. Appearance by:
         Applicant                 (   ) Yes   ( X ) No
         Counsel                   (   ) Yes   ( X ) No

      e.  Applicant testified:     (   ) Yes   ( X ) No

      f.  Counsel presentation:    (   ) Yes   ( X ) No

      g.  Witness(es) testified:   (   ) Yes   ( X ) No

2.  Exhibit(s) submitted at hearing:
                        PART VI - ISSUES AND FINDINGS

1.  a.  Applicant's issue(s) of propriety and/or equity:

          ( X )  Same as those listed on DD Form 293 and Part IV, Section A
              of this case report and directive.
          (   )  Revised issue(s) furnished in writing by applicant as
              follows:
          ( X )  Additional issue(s) identified during review/hearing as
              follows:

        Board Issue:  (3)  The discharge is improper.

      b.  Request:  ( X ) Recharacterization     ( X ) Change of Reason

2.  Finding(s), conclusion(s), and reason(s) for the Board's decision(s) on
issues of propriety and/or equity:


      a.  Propriety:   The parenthetical number(s) below correspond(s) to
                   the issue number(s) on the DD Form 293, or in Part VI,
                   Paragraph 1, above.

        (3)  The issue is accepted.  The Board noted that the applicant’s
discharge was approved by an improper separation authority and determined
that the discharge was improper.  Accordingly, the Board voted to grant
relief by changing the characterization of service to fully honorable and
the narrative reason for discharge to Secretarial Authority.  This action
does not include a change in RE code.

      b.  Equity:      The parenthetical number(s) below correspond(s) to
                   the issue number(s) on the DD Form 293, or in Part VI,
                   Paragraph 1, above.

        (1) and (2)  See Paragraph 3, below.

3.  Response(s) to item(s) not addressed as decisional issue(s):

    This Board is not empowered to change the narrative reason for
separation to “physical disability” based upon decisions taken by the
Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA).  The DVA administers veteran’s
benefits in accordance with its own policies and regulations.

                           PART VII - BOARD ACTION
                   SECTION A - Conclusions/Decisions/Vote

1.    Board conclusion(s):

      The discharge was:

      (   ) Proper.
      ( X ) Improper as to characterization.  Change characterization to
           Honorable.
      ( X ) Improper as to reason.  Change reason to Secretarial Authority
           under Chapter 5, AR 635-200.

      (   ) Equitable.
      (   ) Inequitable as to characterization.  Change characterization to
                                         .
      (   ) Inequitable as to reason.  Change reason to
                                 
            under                                 .
      (   ) Both proper and equitable, but characterization/reason for
           separation cited was an administrative/clerical error and should
           be changed to                      under
                                   .

2.  Voting record:      Change   No Change
                  Reason       5         0
    Characterization       5         0

        The names and votes of the members of the Board are recorded in
Part IX of this document and can be obtained by writing to the address
below.  The request must contain the CASE NO. located in the upper right
corner of this document.

                  Department of the Army Review Boards Agency
                  ATTN:  Promulgation Team
                  1901 South Bell Street, 2nd Floor
                  Arlington, VA  22202-4508



3.  Minority views:  NONE
                           PART VII - BOARD ACTION
                 SECTION B - Verification and Authentication

Case report reviewed and verified

                          
Ms. McKim-Spilker
Case Reviewing Official

                     PART VIII - DIRECTIVE/CERTIFICATION
                            SECTION A - DIRECTIVE

TO: ARBA Support Division-St Louis      Date:  3 December 2004

     The Army Discharge Review Board, established under the provisions of
Section 30, Public Law 346, 78th Congress, 22 June 1944 and codified as
Title 10, United States Code, Section 1553, in the case of the applicant
named in Part I directs that the ARBA Support Division-St Louis issue a new
DD Form 2l4 to the applicant which reflects the following directed
change(s):

           ( X ) Change characterization of discharge to Honorable.
           ( X ) Change reason and authority for discharge to
            Secretarial Authority, AR 635-200.
           ( X ) Other (see remarks below).

Remarks:  This action does not entail a change in RE code.

                          SECTION B - CERTIFICATION

Approval Authority:


ROBERT L. HOUSE
Colonel, U.S. Army
President, Army Discharge
   Review Board

Official:




MARY E. SHAW
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
Chief, Secretary Recorder

EXHIBITS:
A - Application for review of discharge                  C - Other
B - Material submitted by applicant

INDEX RECORD:

AR Number:  2004106720                    INDEX NUMBERS:  A0108
Date of Review:  041201                                   A1200
Character of Service:  EL                                 A9445
Date of Discharge:  030930
Authority:  AR 635-200 C5
Reason:  A2800
Results of Board Action/
Vote/Affirmation:  HD 5-0 A




                           PART IX - VOTING RECORD

    Name                                   Reason          Characterization
                                           CHANGE   NC     HON  UHC   NC
UNCHAR

    1.      Mbr    X             X                 

    2.      Mbr    X             X                 

    3.      Mbr    X             X                 

    4.      Mbr    X             X                 

    5.      PO     X             X