Applicant Name:  

Application Receipt Date: 2008/06/09	

Prior Review    Prior Review Date: None	

I.  Applicant Request
Request:  Upgrade     Reason Change     RE Code Change    

Issues: See DD Form 293 and attached documents submitted by the Applicant

II.  Were Proper Discharge and Separation Authority procedures followed?  
Yes    No        Tender Offer:   ?????

See Attachments:  Legal     Medical     Minority Opinion     Exhibits 

III.  Original Character of Discharge
Unit CDR Recommended Discharge:    Date: NIF
Discharge Received:     Date: 050811   
Chapter: 5-13     AR: 635-200 
Reason: Personality Disorder
RE:     SPD: JFX
Unit/Location: HHC, 2-14 Inf Bn, FT Drum, NY 

Time Lost: None	

Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): NIF	

Court-Martials (Charges/Dates/Punishment): NIF	

Counseling Records Available: Yes    No 

IV.  Soldier’s Overall Record
Year/Month:  8112  
HOR City, State: Haines, AK
Current ENL Date: 041105    Current ENL Term:   6   Years  ?????
Current ENL Service:   00   Yrs,   09   Mos,  07 Days ?????
Total Service:    07  Yrs,   07 Mos,  12  Days ?????
Previous Discharges: ARNG 981230-011127 / HD
RFAD 000614-000804 / HD
RA 040204-041104 / HD
Highest Grade:   E5   
Performance Ratings Available: Yes    No 
MOS: 11B20  Infantryman    GT:   98     EDU:  GED    Overseas: SWA   Combat: Iraq (040610-050620)
Decorations/Awards: ARCOM / AAMx2 / ASR / NDSM / GWOTSM / GWOTE / CIB

V.  Post-Discharge Activity
Post Service Accomplishments: None Listed	

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.  His DD Form 214 indicates that he was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 5, Paragraph 5-13, AR 635-200, by reason of personality disorder, diagnosed by a medically qualified psychiatrist as suffering from a long standiing disorder of character and behavior, which is of such severity as to interfere with his being able to adequately serve in the U.S. Army.  Furthermore, the DD Form 214 shows a Separation Code of JFX (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.

      c.  Response to Issues, Recommendation and Rationale:  
      After a careful review of all the applicant’s military records during the period of enlistment under review and the issue and documents he submitted, the analyst found no mitigating factors that would merit a change to the narrative reason for discharge on the applicant's DD Form 214.  The specific facts and circumstances leading to the applicant’s discharge are not contained in the available records and the analyst presumed government regularity in the discharge process.  In the discharge process under provisions of AR 635-200, Chapter 5-13, the applicant would have been diagnosed by competent medical authority with an adjustment disorder with mixed disturbance of emotions and conduct and personality disorder not otherwise specified with borderline features.  The unit commander then initiates discharge proceedings under the provisions of Chapter 5, Paragraph 5-13, AR 635-200, by reason of personality disorder, with a characterization of service of honorable.  The analyst noted the applicant's issue, however, 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 "Separation Because of Personality Disorder", and the separation code is "JFX."  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.  Furthermore, at the time of discharge the applicant was appropriately assigned a reentry eligibility (RE) code of “3.”  If the applicant desires to reenlist, he should 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.   In view of the foregoing, the analyst determined that 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: 1 August 2008              
Location: Washington D.C.

Did the Applicant Testify?  Yes     No  

Counsel: NA

Witnesses/Observers: NA 

Exhibits Submitted: NA




VIII.  Board Decision
The discharge was:			Proper	 	Improper	
				                 	Equitable	 	Inequitable	

The characterization of service was:   Proper	 	Improper	
				                 	Equitable	 	Inequitable	

The narrative reasons were: 	       	Equitable	 	Inequitable	

DRB voting record:  		      Change    0      No change   5      - Character
		 			      Change    0      No change   5      - Reason
					      (Board member names available upon request)

IX.  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 and voted to deny relief. 

								        
X.  Board Action Directed
No Change 
Issue a new DD Form 214  
Change Characterization to:    
Change Reason to: NA 
Other: NA 
RE Code:  
Grade Restoration:   No   Yes  Grade: NA 

XI.  Certification Signature and Date
Approval Authority: 

MARK E. COLLINS
Colonel, U.S. Army
President, Army Discharge Review Board

Official: 


CHRISTINE U. MARTINSON			DATE: 4 August 2008
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
Chief, Secretary Recorder
ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD - CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE

Case Number AR20080009257
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