Applicant Name:  ?????

Application Receipt Date: 2009/08/17	Prior Review:     Prior Review Date: NA     

I.  Applicant Request:  Upgrade     Reason Change     RE Code Change    

Issues: The applicant states in her issue that "#24 states "uncharacterized
 for Character of Service. This is preventing me from gaining employment within the State of Delaware Correctional Facilities. #26 states "JGA" as my Separation Code. My research shows that this is "JGA - Entry level status performance and conduct or entry level status performance - pregnancy". I was not pregnant at the time of 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: NIF
Discharge Received: 			   Date: 970326   Chapter: 11       AR: 635-200
Reason: Entry Level Performance and Conduct	   RE:     SPD: JGA   Unit/Location: Company E, 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Brigade, Fort Jackson, SC 

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:  18
Current ENL Date: 970224    Current ENL Term: 4 Years  ?????
Current ENL Service: 	0 Yrs, 1 Mos, 3 Days ?????
Total Service:  		0 Yrs, 1 Mos, 3 Days ?????
Previous Discharges: 	None
Highest Grade: E-1		Performance Ratings Available: Yes    No 
MOS: None   GT: NIF   EDU: HS Grad   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:
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 that the applicant was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 11, AR 635-200, by reason of entry level performance and conduct with an uncharacterized separation of service. 
Furthermore, the DD Form 214 shows a Separation Code of JGA (i.e., entry level performance and conduct) with a reentry eligibility (RE) code of 3. 
       

       b.  Legal Basis for Separation:  
       Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.  Chapter 11, of this regulation, in pertinent part, states that a member may be separated for unsatisfactory performance, conduct, or both, while in an entry level status.  This provision of the regulation applies to Soldiers who can not meet the minimum standards for training, have demonstrated that they are not qualified for retention because they can not adapt socially or emotionally to military life or because they lack the aptitude, ability, motivation or self discipline for military service, or they have demonstrated characteristics not compatible with satisfactory continued military service.  The regulation requires an uncharacterized discharge for separation under this Chapter.

       c.  Response to Issues, Recommendation and Rationale:  
       After a careful review of all the applicant’s available records for the period of enlistment under review, and the issue submitted with the application, the analyst found no mitigating factors that would merit an upgrade of the applicant's discharge. 
       
       The DD Form 214 indicates that the applicant was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 11, AR 635-200, by reason of entry level performance and conduct with service uncharacterized.  Army Regulation 635-200 provides in pertinent part, that a Soldier is in entry-level status for the first 180 days of continuous active duty. 
       
       The purpose of the entry-level status is to provide the Soldier a probationary period.  Soldiers who are found to lack the necessary motivation, adaptability, self-discipline, ability, or attitude to become productive Soldiers may be expeditiously separated while in entry-level status.  A general, under honorable conditions discharge is not authorized under ELS conditions.  
       
       Furthermore, the analyst noted the applicant's issue; however, any individual who has served for less than 180 days at the time his or her commander initiated separation action, and is not being separated for serious misconduct, will be given an uncharacterized discharge.  This is not an adverse separation action and denotes only that the individual had less than 180 days on active duty. 
       
       The separation code (SPD) JGA on the applicant's DD Form 214, block 26, is the correct one.  Army Regulation 635-5, Separation Documents, governs preparation of the DD Form 214 and dictates that entry of the 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.  Further, the Board does not grant relief solely for the purpose of gaining employment or enhancing employment opportunities. 
       
       Additionally, 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.  If the applicant desires a personal appearance hearing, it will still be her responsibility to meet the burden of proof since the evidence is not available in the official record. 
       
       Therefore, based on the available evidence, the analyst presumes government regularity in the discharge process and concludes that it appears 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: 30 June 2010         Location: Washington, DC

Did the Applicant Testify?  Yes     No  

Counsel: NA

Witnesses/Observers: NA 

Exhibits Submitted: None submitted by the applicant.

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 and voted to deny relief. 
        
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: No Change										
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 AR20090014182
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