Applicant Name:  ?????

Application Receipt Date: 2009/09/01	Prior Review:     Prior Review Date: NA     

I.  Applicant Request:  Upgrade     Reason Change     RE Code Change    

Issues: The applicant states, in effect, that he requests an upgrade of his discharge to fully honorable or medical.  

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: 000726   Chapter: 5-11    AR: 635-200
Reason: Disability Existed Prior to Service-Medical Board	   RE:     SPD: KFN   Unit/Location: L Co, 266th Quartermaster Battalion, Fort Lee, VA 

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:  29
Current ENL Date: 000626/OAD    Current ENL Term: 00 Years  10 Weeks/with a medical waiver
Current ENL Service: 	00 Yrs, 01Mos, 01Days ?????
Total Service:  		01 Yrs, 11Mos, 18Days ?????
Previous Discharges: 	USMC-880809-881006/UNC
                                       ARNG-981007-9903412/NA
                                       ADT-990413-990726/UNC
                                       ARNG-990727-000625/NA
                                          (Concurrent Service) 
Highest Grade: E-3		Performance Ratings Available: Yes    No 
MOS: None   GT: 116   EDU: HS Grad   Overseas: None   Combat: None
Decorations/Awards: None

V.  Post-Discharge Activity
City, State:  ?????
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 release from the Army (Active Duty Training ADT), 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 he was released from active duty training, discharged from the Reserve of the Army and returned to his national guard unit under the provisions of Chapter 5, paragraph 5-11, AR 635-200, by reason of disability existed prior to service-medical board, with service uncharacterized.  Furthermore, the DD Form 214 shows a Separation Code of KFN (i.e., disability existed prior to service-medical board), with a reentry eligibility (RE) code of "3."  On 24 July 2000, the separation authority directed that the applicant be discharged with an uncharacterized discharge with a separation ( SPD) code of "KFN."  

       b.  Legal Basis for Separation:  
       Army Regulation 635-200 provides the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.  Paragraph 5-11 specifically provides that Soldiers who were not medically qualified under procurement medical fitness standards, when accepted for enlistment, or who became medically disqualified under these standards prior to entry on active duty or active duty training or initial entry training will be separated.  A medical proceeding, regardless of the date completed, must establish that a medical condition was identified by appropriate medical authority within six months of the Soldier’s initial entrance on active duty, that the condition would have permanently or temporarily disqualified the Soldier for entry into the military service had it been detected at that time, and the medical condition does not disqualify the Soldier from retention in the service under the provisions of Army Regulation 40-501, chapter 3.  The characterization of service for Soldiers separated under this provision of regulation will normally be honorable, but will be uncharacterized if the Soldier is in an entry-level status.  For ARNGUS and USAR Soldiers, entry-level status begins upon enlistment in the ARNG or USAR.  For Soldiers ordered to IADT for one continuous period, it terminates 180 days after beginning training.  For Soldiers ordered to IADT for the split or alternate training option, it terminates 90 days after beginning Phase II advanced individual training (AIT).  Soldiers completing Phase I BT or basic combat training (BCT) remain in entry-level status until 90 days after beginning Phase II.

       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, the issue and documents submitted with the application, the analyst found no mitigating factors that would merit an upgrade of the applicant's discharge.  
       
       The applicant’s record is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events that led to his discharge from the Army, however the applicant’s record contains a properly constituted DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), which was authenticated by the applicant’s signature.  This document identifies the reason and characterization of the discharge and the analyst presumed government regularity in the discharge process.  
       
       The DD Form 214 shows the applicant was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 5, paragraph 5-11, AR 635-200, by reason of failed medical/physical procurement standards, with service uncharacterized.  In connection with such a discharge, the proceedings of an Entrance Physical Standards Board (EPSBD) would have revealed that the applicant had a medical condition that was disqualifying for enlistment and that it existed prior to entry on active duty.  
       Subsequently, competent medical authority would have had to approve the findings of the EPSBD.  The applicant would have had to agree with the findings and the proposed action for administrative separation from the Army.  
       A Soldier is in entry-level status (ELS) for the first 180 days of continuous active duty.  The purpose of the entry-level status is to provide the Soldier a probationary period.  Army Regulation 635-200 also provides, except in cases of serious misconduct, that a Soldier’s service will be uncharacterized when his separation is initiated while the Soldier is in entry level status.
       
       For ARNGUS and USAR Soldiers, entry-level status begins upon enlistment in the ARNG or USAR.  For Soldiers ordered to IADT for one continuous period, it terminates 180 days after beginning training.  For Soldiers ordered to IADT for the split or alternate training option, it terminates 90 days after beginning Phase II advanced individual training (AIT).  Soldiers completing Phase I BT or basic combat training (BCT) remain in entry-level status until 90 days after beginning Phase II.
       
       A fully honorable discharge may be granted only in cases which are clearly warranted by unusual circumstances involving outstanding personal conduct and/or performance of duty.  The analyst determined that no such unusual circumstances were present in the applicant’s record and his service did not warrant an honorable discharge.  
       
       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 5-11, AR 635-200.  The narrative reason specified by Army Regulations for a discharge under this paragraph is "Disability Existed Prior to Service-Medical Board," and the separation code is "KFN." 
       
       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 analyst determined that the applicant’s Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) does not contain all the specific documents that would indicate the reason for the separation action from the United States Army.  If the applicant desires to appear before a personal appearance Board, the burden of proof remains with the applicant 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.
       
       Therefore, the analyst determined 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: 7 July 2010         Location: Washington, DC

Did the Applicant Testify?  Yes     No  

Counsel: NA

Witnesses/Observers: NA 

Exhibits Submitted: The applicant submitted a DD Form 149 and the following documents:  Applicant's Letter to State of Indiana Military Department, dated (050202); Enlistment/Reenlistment Document, (2) pages, dated (981007); Hearing Test (2) pages; Sworn Statement, dated (980915); Request for Waiver, dated (980915); Request for Medical Waiver, dated (980918); Active Duty Report, dated 9990723); DA Form 4187, dated (000301); Certificate of Completion, dated (990722); Certificate of Achievement, dated (990625); Active Duty Traing Orders, dated (000418); Memorandum, Expeditious Discharge, dated (000717); Memorandum, Request for Discharge and Waiver of PEB Evaluation, dated (000628); Memorandum,  Personnel Actions Statement, dated (000717); Memorandum, Expeditious Discharge Directed, dated (000724); Discharge Orders-229-029, dated (000816); NGB Form 22, dated (000726); NGB Form 23, dated 050425); Personnel Qualification Record (94) pages, dated (990125); Letter, State of Indiana Military Department: dated (050425); Discharge Worksheet; and two (2) DD Forms 214, dated (000726), (861006). 

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: NA										
RE Code: 
Grade Restoration:   No   Yes   Grade: None




































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 AR20090015245
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