Applicant Name:  ?????

Application Receipt Date: 2010/10/12	Prior Review:     Prior Review Date: NA     

I.  Applicant Request:  Upgrade     Reason Change     RE Code Change    

Issues: The applicant states, “I was hospitalized in the service, put on psych meds, and then shortly after I was discharged for my service connected psychiatric condition which has been granted and rated by the VA.  This is of a medical nature and has caused me to be disabled.  I believe that this circumstance should have been listed on my member 4 DD 214 separation reason as a medical disability, not a personality disorder, as the doctors at the hospital where I was treated while serving could not pinpoint the actual psychiatric condition, the VA has done such.  The current separation reason listed on my DD 214 is very inappropriate and effects many aspects of my life in employment, education benefits, and ruins my self esteem.”

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: 020115   Chapter: 5-13    AR: 635-200
Reason: Personality Disorder  	   RE:     SPD: JFX   Unit/Location: HHC 2/6 INF BN, Baumholder, Germany 

Time Lost: None

Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None

Courts-Martial (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None

Counseling Records Available: Yes    No 

IV.  Soldier’s Overall Record
Age at current enlistment:  18
Current ENL Date: 001031    Current ENL Term: 4 Years  ?????
Current ENL Service: 	1  Yrs, 2 Mos, 15 Days ?????
Total Service:  		1  Yrs, 2 Mos, 15 Days ?????
Previous Discharges: 	None
Highest Grade: E-2		Performance Ratings Available: Yes    No 
MOS: 44B10 Metal Worker   GT: NIF   EDU: HS Grad   Overseas: Germany   Combat: None
Decorations/Awards: ASR

V.  Post-Discharge Activity
City, State:  Teaticket, MA
Post Service Accomplishments: None









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, for a personality disorder,  with an honorable characterization of service.  Furthermore, the DD Form 214 shows a Separation Code of JFX (i.e., personality disorder), with a reentry eligibility (RE) code of 3.
      
      The evidence of record contains a request for a change to the DD Form 214 to be made in blocks 25, separation authority,  26, separation code and 28, narrative reason for separation.  The memorandum request that block 25 be changed to read AR 635-200, paragraph 5-17, block 26 be changed to read JFV, and block 28 be changed to read, physical condition, not a disability.    

      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 military records during the period of enlistment under review, 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 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, for a personality disorder,  with an honorable characterization of service.  Furthermore, the DD Form 214 shows a Separation Code of JFX (i.e., personality disorder), with a reentry eligibility (RE) code of 3.   
      
      Furthermore,  the analyst noted the applicant's issue of changing the narrative reason for discharge to medical disability; 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 "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.  
      
      The analyst noted that the transition specialist submitted a memorandum requesting administrative changes to be made to the DD 214 the day after the DD 214 was processed.  Without corroborating medical documentation or supporting documentation from the chain of command it is unknown as to why the transition specialist would submit a request to change the DD 214.  The applicant admitted that he was hospitalized and treated for psychiatric problems; additionally he submitted documentation from the VA that provides strong support for the original narrative reason as being correct.  Without further documentation to the contrary it appears that the original DD 214 is correct.
      
      The analyst noted the applicant's employment and education benefit issues; however, the Board does not grant relief solely for the purpose of gaining or enhancing employment opportunities or gaining or enhancing education benefits.
      
      Eligibility for veteran's benefits to include educational benefits under the Post-9/11 or Montgomery GI Bill does not fall within the purview of the Army Discharge Review Board.  Accordingly, the applicant should contact a local office of the Department of Veterans Affairs for further assistance.
      
      In view of the foregoing, the analyst determined 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: 6 July 2011         Location: Washington, D. C.

Did the Applicant Testify?  Yes     No  

Counsel: None

Witnesses/Observers: None 

Exhibits Submitted: DD Form 293 with a self-authored statement, VA disability documents and a DD Form 214.

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: NA

































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 AR20100023442
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