IN THE CASE OF:  	

      BOARD DATE:  	21 August 2013

      CASE NUMBER:  	AR20130005385
___________________________________________________________________________

Board Determination and Directed Action

After carefully examining the applicant's record of service during the period of enlistment under review, and considering the Discussion and Recommendation which follows, the Board determined the discharge was both proper and equitable and voted to deny relief.



      
      
      Presiding Officer
      
I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Department of the Army Discharge Review Board in this case.

THE APPLICANT’S REQUEST AND STATEMENT:

1.  The applicant requests an upgrade of her uncharacterized discharge to honorable.

2.  The applicant states, in effect, that she would like an upgrade of her discharge for the purpose of being able to take advantage of her GI Bill benefits.  She contends she was medically discharged and is receiving disability compensation.

DISCHARGE UNDER REVIEW INFORMATION:

	a.	Application Receipt Date:	15 March 2013
	b.	Discharge Received:	Uncharacterized
	c.	Date of Discharge:	27 October 2003
	d.	Reason/Authority/SPD/RE Code:	Failed Medical/Physical/Procurement Standards 
			AR 635-200, Paragraph 5-11, JFW, RE-3
	e.	Unit of assignment:	A Co, 2d Bn, 28th IN, Fort Jackson, SC
	f.	Current Enlistment Date/Term:	2 September 2003, NIF
	g.	Current Enlistment Service:	1 month, 28 days
	h.	Total Service:	6 months, 19 days
	i.	Time Lost:	None
	j.	Previous Discharges:	USAR-030409-031027/NA							   (Concurrent Service)
	k.	Highest Grade Achieved:	E-3
	l.	Military Occupational Specialty:	None
	m.	GT Score:	NIF
	n.	Education:	HS Graduate
	o.	Overseas Service:	None
	p.	Combat Service:	None
	q.	Decorations/Awards:	None
	r.	Administrative Separation Board: 	No
	s.	Performance Ratings:	None
	t.	Counseling Statements:	None
	u.	Prior Board Review:	No

SUMMARY OF SERVICE:		

The applicant enlisted in the United States Army Reserve on 9 April 2003, and was ordered to initial active duty for training (IADT) on 2 September 2003.  She was 27 years old at the time and was a high school graduate.  She was attending basic training at Fort Jackson, SC when her separation was initiated.  Her record documents no acts of valor or significant achievements.  

SEPARATION FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES:

1.  The applicant’s record is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events which led to the discharge from the Army.  However, the record contains a properly constituted DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), which was submitted by the applicant and authenticated with her signature.  

2.  The DD Form 214 indicates the applicant was discharged under the provisions of      Chapter 5-11, AR 635-200, with the reason specified as failed medical/physical procurement standards, and the characterization was described as uncharacterized.  The DD Form 214 shows a Separation Program Designator (SPD) code of JGA and a reentry (RE) code of 3.  

3.  On 21 October 2003, Orders 294-1308, DA, HQ, U.S. Army Training Center and Fort Jackson, Fort Jackson, SC discharged the applicant from the Regular Army and as a Reserve of the Army, effective 27 October 2003.

4.  The applicant’s service record does not contain any evidence of unauthorized absences or time lost.  

EVIDENCE OBTAINED FROM THE APPLICANT'S RECORD:

There are no counseling statements or UCMJ actions in the available records.

EVIDENCE SUBMITTED BY THE APPLICANT:

The applicant provided a DD Form 293, a letter from the Office of Veterans Service, dated      12 March 2013, a copy of a letter from the Veterans Affairs, dated 2 March 2012, and copy of her DD Form 214 for the period of service under review.

POST-SERVICE ACTIVITY: 

None provided by the applicant.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY:

1.  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.

2.  The characterization of service for Soldiers separated under this provision of the regulation will normally be honorable.  However for Soldiers in entry-level status, it will be uncharacterized.  

3.  Army Regulation 635-200 states that a Soldier is in an entry-level status if the Soldier has not completed more than 180 days of creditable continuous active duty prior to the initiation of separation action.

DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION:

1.  The applicant’s request for an upgrade of the characterization of her discharge was carefully considered.  However, after a careful review of all the applicant’s available records for the period of enlistment under review and the issues and documents submitted with the application, there are insufficient mitigating factors to merit an upgrade of the applicant's discharge.  

2.  The applicant’s record is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events which led to her discharge from the Army; however, the 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.  

3.  The DD Form 214 shows the applicant was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 5, paragraph 5-11, AR 635-200, for failure to meet procurement medical fitness standards with service uncharacterized.  In connection with such a discharge, the proceedings of an Entrance Physical Standards Board (EPSB) would have revealed the applicant had a medical condition which 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 EPSB.  The applicant would have had to agree with the findings and the proposed action for administrative separation from the Army.  

4.  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.  An 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 applicant’s available service record contains no such unusual circumstances and his service did not warrant an honorable discharge.  It appears that all requirements of law and regulation were met and that the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process.  

5.  The applicant indicated her desire to take advantage of her veteran benefits as a result of receiving disability compensation.  However, 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.

6.  Furthermore, if the applicant desires a personal appearance hearing, it will be her responsibility to meet the burden of proof and provide the appropriate documents (i.e., the discharge packet) or other evidence sufficient to explain the facts, circumstances, and reasons underlying the separation action, for the Board’s consideration because they are not available in the official record.

7.  Therefore, based on the available evidence and on the presumption of government regularity, it appears the reason for discharge and the characterization of service being both proper and equitable, recommend the Board deny relief.

SUMMARY OF ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD HEARING:

Type of Hearing: Records Review	  Date:  21 August 2013		Location: Washington, DC

Did the Applicant Testify?  No 

Counsel: None

Board Vote:
Character Change:  0	No Change:  5
Reason Change:	0	No Change:  5
(Board member names available upon request)

Board Action Directed:
Issue a new DD Form 214:			No
Change Characterization to:		No Change
Change Reason to:				No Change
Change Authority for Separation:		No Change
Change RE Code to:			No Change
Grade Restoration to:			NA
Other:						NA













Legend:
AMHRR - Army Military Human Resource Record	FG - Field Grade	IADT – Initial Active Duty Training	 	RE - Reentry
AWOL - Absent Without Leave	GD - General Discharge	NA - Not applicable	SCM- Summary Court Martial
BCD - Bad Conduct Discharge	HS - High School	NIF - Not in File	SPCM - Special Court Martial
CG - Company Grade Article 15	HD - Honorable Discharge	OAD - Ordered to Active Duty	UNC - Uncharacterized Discharge  
CID - Criminal investigation Department	MP – Military Police	OMPF - Official Military Personnel File	UOTHC - Under Other Than                           			               Honorable Conditions


ADRB Case Report and Directive (cont)		AR20130005385



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ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD (ADRB)

CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE



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