IN THE CASE OF:  	Ms. 

      BOARD DATE:  	 22 May 2013

      CASE NUMBER:  	AR20130005664
___________________________________________________________________________

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 that 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 discharge from uncharacterized to honorable.

2.  The applicant states, in effect, that she was discharged during basic training for an adjustment disorder but she feels much better now and would like to reenlist and serve again.

DISCHARGE UNDER REVIEW INFORMATION:

a. Application Receipt Date:		18 March 2013
b. Discharge received:			Uncharacterized
c. Date of Discharge:			19 Novemberr 2010
d. Reason/Authority/SPD/RE:		Condition, Not a Disability, AR 635-200, 								Chapter 5-17, JFV, RE-3
e. Unit of assignment:			B Co, 2d Bn, 13th Infantry Rgt, Fort Jackson, SC
f. Current Enlistment Date/Term:	4 October 2010, 4 years and 23 weeks	
g. Current Enlistment Service:	0 years, 1 month, 16 days
h. Total Service:			0 years, 1 month, 16 days
i. Time Lost:				None
j. Previous Discharges:		None
k. Highest Grade Achieved:		E-2
l.  Military Occupational Specialty:	None
m. GT Score:				99
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 Regular Army on 4 October 2010, for a period of 4 years and 23 weeks.  She was 24 years old at the time of entry and was a high school graduate.  Her record does not show any acts of valor or significant achievements.  At the time of her discharge she was undergoing basic combat training at Fort Jackson, SC.





SEPARATION FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES

1.  The evidence contained in the applicant’s record indicates that on 11 November 2010, the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of separation action under the provisions of Chapter 5, paragraph 5-17, AR 635-200, by reason of other designated physical or mental condition, not a disability, specifically for having been diagnosed by competent medical authority with an adjustment disorder with depressed mood.  

2.  The unit commander recommended an entry level discharge with service uncharacterized and advised the applicant of her rights.

3.  On 11 November 2010, the applicant waived legal counsel, was advised of the impact of the discharge action, and did not submit a statement on her behalf.  The unit commander subsequently recommended separation from the Service.  The intermediate commander reviewed the proposed action and recommended approval of with an uncharacterized discharge.  

4.  On 16 November 2010, the separation authority waived further rehabilitation and directed the applicant’s discharge with an uncharacterized separation of service.

5.  The applicant was discharged from the Army on 19 November 2010, with a characterization of service listed as uncharacterized.

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

EVIDENCE OBTAINED FROM THE APPLICANT'S RECORD

The record does not contain any violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice or any negative counseling statements.

EVIDENCE SUBMITTED BY THE APPLICANT 

 The applicant provided a doctor’s letter and three character reference letters.

POST-SERVICE ACTIVITY: 

None provided with the application.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY  

1.  Army Regulation (AR) 635-200 provides the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.  Paragraph 5-17 specifically provides that a Soldier may be separated for other physical or mental conditions not amounting to a disability, which interferes with assignment to or performance of duty and requires that the diagnosis be so severe that the Soldier’s ability to function in the military environment is significantly impaired.  

2.  AR 635-200, paragraph 5-1, states that a Soldier being separated under this paragraph will be awarded a characterization of service of honorable, under honorable conditions, or an uncharacterized description of service if in entry-level status.  It further states that a separation will be described as entry-level with service uncharacterized if, at the time separation action is initiated, the Soldier has less than 180 days of continuous active duty service.

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 available records for the period of enlistment under review and the issues submitted with the application, there were insufficient mitigating factors to merit an upgrade of the applicant's discharge.  
      
2.  The evidence of record shows the applicant, while in training status, was diagnosed by competent medical authority with an adjustment disorder with depressed mood, a condition which was incompatible with military service.  It was determined that this condition interfered with her ability to perform her duties and to properly function in the military environment.    
      
3.  The applicant’s service was uncharacterized because she was in entry-level status.  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.  AR 635-200 also provides, except in cases of serious misconduct, that a Soldier’s service will be uncharacterized when the separation is initiated while the Soldier is in entry level status.  
      
4.  For a Soldier 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 service record contains no such unusual circumstances were present and her service did not warrant an honorable discharge.  The record does not contain any evidence of arbitrary or capricious actions by the command and it appears that all requirements of law and regulation were met and the applicant’s rights were fully protected throughout the separation process.  

5.  The applicant contends that she is now much better and would like to rejoin the Army.  However, Soldiers being processed for separation are assigned reentry codes based on their service records or the reason for discharge.  Based on AR 635-5-1 and the SPD Code/RE Code Cross Reference Table, the applicant was appropriately assigned an RE code of 3.  There are no basis upon which to grant a change to the reason or to the RE code.  An RE Code of 3 indicates the applicant requires a waiver prior to being allowed to reenlist.  If reenlistment is desired, the applicant should contact a local recruiter to determine eligibility to reenlist.  Recruiters 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 if appropriate. 

6.  Therefore, 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:  22 May 2013		Location: Washington, DC

Did the Applicant Testify?  No

Counsel:  None

Witnesses/Observers: NA

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 RE Code to:		NA
Grade Restoration to:		NA
Change Authority for Separation:	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	UOTH - Under Other Than                           			               Honorable
ADRB Case Report and Directive (cont)		AR 20130005664		

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ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD (ADRB)

CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE



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