IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 23 February 2016 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20150008486 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests, in effect, the narrative reason for his uncharacterized discharge be changed. 2. The applicant states that his discharge papers show he was discharged because of a pre-existing condition. The condition did not exist prior to his entering the Army. He was discharged because of a misread electrocardiogram (EKG) chart showing a slow heartbeat. His cardiologist informed him that this is a completely harmless condition. 3. The applicant provides a 30 April 2015 letter from G____ C____, MD, Heart and Vascular Center, Cleveland, Ohio, and an EKG report. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 14 February 2012. He did not complete training. 2. A DA Form 3349 (Physical Profile) shows the applicant was issued a temporary profile on 26 March 2012. The medical condition is listed as pericarditis (heart inflammation). 3. In a 4 April 2012 DA Form 2823 (Sworn Statement) the applicant indicated he was being discharged due to viral pericarditis. He indicated he was unsure as to when the condition developed. He had "blacked out" during a ruck march due to chest pain. He also reported that he did not have the condition during recruitment. 4. His DA Form 4707 (Entrance Physical Standards Board (EPSBD) Proceedings), approved on 5 April 2012, shows in: a. Item 8 (Findings by the Evaluation Board): (1) During the second week of training while doing a ruck march the applicant passed out in the second mile. He was taken to the emergency room and diagnosed with pericarditis. He was placed in intensive care and evaluated by staff internists. He was released from the hospital on profile and told to follow up at sick call. Cardiac enzymes were normal but EKG's revealed slight elevations consistent with pericarditis. The applicant revealed he felt better but still was too weak to try any training. (2) The applicant did not receive a waiver for this condition upon joining the Army. (3) Recommendation: The applicant should be separated from the Army. b. On 5 April 2012, the medical approving authority approved the findings of the EPSBD. 5. The applicant indicated he did not want to remain on active duty. 6. On 13 April 2012, the discharge authority directed the applicant's reassignment to another company for the purpose of separation from the Army in accordance with AR 635-200, paragraph 5-11, for a medical condition that existed prior to service. He also directed the applicant receive an entry-level separation (uncharacterized). 7. Accordingly, he was discharged effective 26 April 2012, under the provisions of paragraph 5-11, Army Regulation 635-200, by reason of failure to meet procurement medical fitness standards. He had completed 2 months and 13 days of active duty service. His DD Form 214 also shows in: * item 24 (Character of Service) Uncharacterized * item 26 (Separation Code) JFW * item 28 (Narrative Reason for Separation) Failed Medical/Physical Procurement Standards 8. The applicant submitted a Heart and Vascular Center letter showing he had been evaluated for a questionable history of viral pericarditis. The evaluation included an EKG and echocardiogram, both of which were normal. He is in excellent health and does not have any restrictions on his physical activities and is fit for military duty. 9. Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for separation of enlisted personnel. Paragraph 5-11 specifically provides that Soldiers who are 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, active duty for training, or initial entry training will be separated. A medical proceeding conducted by an EPSBD, regardless of the date completed, must establish that a medical condition was identified by appropriate medical authority within 6 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 the time of enlistment, 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 will normally be honorable, but will be uncharacterized (entry level status) if the Soldier has not completed more than 180 days of creditable continuous active duty service prior to the initiation of separation action. 10. Army Regulation 635-5-1 (Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes) states that the SPD codes are three-character alphabetic combinations which identify reasons for and types of separation from active duty. The SPD code JFW is the correct code for Soldiers separating under the provisions of chapter 5-11 of Army Regulation 635-200. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The EPSBD proceedings clearly established he suffered from a disqualifying medical condition that would have precluded his enlistment had it been detected prior to service. 2. He passed out while on a ruck march during training, he was diagnosed with pericarditis and separation action was initiated. He was advised of his rights and presented with options. He elected immediate discharge without any delay. All requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process. 3. There is no available evidence that supports the applicant's assertion he was discharged because of a misread EKG report. 4. The uncharacterized entry-level status separation was the only character of service the applicant was authorized based on the authority and reason for his discharge action. 5. An uncharacterized discharge is not meant to be a negative reflection of a Soldier’s military service. It merely means the Solder has not been in the Army long enough for the Soldier's character of service to be rated as honorable or otherwise. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ___X_____ ____X____ ____X____ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned. _____________X___________ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20130000514 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20150008486 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1