IN THE CASE OF:  

		BOARD DATE:  27 July 2021

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20200002628


APPLICANT REQUESTS:  a change in the narrative reason for his separation.

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD:

*	DD Form 293 (Application for Review of Discharge from the Armed Forces of the 
United States)
*	DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty)

FACTS:

1.  The applicant did not file within the three-year time frame provided in Title 10, United 
States Code, section 1552(b); however, the Army Board for Correction of Military 
Records (ABCMR) conducted a substantive review of this case and determined it is in 
the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file.

2.  The applicant states he is trying to get a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Home 
Loan Certificate.  He was a National Guardsman called to active duty in support of 
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 12301-D.  He 
completed 10 months of service and had to return home after receiving a red cross 
message duty a medical emergency with his wife.  He would like the narrative reason 
for separation changed from “dependency” to read “Completion of Required Active 
Service.”

3.  The applicant provides his DD Form 214 for his active service from 10 February 
2003 to 30 December 2003.

4.  A review of the applicant’s service record shows:

	a.  His service record is void of enlistment documents, a DA Form 2-1 (Personnel 
Qualification Record), and/or and Enlisted Record Brief.

	b.  Orders 027-332, dated 6 February 2003, ordered the applicant to active duty as a 
member of his Reserve Component Unit, the Connecticut Army National Guard 
(CTARNG) with an effective date of 10 February 2003.
	c.  The service record is void of separation proceedings for the applicant.

   d.  He was honorably released from active duty on 30 December 2003.  His DD 
Form 214 shows he completed 10 months and 21 days of active service with no lost 
time.  He was assigned separation code “MDB” and the narrative reason for separation 
listed as “Dependency.”

   e.  The service record is void of the discharge document from the CTARNG; 
however, the NGB Form 22A (Correction to NGB Form 22) show the applicant was 
discharged from the CTARNG.

5.  By regulation (AR 635-200), action will be taken to separate a Soldier for 
dependency when dependency exists due to death or disability of a member of a 
Soldier’s immediate family which causes the member to rely upon the Soldier for 
principal care or support.  The service of a member separated per this paragraph will be 
characterized as honorable unless an entry level separation is required under chapter 3, 
section II.

6.  By regulation (AR 635-5), the DD Form 214 is a summary of the Soldier's most 
recent period of continuous active duty.  It provides a brief, clear-cut record of all current 
active, prior active, and prior inactive duty service at the time of release from active 
duty, retirement, or discharge.  The information entered thereon reflects the conditions 
as they existed at the time of separation.  Block 28 (Narrative Reason for Separation) is 
based on regulatory or other authority and can checked against the cross reference in 
AR 635-5-1 (Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes).

7.  By regulation (AR 635-5-1), in effect at the time, enlisted Soldiers receive separation 
codes in accordance with the guidelines published for separations per Army Regulation 
635-200.  The narrative reason for the separation will be entered in block 28 of the DD 
Form 214 exactly as listed in appendix B or C of the regulation.  Appendix C lists for 
SPD code MDB, the narrative reason for separation, “hardship” per AR 635-200, 
paragraph 6-3a or b.

	
BOARD DISCUSSION:

After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board determined 
relief was not warranted.  Based upon the reason for the separation noted by the 
applicant’s statement and the current narrative reason for separation reflected on the 
applicant’s DD Form 214, the Board concluded there was insufficient evidence of an 
error or injustice which would warrant a change to the applicant’s narrative reason for 
separation.  The Board found determined that the current entry accurately reflects the 
facts and circumstances leading to the applicant’s separation.
BOARD VOTE:

Mbr 1	Mbr 2	Mbr 3

:	:	:	GRANT FULL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT FORMAL HEARING

:XXX	:XXX	:XX	DENY APPLICATION


BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or 
injustice.  Therefore, the Board determined the overall merits of this case are insufficient 
as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned.
		  
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.

REFERENCES:

1.  Title 10, United States Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for 
correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged 
error or injustice.  This provision of law also allows the ABCMR to excuse an applicant's 
failure to timely file within the 3 year statute of limitations if the Army Board for 
Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) determines it would be in the interest of justice 
to do so.

2.  Army Regulation 635-200 (Active Duty Enlisted Administrative Separations), in effect 
at the time, sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.  
Chapter 6-3a (Separation Because of Dependency or Hardship) of the regulation states 
a Soldier may be separated for dependency when dependency exists due to death or 
disability of a member of a Soldier’s immediate family which causes the member to rely 
upon the Soldier for principal care or support.  The service of a member separated per 
this paragraph will be characterized as honorable unless an entry level separation is 
required under chapter 3, section II. 

3.  Army Regulation 635-5 (Separation Documents), states the DD Form 214 is a 
summary of the Soldier's most recent period of continuous active duty.  It provides a 
brief, clear-cut record of all current active, prior active, and prior inactive duty service at 
the time of release from active duty, retirement, or discharge.  The information entered 
thereon reflects the conditions as they existed at the time of separation.  Block 28 
(Narrative Reason for Separation) is based on regulatory or other authority and can 
checked against the cross reference in AR 635-5-1 (Separation Program Designator 
(SPD) Codes).

4.  Army Regulation 635-5-1 (Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes), in effect at 
the time, provides SPD codes are three-character alphabetic combinations that identify 
reasons for, and types of, separation from active duty. The narrative reason for the 
separation will be entered in block 28 of the DD Form 214 exactly as listed in appendix 
B or C of the regulation.  Appendix C lists for SPD code MDB, the narrative reason for 
separation, “hardship” per AR 635-200, paragraph 6-3a or b.

//NOTHING FOLLOWS//
ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20200002628


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ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


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