Applicant Name: ????? Application Receipt Date: 070726 Prior Review Prior Review Date: None I. Applicant Request Request: Upgrade Reason Change RE Code Change Issues: See enclosed DD Form 293 submitted by the applicant. II. Were Proper Discharge and Separation Authority procedures followed? Yes No Tender Offer: ????? See Attachments: Legal Medical Minority Opinion Exhibits III. Original Character of Discharge Unit CDR Recommended Discharge: Date: NIF Discharge Received: Date: 040302 Chapter: 5-17 AR: 635-200 Reason: Physical Condition, Not A Disability RE: SPD: JFV Unit/Location: E Co, 2-81 AR, Fort Knox, KY Time Lost: None Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None Court-Martials (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None Counseling Records Available: Yes No IV. Soldier’s Overall Record Year/Month: 8404 HOR City, State: Garland, TX Current ENL Date: 031023 Current ENL Term: 3 Years ????? Current ENL Service: 00 Yrs, 04 Mos, 10Days ????? Total Service: 00 Yrs, 04 Mos, 10 Days ????? Previous Discharges: None Highest Grade: E-1 Performance Ratings Available: Yes No MOS: None GT: 100 EDU: HS Grad Overseas: None Combat: None Decorations/Awards: None V. Post-Discharge Activity Post Service Accomplishments: None Listed VI. Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation a. Facts and Circumstances: Evidence of record shows that on 6 January 2004, the applicant was evaluated at the Behavioral Medicine Clinic and diagnosed with an adjustment disorder with anxious mood and recommended separation in accordance with (IAW) AR 635-200, Chapter 5-17. On 20 February 2004, the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of separation action under the provisions of AR 635-200,Chapter 5, Paragraph 5-17, Other Designated Physical Or Mental Conditions, was seen by Behavioral Medicine Clinic personnel for psychiatric evaluation due to his inability to adjust to the military lifesyle. He was diagnosed as suffering from adjustment disorder with anxious mood. His mental health problems, which he did not report at his enlistment, are so severe that his ability to effectively perform duties was significantly impaired and renders him unfit for service. IAW AR 635-200, Chapter 5-17c, he was formally counseled concerning his deficiencies and has been afforded ample opportunity to overcome those deficiencies as reflected in appropriate counseling, with service uncharacterized. He was advised of his rights. The applicant consulted with legal counsel, was advised of the impact of the discharge action, and did not submit a statement in his own behalf. The unit commander subsequently recommended separation from the service and waiver of further rehabilitative efforts. The intermediate commander reviewed the proposed discharge action and recommended approval of the separation action with an uncharacterized discharge. On 24 February 2004, the separation authority waived further rehabilitative efforts and directed that the applicant be discharged with service uncharacterized. b. Legal Basis for Separation: Army Regulation 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 under Army Regulation 635-40, which interferes with assignment to or performance of duty. The regulation requires that the condition interferes with the Soldiers’ ability to perform duty, and requires that the diagnosis be so severe that the Soldier’s ability to function in the military environment is significantly impaired. Army Regulation 635-200 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. A general, under honorable conditions discharge is normally inappropriate for individuals separated under the provisions of Chapter 5-17 unless properly notified of the specific factors in his/her service that warrant such characterization. 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 and the issues he submitted, the analyst recommends that relief be denied in this case. A mental status evaluation by competent medical authority diagnosed the applicant with an adjustment disorder with anxious mood. The unit commander subsequently recommended separation under provisions of AR 635-200, Chapter 5, paragraph 5-17, by reason of other physical or mental condition not amounting to a disability, with an uncharacterized separation of service. 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. Further, for Soldiers in entry-level status, a fully 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 analyst determined that no such unusual circumstances were present in the applicant’s record and his service did not warrant an honorable discharge. Furthermore, the analyst noted the applicant's issues; however, the Board does not grant relief solely for the purpose of gaining employment or enhancing employment opportunities. In view of the foregoing, the analyst determined that the reason for discharge and the characterization of service were both proper and equitable and recommends to the Board to deny relief. VII. Summary of Army Discharge Review Board Hearing Type of Hearing: Date: 2 July 2008 Location: Washington, DC Did the Applicant Testify? Yes No Counsel: NA Witnesses/Observers: NA Exhibits Submitted: NA VIII. Board Decision The discharge was: Proper Improper Equitable Inequitable The characterization of service was: Proper Improper Equitable Inequitable The narrative reasons were: Equitable Inequitable DRB voting record: Change 0 No change 5 - Character Change 0 No change 5 - Reason (Board member names available upon request) IX. 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. X. Board Action Directed No Change Issue a new DD Form 214 Change Characterization to: Change Reason to: None Other: NA RE Code: Grade Restoration: No Yes Grade: None XI. Certification Signature and Date Approval Authority: MARK E. COLLINS Colonel, U.S. Army President, Army Discharge Review Board Official: CHRISTINE U. MARTINSON DATE: 8 July 2008 Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army Chief, Secretary Recorder ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD - CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE Case Number AR20070010434 ______________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 5 pages