Applicant Name: ????? Application Receipt Date: 2010/03/11 Prior Review: Prior Review Date: NA I. Applicant Request: Upgrade Reason Change RE Code Change Issues: The applicant states, in effect, that he elected early separation to attend school and that his request was granted. However, block 25, of his DD Form 214 is incorrect. He believes this paragraph is for a physical or mental disorder. II. Were Proper Discharge and Separation Authority procedures followed? Tender Offer: NA See Attachments: Legal Medical Minority Opinion Exhibits III. Discharge Under Review Unit CDR Recommended Discharge: Date: 990309 Discharge Received: Date: 990726 Chapter: 5-17 AR: 635-200 Reason: Attend School RE: SPD: MCF Unit/Location: HHT, 3-4 Cav Sqdn, Schofield Bks, HI Time Lost: None Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None Courts-Martial (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None Counseling Records Available: Yes No IV. Soldier’s Overall Record Age at current enlistment: 20 Current ENL Date: 960725 Current ENL Term: 3 Years 5 months Current ENL Service: 03 Yrs, 02Mos, 24Days ????? Total Service: 03 Yrs, 02Mos, 24Days ????? Previous Discharges: None Highest Grade: E-4 Performance Ratings Available: Yes No MOS: 19D10/Cavalry Scout GT: 93 EDU: HS Grad Overseas: Hawaii Combat: None Decorations/Awards: ARCOM, AGCM, ASR, OSR V. Post-Discharge Activity City, State: Williston, OH Post Service Accomplishments: On 17 May 1999, the applicant was commissioned in the Army National Guard as a 2LT. VI. Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation a. Facts and Circumstances: The evidence of record shows that on 9 March 1999, the applicant requested early separation separation to attend the University of Toledo, he provided the appropriate acceptance documents, and the unit commander reviewed the DA Form 4187 submitted by the applicant and recommended approval, under the provisions of AR 635-200, paragraph 5-17. The intermediate commander also recommended approval of the applicant’s request for early separation to attend shool. On 24 March 1999, the separation authority approved the request for early separation to attend school and directed the applicant’s discharge with a characterization of service of fully honorable. The applicant was transferred to the Individual Ready Reserve to complete his service obligation. b. Legal Basis for Separation: Army Regulation 635-200 provides the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Chapter 5, paragraph 5-17 provided at the time, that a Soldier may be separated early to attend school. Soldiers may be discharged or released from active duty for the convenience of the Government, up to 90 days before ETS, in order to attend a specific term at college, university, vocational school, or technical school. To qualify for early separation, eligible soldiers must not be mission essential to their assigned organizations, as determined by commanders concerned. Clearly establish that the specific school term for which they seek early separation is academically the most opportune time for them to begin or resume their education and that delay of school enrollment until normal ETS would cause undue personal hardship. The effective date of early separation under this paragraph normally will not be earlier than 10 days prior to the date classes convene, except when soldiers may be separated up to 30 days prior to the date classes convene if evidence is submitted that the 10-day period is clearly insufficient. 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 issue and documents submitted with the application, the analyst found no mitigating factors that would merit a change to the narrative reason for discharge on the applicant's DD Form 214. The applicant contends that the narrative reason and the authority for his discharge should be changed. However, the applicant was separated under the provisions of Chapter 5, paragraph 5-17, AR 635-200 with an honorable discharge. The narrative reason specified by Army Regulation 635-200, in effect at the time, for a discharge under this paragraph is "to attend school", and the separation code is "MCF." Army Regulation 635-5, Separation Documents, governs preparation of the DD Form 214 and dictates that entry of the narrative reason for separation, entered in block 28 and separation code, entered in block 26 of the form, will be entered exactly as listed in tables 2-2 or 2-3 of AR 635-5-1, Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes. The regulation further stipulates that no deviation is authorized. There is no provision for any other reason to be entered under this regulation. In view of the foregoing, the analyst determined that the narrative reason for discharge was both proper and equitable and recommends to the Board to deny relief. VII. Summary of Army Discharge Review Board Hearing Type of Hearing: Date: 13 December 2010 Location: Washington, DC Did the Applicant Testify? Yes No Counsel: None Witnesses/Observers: NA Exhibits Submitted: DD Form 149, VSO letter. VIII. 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 narrative reason for the discharge was both proper and equitable and voted to deny relief. IX. Board Decision XI. Certification Signature Board Vote: Approval Authority: Character - Change 0 No change 5 Reason - Change 0 No change 5 (Board member names available upon request) EDGAR J. YANGER Colonel, U.S. Army X. Board Action Directed President, Army Discharge Review Board Issue a new DD Form 214 Change Characterization to: Change Reason to: NA Other: NA RE Code: Grade Restoration: No Yes Grade: NA Legend: AWOL Absent Without Leave GCM General Court Martial NA Not applicable SCM Summary Court Martial BCD Bad Conduct Discharge GD General Discharge NIF Not in the file SPCM Special Court Martial CG Company Grade Article 15 HD Honorable Discharge OAD Ordered to Active Duty UNC Uncharacterized Discharge DD Dishonorable Discharge HS High School Graduate OMPF Official Military Personnel File UOTH Under Other Than Honorable FG Field Grade Article 15 IADT Initial Active Duty Training RE Reentry Code Conditions ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD - CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE Case Number AR20100011036 ______________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 3 pages