IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 1 April 2013 CASE NUMBER: AR20120020682 ___________________________________________________________________________ Board Determination and Directed Action 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 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 general, under honorable conditions or to fully honorable. 2. The applicant states, in effect, that she believes her couple of months in the Army should be characterized as honorable because at the time she took the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) she had bronchitis and that is why she failed the test. She now realizes that being kicked out when she was sick was unjust and needs to be corrected. DISCHARGE UNDER REVIEW INFORMATION: a. Application Receipt Date: 5 November 2012 b. Discharge received: Uncharacterized c. Date of Discharge: 23 August 2000 d. Reason/Authority/SPD/RE: Entry Level Performance and Conduct, Chapter 11 AR 635-200, JGA, RE-3 e. Unit of assignment: Co B, 1st Bn, 34th IN Rgt, Fort Jackson, SC f. Current Enlistment Date/Term: 29 June 2000, for 3 years g. Current Enlistment Service: 0 years, 1 month, 25 days h. Total Service: 0 years, 1 month, 25 days i. Lost Time: None j. Previous Discharges: None k. Highest Grade Achieved: E-2 l. Military Occupational Specialty: None m. GT Score: 86 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 29 June 2000, for a period of 3 years. She was 20 years old at the time of entry and was a high school graduate. She was attending basic training at Fort Jackson, SC when her separation was initiated. SEPARATION FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES 1. The applicant’s record is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events which led to the discharge from the Army. However, the record contains a properly constituted DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), which was authenticated by the applicant’s signature. 2. The DD Form 214 indicates the applicant was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 11, AR 635-200, with the reason specified as entry level performance and conduct, and the characterization described as uncharacterized. The DD Form 214 shows a Separation Program Designator (SPD) code of JGA and a reentry (RE) code of 3. 3. The applicant’s record does not show any record of actions under the UCMJ or unauthorized absences or time lost. 4. On 21 August 2000, HQDA USA Training Center, Fort Jackson, SC, Orders Number 234-1304, discharged the applicant from the Army effective 23 August 2000. 5. The applicant’s record does not contain any evidence of unauthorized absences or time lost. EVIDENCE OBTAINED FROM THE APPLICANT'S RECORD There are no counseling statements or UCMJ actions in the record. EVIDENCE SUBMITTED BY THE APPLICANT The applicant provided a DD Form 149. POST-SERVICE ACTIVITY: None provided with the application. REGULATORY AUTHORITY 1. Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Paragraph 3-9 contains guidance on entry level separations. It states 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. 2. Chapter 11 of Army Regulation 635-200 provides for the separation of personnel due to unsatisfactory performance, conduct, or both, while in an entry level status (ELS). An uncharacterized service description is normally granted to Soldiers separating under this chapter. 3. A general discharge (GD) under honorable conditions discharge is not authorized under ELS conditions and an honorable discharge (HD) is rarely ever granted. An HD may be given only in cases which are clearly warranted by unusual circumstances involving outstanding personal conduct and/or performance of duty. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant’s request for an upgrade of the characterization of her discharge was carefully considered. However, after examining the applicant’s military records and the issues submitted with the application, the analyst found no mitigating factors which would merit an upgrade of the applicant's discharge. 2. The applicant’s record is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events which led to her discharge from the Army. However, the record contains a properly constituted DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), which was authenticated by the applicant's signature. This document identifies the reason and characterization of the discharge and the analyst presumed government regularity in the discharge process. 3. The DD Form 214 indicates the applicant was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 11, AR 635-200, by reason of entry level performance and conduct, with a characterization of service described as uncharacterized. Barring evidence to the contrary, the analyst was satisfied that all requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process. 4. The applicant contends that she was unfairly discharged because she could not pass the APFT due to a medical condition. Her contentions were carefully considered; however, the analyst is unable to determine whether these contentions have merit because her personnel record does not show any of the facts or circumstances leading to her discharge from the Army. If the applicant desires a personal appearance hearing, it will be her responsibility to meet the burden of proof and provide the appropriate documents (i.e., the discharge packet) or other evidence sufficient to explain the facts, circumstances, and reasons underlying the separation action, for the Board’s consideration because they are not available in the official record. 5. Therefore, based on the available evidence, the analyst presumes government regularity in the discharge process and concludes that it appears the reason for discharge and the characterization of service were both proper and equitable and recommends to the Board to deny relief. SUMMARY OF ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD HEARING: Type of Hearing: Records Review Date: 1 April 2013 Location: Washington, DC Did the Applicant Testify? No Counsel: N/A Witnesses/Observers: N/A 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: N/A Change Characterization to: N/A Change Reason to: N/A Change RE Code to: N/A Grade Restoration to: N/A Change Authority for Separation: N/A 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 20120020682 5 ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD (ADRB) CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE 1