IN THE CASE OF: Mr. BOARD DATE: 10 April 2015 CASE NUMBER: AR20140007862 ___________________________________________________________________________ Board Determination and Directed Action After carefully examining the applicant's record of service during the period of enlistment under review, and considering the Discussion and Recommendation which follows, 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 his discharge from uncharacterized to honorable. 2. The applicant states, in effect, he had an allergic reaction to red fire ant bites; his discharge was unjust and through no fault of his own he was unable to complete training. DISCHARGE UNDER REVIEW INFORMATION: a. Application Receipt Date: 2 May 2014 b. Discharge received: Uncharacterized c. Date of Discharge: 4 December 2012 d. Reason/Authority/SPD/RE: Condition, Not a Disability, AR 635-200, Chapter 5 Paragraph 5-17, JFV, RE-3 e. Unit of assignment: D Co, 2-13th Infantry Regiment, Fort Jackson, SC f. Current Enlistment Date/Term: 13 August 2013/IADT, 15 weeks g. Current Enlistment Service: 3 months, 22 days h. Total Service: 1 year, 15 days i. Time Lost: None j. Previous Discharges: ARNG (121120-130812)/NA (Concurrent Service) k. Highest Grade Achieved: E-2 l. Military Occupational Specialty: None m. GT Score: NIF 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: NIF u. Prior Board Review: No SUMMARY OF SERVICE: The applicant enlisted in the Army National Guard on 20 November 2012, for a period of 8 years. He was 17 years old at the time of entry, and had not completed high school. He was ordered to IADT on 13 August 2013 for initial entry training (IET). He was in IET at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, when his discharge 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 digital signature. 2. The DD Form 214 indicates the applicant was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 5, paragraph 5-17, AR 635-200, for a condition, not a disability, with a characterization of service of uncharacterized. The DD Form 214 shows a Separation Code of JFV (i.e., condition, not a disability), with a reentry eligibility (RE) code of 3. 3. On 26 April 2013, Orders 330-1326, DA, Headquarters, US Army Training Center and Fort Jackson, Fort Jackson, SC, released the applicant from active duty, 4 December 2013, and returned him to his Army National Guard unit. 4. The applicant’s service record does not contain any evidence of unauthorized absences, time lost, negative counseling statements or actions under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). EVIDENCE OBTAINED FROM THE APPLICANT'S RECORD: 1. Active Duty Orders Numbers 3225005, dated 6 August 2013. 2. Release from active duty Orders Number 330-1326, dated 26 April 2013. 3. DD Form 214, dated 4 December 2013. 4. Enlistment/Reenlistment document, dated 20 November 2012. EVIDENCE SUBMITTED BY THE APPLICANT: The applicant provided a DD Form 149, self-authored statement, and a DD Form 214. POST-SERVICE ACTIVITY: The applicant did not provide any information with his application. REGULATORY AUTHORITY: 1. Army Regulation (AR) 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, which interferes with assignment to or performance of duty and requires that the diagnosis be so severe that the Soldier’s ability to function in the military environment is significantly impaired. 2. AR 635-200, paragraph 5-1, 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. 3. 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 the service record that warrant such characterization. DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION: 1. The applicant’s request for an upgrade of the characterization of his discharge was carefully considered. However, after a careful review of all the available records for the period of enlistment under review, and the issue and documents he submitted with the application, there are insufficient mitigating factors to merit an upgrade of the applicant's discharge. 2. The applicant’s record contains a properly constituted DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), which was authenticated by the applicant’s digital signature. This document identifies the reason for discharge and characterization of the service and government regularity is presumed in the discharge process. The DD Form 214 shows the applicant was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 5, paragraph 5-17, AR 635-200, by reason of condition, not a disability, with an uncharacterized separation of service and a reentry eligibility (RE) code of 3. 3. 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. Absence evidence to the contrary, it is presumed that the applicant’s separation was initiated while he was still in entry-level status and the applicant’s separation was accomplished within 72 hours following approval by the separation authority. 4. Further, an 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 record shows that no such unusual circumstances were present and his service did not warrant an honorable discharge. 5. The applicant contends he had an allergic reaction to red fire ant bites; his discharge was unjust and through no fault of his own he was unable to complete training. However, the merit of these contentions cannot be established because the facts and circumstances leading to the discharge are unknown. The burden of proof remains with the applicant to provide the appropriate documents such as the discharge packet or other evidence sufficient to explain the facts, circumstances, and reasons underlying the separation action, for the Board's consideration. If the applicant desires a personal appearance hearing, it will be his responsibility to meet this burden of proof since the discharge packet is not available in the official record. 6. Therefore, based on the available evidence and the presumption of government regularity, it appears the reason for discharge and the characterization of service are both proper and equitable, thus the analyst recommends the Board deny relief. SUMMARY OF ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD HEARING: Type of Hearing: Records Review Date: 10 April 2015 Location: Washington, DC Did the Applicant Testify? NA Counsel: None Witnesses/Observers: NA 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: No Change Characterization to: No Change Change Reason to: No Change Change Authority for Separation: NA Change RE Code to: NA Grade Restoration to: NA Other: NA 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 UOTHC - Under Other Than Honorable Conditions ADRB Case Report and Directive (cont) AR20140007862 Page 5 of 5 pages ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD (ADRB) CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE 1