1. Applicant’s Name: a. Application Date: 16 April 2015 b. Date Received: 22 April 2015 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant did not properly annotate the enclosed application requesting a possible discharge upgrade. However, the Army Discharge Review Board considered the applicant for a possible upgrade as instructed in pertinent part by Department of Defense Instruction 1332.28 which stipulates that a request for review from an applicant without an honorable discharge shall be treated as a request for a change to an honorable discharge unless the applicant requests a specific change to another character of discharge. The applicant requests a change to the narrative reason for her separation. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, Line 28 on her DD Form 214 states "Completion of Required Active Service." “This is incorrect, I was released from the Army due to an injury that happened while on Active Duty and I was discharged without treatment. I was denied proper treatment and was given a profile from sick call until separation.” In a personal appearance hearing conducted at Arlington, VA on 9 May 2016, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board denied the request upon finding the separation was both proper and equitable. (Board member names available upon request) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason/Authority/Codes/Characterization: NIF / AR 135-178 / NA / Uncharacterized b. Date of Discharge: 8 November 2006 / released from active duty c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: NIF (2) Basis for Separation: NIF: (3) Recommended Characterization: NIF (4) Legal Consultation Date: NIF (5) Administrative Separation Board: NIF (6) Separation Decision Date/Characterization: NIF / Uncharacterized Discharge 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date/Period of Enlistment: 20 June 2006 / OAD / NIF b. Age at Enlistment/Education/GT Score: 25 years / HS Graduate / NIF c. Highest Grade Achieved/MOS/Total Service: PVT / E-1 / 44C10, Financial Management Specialist / 4 months and 19 days d. Prior Service/Characterizations: USAR (26 May 2006-19 June 2006) / NA (Concurrent Service) e. Overseas Service/Combat Service: None / None f. Awards and Decorations: NDSM, ASR g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s)/Evidentiary Record: NIF i. Lost Time: None j. Diagnosed PTSD/TBI/Behavioral Health: NIF 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: Online application (6 pages); and a DD Form 214. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None provided by the applicant. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for separation of enlisted personnel. Chapter 4 of the regulation provides, in pertinent part, for the separation of individuals upon completion of required service (i.e., expiration term of service). The characterization of service for Soldiers separated under the provisions of Chapter 4, AR 635-200 will be honorable unless the Soldier is in entry-level status. The service of Soldiers in entry-level status will be uncharacterized. A Soldier is in an entry-level status if the Soldier has not completed more than 180 days of creditable continuous active duty at the time of the discharge or release from active duty. In the case of an ARNGUS or USAR Soldier on active duty (AD) or active duty training (ADT) who is to be discharged, the character of the period of service from which he/she is being discharged will be based solely on military behavior and performance of duty during the current period of service while actually performing AD or ADT. Army Regulation 635-5-1 (Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes) provides the specific authorities (regulatory or directive), reasons for separating Soldiers from active duty, and the SPD codes to be entered on the DD Form 214. It identifies the SPD code of "MBK" as the appropriate code to assign Soldiers who are discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 4, for completion of required active duty. The SPD Code/RE Code Cross Reference Table shows that a Soldier assigned an SPD Code of MBK and a reentry eligibility (RE) code of NA. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant did not properly annotate the enclosed application requesting a possible discharge upgrade. However, the Army Discharge Review Board considered the applicant for a possible upgrade as instructed in pertinent part by Department of Defense Instruction 1332.28 which stipulates that a request for review from an applicant without an honorable discharge shall be treated as a request for a change to an honorable discharge unless the applicant requests a specific change to another character of discharge. The applicant requests a change to the narrative reason for his separation. The applicant’s available/record of service, the issues and documents submitted with her application were carefully reviewed. The evidence of record shows the applicant, while in entry-level status was released from active duty for training under the provisions of Chapter 4, AR 635-200, by reason of completion of required active service, with the characterization of service described as uncharacterized. The characterization of service for Soldiers separated under this provision of the regulation is normally honorable, unless the Soldier is in entry-level status. A Soldier is in entry-level status for the first 180 days of continuous active duty. Army Regulation 635-200 also provides, except in cases of serious misconduct, that a Soldier’s service will be uncharacterized when separated in entry-level status. For USAR Soldiers ordered to IADT, entry-level status terminates 180 days after the beginning of training. The applicant had completed 4 months and 19 days of continued active duty service at the time she was released from active duty; thus, she was in entry level status at the time. An uncharacterized discharge is neither positive nor negative and it is not meant to be a negative reflection of a Soldier’s military service. It merely means that the Soldier has not been in the Army long enough for her characterization of service to be rated as honorable or otherwise. 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. Army Regulation 635-5-1 (Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes) provides the specific authorities (regulatory or directive), reasons for separating Soldiers from active duty, and the SPD codes to be entered on the DD Form 214. It identifies the SPD code of "MBK" as the appropriate code to assign Soldiers who are discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 4, for completion of required active duty. The regulation further stipulates no deviation is authorized. The applicant's contentions were carefully considered. However, a determination on whether these contentions have merit cannot be made because the facts and circumstances leading to the applicant’s release from active duty training are unknown. The burden of proof remains with the applicant to provide the appropriate documents or other evidence sufficient to explain the facts, circumstances, and reasons underlying the release from active duty training, for the Board's consideration. It is still her responsibility to meet the burden of proof since the appropriate documents are not available in the official record. The discharge was consistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of the regulation, was within the discretion of the separation authority, and the applicant was provided full administrative due process. 9. DOCUMENTS/TESTIMONY PRESENTED DURING PERSONAL APPEARANCE: In addition to the evidence in the record, the Board carefully considered the additional document(s) and testimony presented by the applicant at the personal appearance hearing. a. The applicant submitted no additional document or contentions. b. Witness(es)/Observer(s): Yes 10. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a New DD-214: No b. Change Characterization to: No Change c. Change Reason to: No Change d. Change SPD/RE Code to: No Change e. Restore (Restoration of) Grade to: NA AUTHENTICATING OFFICIAL: COL, US ARMY Presiding Officer Army Discharge Review Board Legend: 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 BH – Behavioral Health HD - Honorable Discharge OAD - Ordered to Active Duty SPD - Separation Program Designator CG - Company Grade Article 15 IADT - Initial Active Duty Training OMPF - Official Military Personnel File TBI – Traumatic Brain Injury CID - Criminal Investigation Division MP – Military Police – PTSD – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder UNC - Uncharacterized Discharge ELS – Entry Level Status MST – Military Sexual Trauma RE - Reentry UOTHC - Under Other Than Honorable Conditions FG - Field Grade Article 15 ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE AR20150006794 4