1. Applicant’s Name: a. Application Date: 24 June 2015 b. Date Received: 29 June 2015 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of his general, under honorable conditions discharge to honorable. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, he would like to receive VA benefits for school to improve his career for better job opportunities. Per the Board's Medical Officer, based on the information available for review at the time, the applicant had no mitigating medical or behavioral health conditions for the offenses. Mental Status Exam dated 20 March 2014 indicated a diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder with Disturbance of Emotions and Conduct and Alcohol Abuse. The applicant was psychiatrically cleared and met medical retention standards. Screened negative for PTSD and TBI. According to medical records, the applicant was hospitalized for 8 days in March 2014 in response to HI/SI to include symptoms of depression, anger, sleep difficulties, and anxiety. Additional stress included pending court date for being charged with assaulting three people. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 7 September 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: Condition, Not A Disability / AR 635-200 / Chapter 5, Paragraph 5-17 / JFV / RE-3 / General, Under Honorable Conditions b. Date of Discharge: 16 May 2014 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 28 April 2014 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was informed of the following reasons for his discharge: diagnosed with an adjustment disorder with disturbance of emotions and conduct, alcohol abuse by T.F., Psy.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Behavioral Health, thus limiting his effectiveness and abilities as a uniformed service member; and, failed to obey a lawful general regulation, by wrongfully possessing alcohol not purchased with his CAC card, and not distributed by 379 EFSS, in a prohibited location (28 September 2013). (3) Recommended Characterization: Honorable (4) Legal Consultation Date: 28 April 2014 (5) Administrative Separation Board: N/A (6) Separation Decision Date/Characterization: 9 May 2014 / General, Under Honorable Conditions 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date/Period of Enlistment: 1 March 2011 / 4 years and 21 weeks b. Age at Enlistment/Education/GT Score: 19 / HS Graduate / 99 c. Highest Grade Achieved/MOS/Total Service: E-3 / 42A10, Human Resources Specialist / 3 years, 2 months, and 16 days d. Prior Service/Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service/Combat Service: SWA / Qatar (4 December 2012 - 23 November 2013) f. Awards and Decorations: AAM, NDSM, GWTEM, GWTSM, ASR, OSR g. Performance Ratings: N/A h. Disciplinary Action(s)/Evidentiary Record: CG Article 15, dated 8 November 2013, for failing to obey a lawful general regulation, by wrongfully possessing alcohol not purchased with his CAC card, and not distributed by 379 EFSS, in a prohibited location (28 September 2013). The punishment consisted of a reduction to E-2, forfeiture of $396.00 for one month, and extra duty for 14 days. The applicant received two negative counseling statements regarding a mental status evaluation and being recommended for separation. i. Lost Time: None j. Diagnosed PTSD/TBI/Behavioral Health: DD Form 2697 (Report of Medical Assessment), dated 19 March 2014, reflects the applicant reported a sleeping disorder and anxiety and prescribed medications for treatment. DA Form 3822 (Report of Mental Status Evaluation), dated 20 March 2014, reflects the applicant was diagnosed with (Axis I) Adjustment Disorder with disturbance of emotions and conduct, alcohol abuse. The applicant met the criteria for administrative separation in accordance AR 635-200, Chapter 5-17. His condition did not appear to warrant disposition through medical channels (i.e., MEB), but he did appear to have chronic difficulties with mood and functioning that limits his effectiveness as a uniformed service member. The applicant was in agreement with these findings and is agreeable to expeditious administrative separation recommended by command. 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293, undated; the unit commander’s notification memorandum; and the applicant’s Election of Rights. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): 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. 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.  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 that warrant such characterization. Secretary of Defense Memorandum for Secretaries of the Military Departments (Subject: Supplemental Guidance to Military Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records Considering Discharge Upgrade Requests by Veterans Claiming Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, dated September 3, 2014), provided guidance to help ensure consistency across the military services in consideration of PTSD relevant to Service Members’ discharges. “Liberal consideration will be given in petitions for changes in characterization of service to service treatment record entries which document one of more symptoms which meet the diagnostic criteria of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or related conditions. Special consideration will be given to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) determinations which document PTSD or PTSD-related conditions connected to military services. In cases where Service Records or any document from the period of service substantiated the existence of one or more symptoms of what is now recognized as PTSD or PTSD-related condition during the time of service, liberal consideration will be given to finding that PTSD existed at the time of service. Liberal consideration will also be given in cases where civilian providers confer diagnoses of PTSD or PTSD-related conditions, when case records contain narratives that support symptomatology at the time of service, or when any other evidence which may reasonably indicate that PTSD or a PTSD-related disorder existed at the time of discharge which might have mitigated the misconduct that caused the under other than honorable conditions characterization of service. This guidance in not applicable to cases involving pre-existing conditions which are determined not to have been incurred or aggravated while in military service.” “Conditions documented in the record that can reasonably be determined to have existed at the time of discharge will be considered to have existed at the time of discharge. In cases in which PTSD or PTSD related conditions may be reasonably determined to have existed at the time of discharge, those conditions will be considered potential mitigating factors in the misconduct that caused the under other than honorable conditions characterization of service. Correction boards will exercise caution in weighing evidence of mitigation in cases in which serious misconduct precipitated a discharge with a characterization of service other than honorable conditions. Potentially mitigating evidence of the existence of undiagnosed combat related PTSD or PTSD-related conditions as a causative factor in the misconduct resulting in discharge will be carefully weighed against the severity of the misconduct. PTSD is not a likely cause of premeditated misconduct. Correction Boards will also exercise caution in weighing evidence of mitigation in all cases of misconduct by carefully considering the likely causal relationship of symptoms to the misconduct.” 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of his general, under honorable conditions discharge to honorable. The applicant’s record of service, the issues and documents submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. The evidence of record shows the applicant was diagnosed by competent medical authority with an adjustment disorder with disturbance of emotions and conduct, alcohol abuse; and failing to obey a lawful general regulation, by wrongfully possessing alcohol not purchased with his CAC card, and not distributed by 379 EFSS, in a prohibited location. The applicant was in agreement with these findings and was agreeable to expeditious administrative separation recommended by command. 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. The applicant contends that he would like to receive VA benefits for school to improve his career for better job opportunities. Eligibility for veteran's benefits to include educational benefits under the Post-9/11 or Montgomery GI Bill does not fall within the purview of the Army Discharge Review Board. Accordingly, the applicant should contact a local office of the Department of Veterans Affairs for further assistance. The Board does not grant relief for the purpose of gaining employment or enhancing employment opportunities. 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. BOARD DETERMINATION: In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 7 September 2016, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board denied the request upon finding the separation was both proper and equitable. 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 AR20150011342 4