1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 5 February 2016 b. Date Received: 19 February 2016 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of her uncharacterized discharge to honorable and a change to her narrative reason for separation. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, her discharge was improper and unjust. She contends she should have been medically discharged from the military. At the time of discharge, she had medical evidence of service-connected conditions that required the Army to examine her for a disability due to their strong contemporary nature and direct link to her service. She believes she was wrongfully directed through the wrong discharge process. At the time of discharge, she had been treated for lower back/pelvis pain, bilateral hip pain, bilateral knee/leg pain, and bilateral ankle/feet pain; which was sustained while performing her duties. All of these conditions were directly linked and related to her service and was present at the time of discharge. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 21 April 2017, 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: Entry Level Performance and Conduct / AR 635-200, Chapter 11 / JGA / RE-3 / Uncharacterized b. Date of Discharge: 7 March 2012 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: NIF (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was informed of the following reasons: NIF (3) Recommended Characterization: NIF (4) Legal Consultation Date: NIF (5) Administrative Separation Board: NIF (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: NIF 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 25 October 2011 / 5 years b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 20 / HS Graduate / NIF c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-1 / None / 4 months, 13 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: None g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: NIF i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293; self-authored statement; display of patient appointments; chronological record of medical care; report of medical history; and DD Form 214. The Chronological Record of Medical Care submitted by the applicant, dated 6 January 2012, reflects the applicant was being seen by the CTMC Physical Therapy Clinic since the 29th of November 2011, for her complaints of bilateral hip pain. Since treatment began, she had also reported bilateral knee pain that had gotten worse in the past two months. Clinically, she had no structural and mechanical reason for the pain, she had no radiographic evidence of fractures, but still complained of pain that limit her ability to fully participate in training. It was projected that she would fully recover from those injuries and was not expected to suffer from any long- term or permanent disability. It was also noted that she had no medical condition that met retention standards per AR 40-501 (specifically Chapter 3). She also had no condition that warrant an existed prior to service (EPTS) per AR 635-200, Chapter 5-11. From a medical perspective, the applicant was returned to her unit commander to determine appropriate disposition for training. She was returned to her unit for any administrative action as deemed necessary by her command. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation (AR) 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. Chapter 11 of AR 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. 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. 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 "JGA" as the appropriate code to assign enlisted Soldiers who are discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 11, entry level performance and conduct. The SPD Code/RE Code Cross Reference Table shows that a Soldier assigned an SPD Code of "JGA" will be assigned an RE Code of 3. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of her uncharacterized discharge to honorable and a change to her narrative reason for separation. The applicant's available record of service, the documents and the issues submitted with the application were carefully considered. The applicant's record is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events which led to her discharge from the Army. Barring evidence to the contrary, the presumption of government regularity prevails as all the requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process. The applicant seeks relief contending, her discharge was improper and unjust. She contends she should have been medically discharged from the military. She believes she was wrongfully directed through the wrong discharge process. At the time of discharge she had been treated for lower back/pelvis pain, bilateral hip pain, bilateral knee/leg pain, and bilateral ankle/feet pain; which was sustained while performing her duties. All of these conditions were directly linked and related to her service and was present at the time of discharge. The applicant's contentions were carefully considered. However, it is unknown if these contentions have merit because the facts and circumstances leading to the discharge are not contained in the service record. The burden of proof remains with the former Soldier 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. The applicant's DD Form 214 indicates she 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. 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 her separation is initiated while the Soldier is in entry level status. A general, under honorable conditions discharge is not authorized under ELS conditions and 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 applicant's service record indicates no such unusual circumstances were present and did not warrant an honorable discharge. 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 the Soldier has not been in the Army long enough for her character of service to be rated as honorable or otherwise. 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. 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 21 April 2017, 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 / Issue a New Separation Order: 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: No Change Authenticating Official: Legend: AWOL - Absent Without Leave GD - General Discharge NCO - Noncommissioned Officer 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 NOS - Not Otherwise Specified SPD - Separation Program Designator CG - Company Grade Article 15 IADT - Initial Active Duty Training OAD - Ordered to Active Duty TBI - Traumatic Brain Injury CID - Criminal Investigation Division MP - Military Police OMPF - Official Military Personnel File UNC - Uncharacterized Discharge ELS - Entry Level Status MST - Military Sexual Trauma PTSD - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder UOTHC - Under Other Than Honorable Conditions FG - Field Grade Article 15 NA - Not applicable RE - Reentry VA - Veterans Affairs ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE AR20160004569 1