1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 3 February 2016 b. Date Received: 17 March 2016 c. Counsel: 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of the characterization of service from under other than honorable conditions to honorable. The applicant seeks relief through counsel contending, in effect, a propriety error occurred because she did not receive proper counseling prior to discharge and this error was prejudicial. Her discharge was inequitable in light of her commendable quality of service. Her discharge was inequitable in view of her family and personal problems that she endured during her service. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 7 July 2017, and by a 4-1 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 / Under Other Than Honorable Conditions b. Date of Discharge: 24 April 2008 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 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 22 April 2008 / 8 years b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 20 years / HS Graduate / NIF c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-5 / 91G20, Patient Administration Specialist / 6 years, 5 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: USAR, 22 April 2008 to 31 November 2008 / NA AD, 1 December 2003 to 22 October 2004 (Concurrent Service) e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: SWA / Iraq, 2 April 2004 to 10 October 2004 f. Awards and Decorations: ARCOM, NDSM, GWOTEM, GWOTSM, AFRM-"M," ASR, CAB g. Performance Ratings: 1 May 2005 to 30 April 2006, Fully Capable h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: NIF i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: NIF j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: NIF 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293 (two pages); attorney's brief (eight pages) with the following exhibits; Exhibit A, Certification of Service; Exhibit B, certification of service; Exhibit C, outstanding service certificate; Exhibit D, Combat Action Badge Orders C340-203; Exhibit E, Army Commendation Medal; Exhibit F, DD Form 214-Honorable Discharge from Active Duty Deployment; Exhibit G, IRR transfer counseling; Exhibit H, discharge orders from Reserves; and Exhibit I, character reference from Captain C.H.S. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 135-178 sets forth the policies, standards, and procedures to ensure the readiness and competency of the U.S. Army while providing for the orderly administrative separation of Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) enlisted Soldiers for a variety of reasons. The separation policies throughout the different Chapters in this regulation promote the readiness of the Army by providing an orderly means to judge the suitability of persons to serve on the basis of their conduct and their ability to meet required standards of duty performance and discipline. Specific categories include minor disciplinary infractions, a pattern of misconduct, and commission of a serious offense, to include abuse of illegal drugs, and convictions by civil authorities. The characterization is based upon the quality of the Soldier's service, including the reason for separation and determined in accordance with standards of acceptable personal conduct and performance of duty as found in the UCMJ, Army regulations, and the time-honored customs and traditions of the Army. The reasons for separation, including the specific circumstances that form the basis for the discharge are considered on the issue of characterization. Possible characterizations of service include an honorable, general, under honorable conditions, under other than honorable conditions, or uncharacterized if the Soldier is in entry-level status. However, the permissible range of characterization varies based on the reason for separation. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of the characterization of service from under other than honorable conditions to honorable. The applicant's available record of service, the issues and documents submitted with her application were carefully reviewed. The applicant's record is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events which led to the former Soldier's discharge from the US Army Reserve. Barring evidence to the contrary, the presumption of government regularity shall prevail, 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's contentions regarding that a propriety error occurred because she did not receive proper counseling prior to discharge and this error was prejudicial; her discharge was inequitable in light of her commendable quality of service; and her discharge was inequitable in view of her family and personal problems that she endured during her service. However, there is insufficient evidence available in the official record to make a determination as to whether these contentions have merit because the facts and circumstances leading to the applicant's discharge are not contained in the available record. If the applicant desires a personal appearance, it is her responsibility to meet the burden of proof since the evidence is not available in the official record. The applicant will need to provide the appropriate documents or other evidence (i.e., discharge packet) sufficient to explain the facts, circumstances, and reasons underlying the separation action, for the Board's consideration. 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 July 2017, and by a 4-1 vote, the Board denied the request upon finding the separation was both proper and equitable. 10. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a New Separation Order: No b. Change Characterization to: No Change c. Change Reason to: No Change d. Change Authority to: No Change e. Change SPD / RE Code to: No Change f. 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 AR20160006680 1