1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 10 May 2016 b. Date Received: 16 May 2016 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, his main goal in life was to be an Army Soldier. He worked extremely hard to reach that goal and did well in meeting all of his requirements, except the final step of running. He missed that requirement by 17 seconds. He accomplished all the requirements in Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training. He and his class members, were training to be Preventive Medical Specialists, and were recognized for passing all tests and requirements without a single failure. He had difficulty running stemming from pain in both ankles. He tried his very best, but he could not meet the standard. When he met with the Legal Office personnel, as a part of his out- processing, they called his commanding officer and told him that he did not deserve a general discharge. His response was that the applicant did not try, which the applicant states was absolutely not true. He tried his very best and he wanted to be a member of the Army. He was told by the medical staff as he was out-processing, that he had flat feet. He was devastated when he was told that he would not receive an honorable discharge. Since his discharge, he enrolled in college and recently finished his first full year of college with a major in "Computer Science, Software Engineering." He still would rather be an Army Soldier and is ashamed when he has to tell people that he was given a general discharge. He believes this to be a very bad mark on his record and one that he will have to live with for the rest of his life. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 14 July 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined that the characterization of service was too harsh and is inequitable. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade to the characterization of service to honorable. The Board determined the reason for discharge was proper and equitable and voted not to change it. (Board member names available upon request) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason / Authority / Codes / Characterization: Physical Standards / AR 635-200 / Chapter 13-2e / JFT / RE-3 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 11 August 2015 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 30 July 2015 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was informed of the following reasons: He failed to graduate from the Army 68S MOS producing course due to his failure to pass the Army Physical Fitness Test. (3) Recommended Characterization: General (Under Honorable Conditions) (4) Legal Consultation Date: 1 August 2015 (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 6 August 2015 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 6 October 2014 / 4 years b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 19 / Some College / 104 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-2 / None / 10 months, 6 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: NDSM g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) Scorecard, reflects the applicant failed four APFTs between 21 April 2015 and 9 June 2015. Report of Mental Status Evaluation, dated 8 July 2015, reflects the applicant was cleared for administrative actions deemed appropriate by the command. The applicant could understand the difference between right and wrong and could participate in the proceedings. Three Developmental Counseling Forms, for failing the Army Physical Fitness Test on several occasions. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293, with all allied documents listed in block 8 of the application. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Enrolled in college and recently finished his first full year of college with a major in "Computer Science, Software Engineering." 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the requirements and procedures for administrative discharge of enlisted personnel. Chapter 13-2e states in pertinent part, that separation proceedings will be initiated for Soldiers without medical limitations that have two consecutive failures of the Army Physical Fitness Test. The reason for discharge will be shown as physical standards. The service of Soldiers separated because of unsatisfactory performance for failure to meet physical standards will be characterized as honorable or general, under honorable conditions. 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 record confirms that the applicant's discharge was appropriate because the quality of his service was not consistent with the Army's physical standards for acceptable performance of duty by military personnel. The applicant provided no independent corroborating evidence demonstrating that either the command's action was erroneous or that the applicant's service mitigated the poor duty performance, such that he should have been retained on Active Duty. The applicant contends that he tried his very best, but could not meet the standards due to pain in both of his ankles, which led to his discharge from the Army. However, the service record does not support the applicant's contention, and no evidence to support it has been submitted to corroborate the discharge was the result of any medical condition. Further, the record does not contain any medical evidence to indicate a problem which would have rendered the applicant disqualified for further military service with either medical limitation or medication. The applicant contends that the legal office personnel informed his commander that the applicant should not receive a general (under honorable conditions). However, the record does not contain any indication or evidence of arbitrary or capricious actions by the command and all requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process. The character of the applicant's discharge is commensurate with his overall service record. The third party statements provided with the application speak highly of the applicant's performance. However, the persons providing the character reference statements were not in a position to fully understand or appreciate the expectations of the applicant's chain of command. As such, none of these statements provide any evidence sufficiently compelling to overcome the presumption of government regularity 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 14 July 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined that the characterization of service was too harsh and is inequitable. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade to the characterization of service to honorable. The Board determined the reason for discharge was proper and equitable and voted not to change it. 10. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a New DD-214: Yes b. Change Characterization to: Honorable 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 AR20160009448 1