1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 19 May 2016 b. Date Received: 23 May 2016 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests a narrative reason change. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, that she requested an early release from active duty because of the recommendation from her Pharmacy Chief. Her request was in accordance with AR 600-8-24, paragraph 2-9. All the requirements were met and all her paperwork was signed by the appropriate officials. She was made aware of the discrepancy on her DD Form 214, separation code, when she was applying for her VA loan certificate. The VA counselor stated that the separation code of "FND" annotated on her DD Form 214 did not support her claim that she was released from active duty due to a hardship. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 9 August 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board denied the request upon finding the separation was both proper and equitable. However, notwithstanding the propriety of the applicant's discharge, the Board found that the applicant's DD Form 214, blocks 25, 26, and 28, contain erroneous entries. The Board directed the following administrative corrections and reissue of the applicant's DD Form 214, as approved by the separation authority: a. block 25, separation authority changed to AR 600-8-24, Para 2-9, b. block 26, separation code changed to MDB, c. block 28, narrative reason for separation changed to Hardship. (Board member names available upon request) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason / Authority / Codes / Characterization: Miscellaneous / General Reasons / AR 600-8-24, Chapter 3-5 / FND / NA / Honorable b. Date of Discharge: 15 May 2006 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Voluntary Release from Active Duty Request: 21 June 2005 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant request voluntary release from active duty under AR 600-8-24, Section IV, paragraph 2-9, due to family hardship. (3) Recommended Characterization: On 21 June 2005, the Chief of Pharmacy Services, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, recommended that the applicant's voluntary request be approved. The intermediate commander's concurred with the approval of the applicant's request. The recommendation did not include a recommended characterization of service. (4) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 6 March 2006 / Honorable / The Office of The Assistant Secretary, Manpower and Reserve Affairs Office approved the applicant's request, however, the approval reflects under the provisions of AR 600-8-24, Chapter 3, Section II, unqualified resignation. 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Appointment: Based on the applicant's officer record brief, on 21 January 2004, the applicant was appointed a Reserve commissioned officer / The applicant was ordered to active duty (OAD) for a period of 48 months and reported on 21 September 2004. b. Age when Ordered to Active Duty / Education / GT Score: 24 / Doctorate of Pharmacy / NA c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: O-3 / 67E, Pharmacy / 1 year, 7 months, 25 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: NDSM, GWOTSM g. Performance Ratings: None h. Evidentiary Record: Request for voluntary release from active duty as described in previous paragraph 3c. 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: None submitted with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 600-8-24, Officer Transfers and Discharges, sets forth the basic authority for the separation of commissioned and warrant officers. Chapter 3 prescribes the tasks, rules, and steps for processing voluntary resignations. Except as provided below, any officer of the Active Army or USAR may tender a resignation under provisions of this chapter. The Secretary of the Army or his designee may accept resignations and orders will be issued by direction of the CG, HRC. An officer whose resignation has been accepted will be separated on the date specified in DA's orders or as otherwise directed by the DA. An appropriate discharge certificate as specified by the CG, HRC, will be furnished by the appropriate commander at the time the officer is separated. The date of separation, as specified or directed, will not be changed without prior approval of HQDA nor can valid separation orders be revoked subsequent to the specified or directed date of separation. Except when resignation is under section VI of this chapter, USAR officers in an AGR status or on ADT, ADSW, TTAD and Soldiers on AD pursuant to 10 USC 12304 (Presidential Selected Reserve) will request resignations under the provisions of AR 135-175. Before such a request is submitted, they must be released from their AD status. Paragraph 3-5, states any officer on AD (for more than 90 calendar days) may tender a resignation under this paragraph except when action is pending that could result in resignation for the good of the Service; officer is under a suspension of favorable actions, pending investigation, under charges; or any other unfavorable or derogatory action is pending. Normally, resignations will not be accepted unless on the requested date of separation the officer has fulfilled the service obligation. An officer who submits an unqualified resignation accepted by HRC will receive an Honorable discharge or a General discharge under honorable conditions. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests a narrative reason change. The applicant's record of service, the issues and documents submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. The applicant contends that the narrative reason should be changed because she voluntarily requested separation for family hardship. The applicant's service record reflects that at the time she requested voluntary separation from active duty she was serving as a USAR commissioned officer ordered to active duty. Under the provisions of AR 600-8-24, Chapter 3, Section II, the applicant should not have been separated under an unqualified resignation as approved by The Office of The Assistant Secretary, Manpower and Reserve Affairs Office on 6 March 2006. The governing regulation states that USAR officers must be released from their AD status before such a request is submitted under AR 135-175. The applicant properly submitted her request for release from active duty as a USAR officer under AR 600-8-24, Section IV, paragraph 2-9, hardship. Therefore, her request should have been approved or denied as such. Insomuch as the applicant was approved for release from active duty based on her request, her DD Form 214, should reflect: In block 25, AR 600-8-24, Para 2-9; In block 26, MDB; and, In block 28, Hardship. Based on the applicant's service record, the applicant's DD Form 214, block 2, should reflect "USAR" and not "RA;" however, this change to the DD Form 214, does not fall within the purview of this Board. The applicant may apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR), using the enclosed DD Form 149 regarding this matter. A DD Form 149 may also be obtained from a Veterans' Service Organization. The discharge was not consistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of the regulation, was not within the discretion of the separation authority and that the applicant was not provided full administrative due process. 9. BOARD DETERMINATION: In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 9 August 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board denied the request upon finding the separation was both proper and equitable. However, notwithstanding the propriety of the applicant's discharge, the Board found that the applicant's DD Form 214, blocks 25, 26, and 28, contain erroneous entries. The Board directed the following administrative corrections and reissue of the applicant's DD Form 214, as approved by the separation authority: a. block 25, separation authority changed to AR 600-8-24, Para 2-9, b. block 26, separation code changed to MDB, c. block 28, narrative reason for separation changed to Hardship. 10. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a New DD-214: Yes b. Change Characterization to: No Change c. Change Reason to: Hardship d. Change Authority to: AR 600-8-24, Para 2-9 d. Change SPD / RE Code to: Change SPD to MDB / NA e. Restore (Restoration of) Grade to: NA 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 AR20160009614 1