1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 27 July 2016 b. Date Received: 28 July 2016 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests a change to his narrative reason for discharge. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, that his narrative reason for discharge reflects he was separated under JFX; personality disorder with a reentry eligibility (RE) code of 3. However, at no time during his Army career was he diagnosed with a personality disorder. He contends the Army gave him this narrative reason as a way to speeding up his discharge. Since his discharge, he has consulted with mental health professionals on numerous occasions, and he has documentation that states he currently does not nor has he ever suffered from a personality disorder. He is now asking that the review board correct this injustice, he has suffered shame, embarrassment, as well as a deep stigma from having this narrative reason for separation on his DD Form 214. He contends that employers are hesitant to hire veterans who are labeled as having this disorder. Per the Board's Medical Officer, a review of AHLTA and JLV records did not corroborate his claim fully. Although he has a psychological report for an evaluation done in September 2010, an AHLTA note of 20 November 2012 included the psychological evaluation of 2010, whose results were inconsistent with a personality disorder, even though the report itself stated the applicant, on his own account, "was administratively separated due to mental health issues (personality disorder). The 2010 evaluation relied on the Personality Assessment Inventory and the examiner drew the reasonable conclusion that the applicant was more likely to have had an adjustment disorder than a personality disorder at the time of his discharge. I concur and believe the available records support a change to the narrative reason. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 27 September 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, based on the applicant's medical history and the Board's Medical Officer opine, the Board determined the narrative reason for the applicant's separation is now improper. Therefore, the board directed the issue of a new DD Form 214 changing the separation authority to AR 635- 200, paragraph 5-17, the narrative reason for separation to Condition, Not a Disability, and the separation code to KFV. . (Board member names available upon request) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason / Authority / Codes / Characterization: Personality Disorder / AR 635-200, Paragraph 5-13 / JFX / RE-3 / Honorable b. Date of Discharge: 24 January 2003 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: 10 November 1999 / 4 years b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 17 / HS Graduate / 111 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-4 / 46R10, Broadcast Journalist / 3 years, 2 months, 15 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: Kosovo, Macedonia f. Awards and Decorations: AAM, NDSM, KCM/w1BSS, HSM, ASR, NATOMDL g. Performance Ratings: None h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: NIF i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: NIF 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: Online application to include signature page. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 635-200 provides the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Paragraph 5-13 in effect at the time, provided that a Soldier may be separated for a personality disorder, not amounting to disability, when the condition interfered with assignment to or performance of duty. The regulation requires that the condition is a deeply ingrained maladaptive pattern of behavior of long duration that interferes with the Soldier's ability to perform military duties. The regulation also directs that commanders will not take action prescribed in this Chapter in lieu of disciplinary action and requires that the disorder is so severe that the Soldier's ability to function in the military environment is significantly impaired. Army policy requires the award of a fully honorable discharge in such case. Characterization of service under honorable conditions may be awarded to a Soldier who has been convicted of an offense by general court-martial or who has been convicted by more than one special court-martial in the current enlistment, period of obligated service, or any extension thereof. 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 "JFX" as the appropriate code to assign enlisted Soldiers who are discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 5-13, and personality disorder. The SPD Code/RE Code Cross Reference Table shows that a Soldier assigned an SPD Code of "JFX" will be assigned an RE Code of 3. 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 a change to the narrative reason for separation. The applicant's record of service, the issues and documents submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. The specific facts and circumstances leading to the applicant's discharge from the Army are not contained in the available records. However, the record contains a properly constituted DD Form 214, (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), which was authenticated by the applicant's signature. The DD Form 214 indicates that on 24 January 2003, the applicant was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 5, paragraph 5-13, AR 635-200, by reason of a personality disorder, with a characterization of service of honorable. Furthermore, the DD Form 214 shows a Separation Code of JFX (i.e., personality disorder), with a reentry eligibility (RE) code of 3. The applicant seeks relief contending that his narrative reason for discharge should be changed. He contends at no time during his Army career was he diagnosed with a personality disorder. He contends the Army gave him this narrative reason as a way to speeding up his discharge. Since his discharge, he has consulted with mental health professionals on numerous occasions, and he has documentation that states he currently does not nor has he ever suffered from personality disorder. He is now asking that the review board correct this injustice, he has suffered shame, embarrassment, as well as a deep stigma from having this narrative reason for separation on his DD Form 214. He contends that employers are hesitant to hire veterans who are labeled as having this disorder. The applicant contentions were noted; however, a determination on whether these contentions have merit cannot be made because the facts and circumstances leading to the discharge are unknown. Moreover, there is a presumption of regularity in the conduct of governmental affairs which is applied in all Army discharge reviews unless there is substantial credible evidence to rebut the presumption. There is no evidence in the record, nor has the applicant produced any evidence, to support a change to the narrative reason for discharge. The applicant's statements alone does not overcome the presumption of government regularity and the application contains no documentation or further evidence in support of this request for a change to his narrative reason for discharge. If the applicant desires a personal appearance hearing, it will be his 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 27 September 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, based on the applicant's medical history and the Board's Medical Officer opine, the Board determined the narrative reason for the applicant's separation is now improper. Therefore, the board directed the issue of a new DD Form 214 changing the separation authority to AR 635-200, paragraph 5-17, the narrative reason for separation to Condition, Not a Disability and the separation code to KFV. 10. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a New DD-214: Yes b. Change Characterization to: No Change c. Change Reason to: Condition, Not A Disability d. Change Authority to: AR 635-200, Chapter 5-17 d. Change SPD / RE Code to: KFV 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 AR20160012788 1