1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 14 February 2017 b. Date Received: 24 February 2017 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests to change the narrative reason and its corresponding codes for his discharge. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, the Qualitative Management Program Selection Board favorably granted his request for continued service, and recommended his retention on active duty. That recommendation was approved; however, he was not informed of the approved retention until after his ETS date. A reentry code of "1" would allow him to reenlist and continue with his service in the Army. After carefully examining the applicant's record of service during the period of enlistment under review and considering the approved recommendation of the Qualitative Management Program Selection Board to retain the applicant, the Board determined that on the basis of equity and the applicant being approved for retention on active duty, in a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 2 June 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board voted to change the applicant's reason for discharge, separation code, and reentry code and directed that a new DD Form 214 be issued reflecting the following changes, as the applicant was discharged on his ETS date: a. block 26, separation code changed to KBK b. block 27, reentry code changed to 1 c. block 28, narrative reason for separation changed to Completion of Required Service Except for the foregoing modifications, the Board determined the discharge was both proper and equitable. (Board member names available upon request) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason / Authority / Codes / Characterization: Non-Retention on Active Duty / AR 635-200, Chapter 4 / JGH / RE-4 / Honorable b. Date of Discharge: 1 May 2016 c. Separation Facts: NIF, but according to the applicant's documentary evidence: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 8 December 2015 (2) Basis for Separation: The actual basis for the applicant to be considered for denial of continued active duty service under the Qualitative Management Program is NIF. (3) Recommended Characterization: Honorable (4) Legal Consultation Date: NIF (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: QMP Selection Board recommended the applicant be retained, and the Director of Military Personnel Management approved the Board's recommendation and informed the applicant that he may remain on active duty. 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 2 May 2011 / 5 years b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 18 / HS Graduate / 128 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-6 / 11C3P, 2B Indirect Fire Infantryman / 11 years, 7 months, 11 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: RA (21 September 2004 to 13 March 2008) / HD RA (14 March 2008 to 1 May 2011) / HD e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: Italy, SWA / Iraq (9 August 2006 to 27 October 2007), Afghanistan (3 December 2009 to 2 October 2010), Iraq (27 January 2015 to 5 June 2015) f. Awards and Decorations: ARCOM-3; AAM-2; AGCM-3; NDSM; ACM-CS; ICM-CS; GWOTEM; GWOTSM; NCOPDR-2; ASR; OSR; NATO MDL; CIB; USA/USAF PUC g. Performance Ratings: Six NCOERs rendered during period under current review: 1 March 2011 thru 29 February 2012, Marginal 29 February 2012 thru 28 February 2013, Fully Capable 1 March 2013 thru 28 February 2014, Among the Best 1 March 2014 thru 17 September 2014, Fully Capable 18 September 2014 thru 17 September 2015, Among the Best 17 September 2015 thru 1 May 2016, Exceeded Standard h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: Discharge Orders, dated 20 April 2016 i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None / NA j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record), dated 14 February 2017; HRC letter with applicant's request to HRC, dated 9 November 2016, and 11 July 2016, respectively; memorandum, dated 29 April 2016, subject: Department of the Army Consideration for Denial of Continued Active Duty Service under the Qualitative Management Program (QMP); memorandum, dated 8 December 2015 (QMP notification); and applicant's acknowledgement of receipt, dated 14 December 2015. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None provided with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Chapter 19 covers discharges caused by the qualitative screening by the Qualitative Management Program (QMP) for NCOs (SSG through CSM/SGM) whose performance, conduct, and/or potential for advancement do not meet Army standards, as determined by the approved recommendations of HQDA centralized selection boards responsible for QMP screening will be denied continued service. The QMP is designed to enhance the quality of the career enlisted force, selectively retain the best qualified Soldiers, deny continued service to nonproductive Soldiers, and encourage Soldiers to maintain their eligibility for further service. Section III, provides Soldier notification and option provisions, and its process. Paragraph 19-11 states, in pertinent part, that Soldiers denied continued service under QMP may appeal the determination and request retention on active duty on the basis of improved performance and/or presence of material error in the Soldier's record when reviewed by the selection board. Successful appeals result in removal of the denial of continued service determination. Army policy states the service of Soldier separated under this chapter will be characterized as honorable. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests to change the narrative reason and its corresponding codes for his discharge. After carefully examining the applicant's record of service, and the documents and the issues submitted with the application, there are sufficient mitigating factors to merit granting the applicant's request to change the narrative reason for his discharge. The facts and circumstances pertaining to the basis for the Department of the Army's notification to the applicant for potential denial of his continued active duty service under the Qualitative Management Program (QMP), which led to his current 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 digitally authenticated by the applicant. His DD Form 214 indicates he was discharged on his ETS date under the provisions of Chapter 4, AR 635-200, but by reason of non-retention on active duty, with a characterization of service of honorable. Furthermore, the DD Form 214 shows a Separation Code of JGH (i.e., non-retention on active duty, AR 635-200, paragraph 19-12), with a reenlistment eligibility (RE) Code of "4." The applicant's documentary evidence, US Army Human Resources Command memorandum dated, 29 April 2016, confirms the Qualitative Management Program (QMP) favorably considered the applicant's appeal to QMP and recommended his retention on active duty. The recommendation was approved for him to remain on active duty until the established retention control point for his grade, unless separated earlier under appropriate regulation or statute. Paragraph 19-11d(2), AR 635-200, specifically states that successful appeals result in removal of the denial of continued service determination. However, the applicant proceeded to be discharged on his ETS date of 1 May 2016, after completing his five-year reenlistment and was unaware of the approved retention for continued service until a month later. The applicant contends a reentry code of "1" would allow him to reenlist and continue with his service in the Army; thereby, sufficing it to change the narrative reason for his discharge. In view of the foregoing, because the narrative reason for the applicant's separation is now inequitable, it requires the following changes, based on the approved retention on active duty and that he was discharged on his ETS date: Block 26, separation code to "KBK," block 27, reentry code to "1," and the narrative reason for separation to "Completion of Required Active Service." The discharge was not consistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of the regulation, was not within the discretion of the separation authority, and the applicant was not provided full administrative due process. 9. BOARD DETERMINATION: After carefully examining the applicant's record of service during the period of enlistment under review and considering the approved recommendation of the Qualitative Management Program Selection Board to retain the applicant, the Board determined that on the basis of equity and the applicant being approved for retention on active duty, in a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 2 June 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board voted to change the applicant's reason for discharge, separation code, and reentry code and directed that a new DD Form 214 be issued reflecting the following changes, as the applicant was discharged on his ETS date: a. block 26, separation code changed to KBK b. block 27, reentry code changed to 1 c. block 28, narrative reason for separation changed to Completion of Required Service 10. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a New DD-214: Yes b. Change Characterization to: No Change c. Change Reason to: Completion of Required Active Service d. Change SPD / RE Code to: Change SPD to KBK / Change RE code to 1 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 AR20170007859 4