ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:

	BOARD DATE:  20 August 2019

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20170017269


APPLICANT REQUESTS:  a change to his narrative reason for separation

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 

* DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
* Self-authored Statement

FACTS:

1.  Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) in Docket Number AR20150000112 on 
9 April 2015.

2.  The applicant provided a self-authored statement stating he was wrongfully administratively separated from military service for personality disorder.  This has negatively impacted his living, thinking, and social interactions.  The narrative on the 
DD Form 214 has ruined his life and he has been unable to function as a good standing citizen.  He requests to change the narrative reason from personality disorder to secretarial authority.

3.  The facts and circumstances pertaining to the applicant’s discharge are not available.  His DD Form 214 shows he was discharged under honorable conditions (general) on 8 August 1995, under the provisions of Army Regulation (AR) 635-200, paragraph 5-13, due to personality disorder.

4.  On 12 January 2011, the Army Discharge Review Board (ADRB) upgraded the applicant’s discharge from general to fully honorable.  However, the ADRB determined that his reason for discharge was proper.

5.  On 9 April 2015, the Army Review Board Agency denied the applicant’s request to change the narrative reason on his DD Form 214 from personality disorder to 
post-traumatic stress disorder.

6.  By regulation, action will be taken to separate a soldier for personality disorder if the diagnosis concludes that the disorder is so severe that the soldier’s ability to function effectively in the military environment is significantly impaired.  The service of a soldier separated for personality disorder will be characterized as honorable under 
AR 635-200, Chapter 5-13.

7.  In reaching its determination, the Board can consider the applicant’s petition and his service record in accordance with the published equity, injustice, or clemency determination guidance.

BOARD DISCUSSION:

After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, the Board determined that relief was not warranted.  Based upon the facts and circumstances surrounding the applicant’s separation, the Board found the narrative reason currently on the DD Form 214 accurately reflects the reason for the applicant’s discharge.  Therefore, the Board found no error or injustice which would warrant making a change to the applicant’s record.

BOARD VOTE:
Mbr 1	Mbr 2	Mbr 3

:	:	:	GRANT FULL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT FORMAL HEARING

X	X	X	DENY APPLICATION



BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice.  Therefore, the Board determined the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned.
	 
I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case.


REFERENCES:

1.  Title 10, USC, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within three years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice.  This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant's failure to timely file within the three-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so.
2.  Army Regulation (AR) 635-200, (Personnel Separations – Enlisted Personnel), in effect at the time, provides for separation of enlisted personnel.

	a.  Paragraph 5-3 policy states the separation of soldiers for the convenience of the Government is the prerogative of the Secretary of the Army (SA).  Except as delegated by this regulation or by special Department of Army directives, it will be accomplished only by the SA’s authority.  The separation of any soldier of the Army under this authority will be based on an SA determination that separation is in the best interest of the Army.

	b.  Paragraph 5-13 states a Soldier could be separated for personality disorder (as determined by medical authority), not amounting to disability under Army Regulation 
(AR) 635-40, that interfered with assignment to or performance of duty.  The regulation required that the condition be a deeply-ingrained maladaptive pattern of behavior of long duration that interfered with the Soldier's ability to perform duty.  Commanders would not take action prescribed in this paragraph in lieu of disciplinary action.  The diagnosis must have concluded that the disorder was so severe that the Soldier’s ability to function in the military environment was significantly impaired.  Separation for personality disorder was not appropriate when separation was warranted under chapter 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, or 15 of this regulation; Army Regulation 604-10; or Army Regulation 635-40.

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20170017269


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