Applicant Name: Application Receipt Date: 2007/09/20 Prior Review Prior Review Date: None I. Applicant Request Request: Upgrade Reason Change RE Code Change Issues: The applicant states that she was discharged due to pregnancy. She needs her GI Bill and also states that her service was longer that what is reflected on her current DD Form 214. II. Were Proper Discharge and Separation Authority procedures followed? Yes No Tender Offer: ????? See Attachments: Legal Medical Minority Opinion Exhibits III. Original Character of Discharge Unit CDR Recommended Discharge: Date: NIF Discharge Received: Date: 060419 Chapter: 8 AR: 635-200 Reason: Pregnancy or Childbirth RE: SPD: MDF Unit/Location: 119th TC Terminal, Fort Eustis, VA Time Lost: None Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None Court-Martials (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None Counseling Records Available: Yes No IV. Soldier’s Overall Record Year/Month: 8402 HOR City, State: Akron, OH Current ENL Date: 020801 Current ENL Term: 4 Years ????? Current ENL Service: 03 Yrs, 08Mos, 19Days ????? Total Service: 03 Yrs, 08Mos, 19Days ????? Previous Discharges: None Highest Grade: E-4 Performance Ratings Available: Yes No MOS: 88M10/Mtr Trans Opr GT: 95 EDU: HS Grad Overseas: SWA Combat: Iraq (030114-030715), Kuwait (040214-050211) Decorations/Awards: ARCOM, GCM, NDSM, GWOTEM, GWOTSM, ASR, ICM V. Post-Discharge Activity Post Service Accomplishments: None listed VI. Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation a. Facts and Circumstances: The evidence of record shows that on 6 April 2006, DA, HQ, U.S. Army Transportation Center, Fort Story, VA, Orders 096-0016 released the applicant from active duty and assigned her to the USAR Control Group. The specific facts and circumstances pertaining to the applicant’s discharge are not contained in the available records. The record contains a properly constituted DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty). Her DD Form 214 indicates that she was voluntarily discharged under the provisions of Chapter 8, AR 635-200 by reason of pregnancy or childbirth with a general, under honorable conditions characterization of service. b. Legal Basis for Separation: Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the requirements and procedures for administrative discharge of enlisted personnel. Chapter 8 provides for the voluntary separation of enlisted woman because of pregnancy. Service of enlisted woman separated under the provisions of Chapter 8 will be characterized as honorable or general, under honorable conditions unless the soldier in an entry level status. c. Response to Issues, Recommendation and Rationale: After a careful review of all the applicant’s available military records and the issue she submitted, the analyst recommends to the Board that the applicant’s characterization of service be upgraded to fully honorable. This recommendation was made after full consideration of her faithful and honorable service. The evidence in this case supports a conclusion that the applicant’s characterization of service was too harsh, and as a result it is inequitable. While the applicant's specific facts for which she may have received a general discharge are not contained in the available record, the overall length and quality of the applicant's service, to include her two combat deployments and the lack of any evidence of misconduct as her DD Form 214 indicates she was discharged as an E-4 mitigated the possible discrediting entry. Accordingly, the analyst recommends that the applicant’s characterization of service be upgraded to fully honorable. However, the analyst determined that the reason for discharge was fully supported by the record and therefore, remains both proper and equitable. VII. Summary of Army Discharge Review Board Hearing Type of Hearing: Date: 30 July 2008 Location: Washington, D.C. Did the Applicant Testify? Yes No Counsel: NA Witnesses/Observers: NA Exhibits Submitted: NA VIII. Board Decision The discharge was: Proper Improper Equitable Inequitable The characterization of service was: Proper Improper Equitable Inequitable The narrative reasons were: Equitable Inequitable DRB voting record: Change 5 No change 0 - Character Change 0 No change 5 - Reason (Board member names available upon request) IX. Board Discussion, Determination, and Recommendation After carefully examining the applicant’s record of service during the period of enlistment under review and considering the analyst’s recommendation and rationale, the Board determined that the characterization of service was too harsh based on the applicant’s length and quality of her service to include her combat service and as a result it is inequitable. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade of the characterization of service to fully honorable. The Board determined that the reason for discharge was proper and equitable and voted not to change it. X. Board Action Directed No Change Issue a new DD Form 214 Change Characterization to: Change Reason to: NA Other: NA RE Code: Grade Restoration: No Yes Grade: NA XI. Certification Signature and Date Approval Authority: MARK E. COLLINS Colonel, U.S. Army President, Army Discharge Review Board Official: CHRISTINE U. MARTINSON DATE: 31 July 2008 Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army Chief, Secretary Recorder ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD - CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE Case Number AR20070013131 ______________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 5 pages