Applicant Name: ????? Application Receipt Date: 080501 Prior Review: Prior Review Date: NA I. Applicant Request: Upgrade Reason Change RE Code Change Issues: The applicant states "NO SPECIFIC REASON GIVEN FOR GENERAL UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS GIVEN. OUTSTANDING SERVICE FOR 6 YEARS, NEED UPGRADE TO RECEIVE G.I. BILL BENEFITS." II. Were Proper Discharge and Separation Authority procedures followed? Tender Offer: NA See Attachments: Legal Medical Minority Opinion Exhibits III. Discharge Under Review Unit CDR Recommended Discharge: Date: 071108 Discharge Received: Date: 080131 Chapter: 5-8 AR: 635-200 Reason: Parenthood RE: SPD: JDG Unit/Location: A Co., 302nd Signal BN, Ft. Detrick, MD. Time Lost: None Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None Courts-Martial (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None Counseling Records Available: Yes No IV. Soldier’s Overall Record Age at current enlistment: 22 Current ENL Date: 050721 Current ENL Term: 04 Years ????? Current ENL Service: 02 Yrs, 06Mos, 10Days ????? Total Service: 06 Yrs, 06Mos, 15Days ????? Previous Discharges: RA-010716-050720/HD Highest Grade: E4 Performance Ratings Available: Yes No MOS: 25B Info. Sys. Ops. Analyst GT: 105 EDU: HS Grad Overseas: None Combat: None Decorations/Awards: AAM, AGCM-2, NDSM, GWOTSM, ASR, OSR. V. Post-Discharge Activity City, State: Lovettsville, VA Post Service Accomplishments: Not Listed VI. Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation a. Facts and Circumstances: The evidence of record shows that the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of separation action under the provisions of Chapter 5-8, AR 635-200, by reason of parenthood, for failure to maintain an adequate family care plan, with an honorable discharge. The record shows that on 8 November 2007, the applicant indicated that she was unable to validate her family care plan and that she understood that it would result in her separation from the Army. She was advised of her rights. The applicant consulted with legal counsel, was advised of the impact of the discharge action, and did submit a statement in her own behalf. The separation authority waived further rehabilitative efforts and directed that the applicant be released from active duty and not be transferred to the Individual Ready Reserve with a characterization of service of general, under honorable conditions. b. Legal Basis for Separation: Army Regulation 635-200 provides the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Paragraph 5-8 provides that a soldier may be separated when parental obligations interfere with fulfillment of military responsibilities. Specific reasons for separation because of parenthood include inability to perform prescribed duties satisfactorily, repeated absenteeism, late for work, inability to participate in field training exercises or perform special duties such as CQ and Staff Duty NCO, and non-availability for worldwide assignment or deployment according to the needs of the Army. Unless the reason for separation requires a specific characterization, a soldier being separated for the convenience of the government will be awarded a character of service of honorable, general under honorable conditions or an uncharacterized description of service if in entry-level status. No soldier will be awarded a characterization of service under honorable conditions under this chapter unless the soldier is notified of the specific factors in her service record that warrant such a characterization, using the notification procedure. c. Response to Issues, Recommendation and Rationale: After a careful review of all the applicant’s military records for the period of enlistment under review and the issue submitted with the application, the analyst determined that the characterization of service was improper. Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 5, paragraph 5-1b, states no Soldier will be awarded a character of service under honorable conditions under this chapter unless the Soldier is notified of the specific factors in her service record that warrants such a characterization, using the notification procedure. The analyst determined that the applicant was not properly notified as to these factors. In view of the aforementioned, the analyst recommends to the Board to grant relief in the form of an upgrade of the applicant's characterization of service to fully honorable. However, the analyst determined that the reason for discharge was both proper and equitable VII. Summary of Army Discharge Review Board Hearing Type of Hearing: Date: 13 February 2009 Location: Washington, DC Did the Applicant Testify? Yes No Counsel: NA Witnesses/Observers: NA Exhibits Submitted: NA VIII. Board Discussion, Determination, and Recommendation After a careful review of all the applicant’s military records for the period of enlistment under review and the issue, submitted with the application, the analyst determined that the characterization of service was improper. Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 5, paragraph 5-1b, states no Soldier will be awarded a character of service under honorable conditions under this chapter unless the Soldier is notified of the specific factors in his/her service record that warrants such a characterization, using the notification procedure. The analyst determined that the applicant was not properly notified as to these factors. In view of the aforementioned, the analyst recommends to the Board to grant relief in the form of an upgrade of the applicant's characterization of service to fully honorable. However, the analyst determined that the reason for discharge was both proper and equitable. IX. Board Decision XI. Certification Signature Board Vote: Approval Authority: Character - Change 5 No change 0 Reason - Change 0 No change 5 (Board member names available upon request) EDGAR J. YANGER Colonel, U.S. Army X. Board Action Directed President, Army Discharge Review Board Issue a new DD Form 214 Change Characterization to: Change Reason to: NA Other: NA RE Code: Grade Restoration: No Yes Grade: NA ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD - CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE Case Number AR20080008015 ______________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 3 pages