Applicant Name: ????? Application Receipt Date: 2008/11/13 Prior Review: Prior Review Date: NA I. Applicant Request: Upgrade Reason Change RE Code Change Issues: See DD Form 149 and attached documents submitted by the applicant in lieu of DD Form 293. 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: NIF Date: NIF Discharge Received: Date: 040910 Chapter: 5-13 AR: 635-200 Reason: Personality Disorder RE: SPD: JFX Unit/Location: A Co, 1-3 IN Bn, Fort Myer, VA Time Lost: None Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): NIF Courts-Martial (Charges/Dates/Punishment): NIF Counseling Records Available: Yes No IV. Soldier’s Overall Record Age at current enlistment: 23 Current ENL Date: 030917 Current ENL Term: 4 Years ????? Current ENL Service: 00 Yrs, 11Mos, 24Days ????? Total Service: 00 Yrs, 11Mos, 24Days ????? Previous Discharges: None Highest Grade: E-3 Performance Ratings Available: Yes No MOS: 11B10 Infantryman GT: NIF EDU: 15 Years Overseas: None Combat: None Decorations/Awards: NDSM, ASR V. Post-Discharge Activity City, State: Valparaiso, IN Post Service Accomplishments: The applicant claims since leaving the military, he has been employed; taken graduate courses in Homeland Cyber-security as well as attended law school. He further states he began a graduate program in psychology and has a 4.0 grade point average in the program, and in my current courses, received a total of six professional/academic recommendations for graduate school applications, each attesting to his maturity, mental competence, and academic achievement since leaving the military. VI. Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation a. Facts and Circumstances: The applicant’s record is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events that led to a discharge from the Army. However, the record does contain a properly constituted DD Form 214, (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), which was authenticated by the applicant's signature. His DD Form 214 indicates that he was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 5, Paragraph 5-13, AR 635-200, by reason of personality disorder, with an honorable discharge. Furthermore, the DD Form 214 shows a Separation Code of JFX (i.e., personality disorder), with no reentry eligibility (RE) code specified. On 31 August 2004, DA, HQ, Fort Myer Military Community, Arlington, VA , Orders 244-0002, discharged the applicant from the Regular Army, effective date: 10 September 2004. The analyst noted that on the applicant's DD Form 214 block 27, reentry eligibility (RE) code is marked "NA." However, according to AR 635-5-1, Separation Program Designator (SPD)/Reentry (RE) Codes Cross-Reference Table, requires an reentry eligibility (RE) code of "3" in block 27, which corresponds with the narrative reason for separation. b. Legal Basis for Separation: Army Regulation 635-200 provides the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Paragraph 5-13 provides that a Soldier may be separated for personality disorder, not amounting to disability under Army Regulation 635-40, that interferes 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 duty. The regulation also directs that commanders will not take action prescribed in this chapter in lieu of disciplinary action; requires that the diagnosis concludes the disorder is so severe that the Soldier’s ability to function in the military environment is significantly impaired; and states that separation for personality disorder is not appropriate when separation is warranted under chapter 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, or 15; Army Regulation 604-10 or Army Regulation 635-40. Army policy requires the award of a fully honorable discharge in such case. c. Response to Issues, Recommendation and Rationale: After a careful review of all the applicant’s available military records during the period of enlistment under review and the issues and documents he submitted with the application, the analyst found no mitigating factors that would merit a change to the applicant's narrative reason for discharge. The applicant’s record is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events that led to a discharge from the Army. However, the applicant’s record does contain a properly constituted DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), which was authenticated by the applicant's signature. This document identifies the reason and characterization of the discharge and the analyst presumed Government regularity in the discharge process. That DD Form 214 indicates that the applicant was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 5, Paragraph 5-13, AR 635-200, by reason of personality disorder, with an honorable discharge. The DD Form 214 further shows a Separation Code of JFX (i.e., personality disorder). Furthermore, the analyst noted the applicant's issue; however, the narrative reason specified by Army Regulations for a discharge under this paragraph is "Personality Disorder" and the separation code is "JFX." Army Regulation 635-5, Separation Documents, governs preparation of the DD Form 214 and dictates that entry of the narrative reason for separation, entered in block 28 and separation code, entered in block 26 of the form, will be entered exactly as listed in tables 2-2 or 2-3 of AR 635-5-1, Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes. The regulation further stipulates that no deviation is authorized. There is no provision for any other reason to be entered under this regulation. Further, the analyst found no evidence of arbitrary or capricious actions by the command. The analyst was satisfied that all requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process. If the applicant desires to reenlist, he should contact the local recruiter to determine his eligibility to reenlist. Those individuals can best advise a former service member as to the needs of the Army at the time, and are required to process waivers of reentry eligibility (RE) codes. Finally, the analyst determined that the applicant’s Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) does not contain all the specific documents that would indicate the reason for the separation action from the United States Army and the analyst presumed Government regularity as aforemntioned in the OSA Form 172. If the applicant desires to appear before a personal appearance Board, the burden of proof remains with the applicant to provide the appropriate documents or other evidence sufficient to explain the facts, circumstances, and reasons underlying the separation action, for the Board’s consideration. Additionally, the analyst found that someone in the separation process erroneously marked "NA" on the applicant's DD Form 214, block 27, reentry eligibility (RE) code. The analyst recommends that block 27, reentry eligibility (RE) code be administratively changed to "3," which corresponds with the narrative reason for separation. Except for the foregoing modification to the applicant's reentry eligibility (RE) code, the analyst determined that the discharge was both proper and equitable. VII. Summary of Army Discharge Review Board Hearing Type of Hearing: Date: 4 May 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 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 discharge was both proper and equitable and voted to deny relief. IX. Board Decision XI. Certification Signature Board Vote: Approval Authority: Character - Change 0 No change 0 Reason - Change 1 No change 4 (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: No Change Other: NA RE Code: Grade Restoration: No Yes Grade: None ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD - CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE Case Number AR20080019429 ______________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 3 pages