IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 26 April 2013 CASE NUMBER: AR20120021449 ___________________________________________________________________________ Board Determination and Directed Action After carefully examining the applicant's record of service during the period of enlistment under review and considering the enclosed Discussion and Recommendation that follows, the Board determined the discharge was both proper and equitable and voted to deny relief. Presiding Officer I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Department of the Army Discharge Review Board in this case. THE APPLICANT’S REQUEST AND STATEMENT: 1. The applicant requests an upgrade of her uncharacterized discharge to honorable. 2. The applicant states, in effect, that block 24 on her DD Form 214 should be characterized as honorable. She is applying for the GI Bill and her BCT/AIT time isn’t being counted because it wasn’t an honorable discharge. DISCHARGE UNDER REVIEW INFORMATION: a. Application Receipt Date: 19 November 2012 b. Discharge received: Uncharacterized c. Date of Discharge: 12 October 2006 d. Reason/Authority/SPD/RE: Completion of Required Active Service, Chapter 4 AR 635-200, MBK, NA e. Unit of assignment: Co D, 787th MP Bn, T TC, Fort Leonard Wood, MO f. Current Enlistment Date/Term: 18 April 2006, IADT/Term-NIF g. Current Enlistment Service: 5 months, 25 days h. Total Service: 7 months, 3 days i. Time Lost: None j. Previous Discharges: None k. Highest Grade Achieved: E-2 l. Military Occupational Specialty: 31B20, Military Police m. GT Score: NIF n. Education: HS Graduate o. Overseas Service: None p. Combat Service: None q. Decorations/Awards: NDSM r. Administrative Separation Board: No s. Performance Ratings: None t. Counseling Statements: None u. Prior Board Review: No SUMMARY OF SERVICE: The applicant enlisted in the United States Army Reserve (USAR) on 10 March 2006 and was ordered to active duty for initial active duty training (IADT) on 18 April 2006. She was 18 years old at the time of entry and was a high school graduate. The applicant continued to serve in the USAR and on 13 October 2006, she was transferred back to her command; 744 Military Police Battalion, Detachment 4, 2940 Airport Road, Bethlehem, PA. She held the rank of PV2 at the time of her active duty training. The record documents no acts of valor or significant achievements during the period of service under review. SEPARATION FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES 1. The evidence of record shows that the applicant completed Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) training and was awarded MOS 31B20, Military Police. 2. The record contains a properly constituted DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), which was authenticated by the applicant’s signature. The DD Form 214 indicates she was released from initial active duty training under the provisions of Chapter 4, AR 635-200 by reason of completion of required active service, with her service described as uncharacterized. 3. Following completion of the MOS training course, the applicant was released from active duty with an effective date of 12 October 2006, and transferred to the 744 Military Police Battalion, Detachment 4, 2940 Airport Road, Bethlehem, PA, to continue her service in the United States Army Reserve. 4. The applicant’s record does not contain any evidence of unauthorized absences or time lost. EVIDENCE OBTAINED FROM THE APPLICANT'S RECORD There are no counseling statements or UCMJ actions in the record. EVIDENCE SUBMITTED BY THE APPLICANT The applicant provided a DD Form 293 and 3 DD Form 214s for various periods of service. POST-SERVICE ACTIVITY: The applicant has achieved the rank of SGT/E-5 in the United States Army Reserve where she continues to serve. REGULATORY AUTHORITY 1. Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for separation of enlisted personnel. Chapter 4 of that regulation provides, in pertinent part, for the separation of individuals upon completion of required service (i.e., expiration term of service). 2. The characterization of service for Soldiers separated under the provisions of Chapter 4, AR 635-200 will be honorable unless the Soldier is in entry-level status. 3. The service of Soldiers in entry-level status will be uncharacterized. A Soldier is in an entry-level status if the Soldier has not completed more than 180 days of creditable continuous active duty at the time of the discharge or release from active duty. 4. In the case of a USAR Soldier on active duty (AD) or active duty training (ADT) who is to be discharged, the character of the period of service from which he/she is being discharged will be based solely on military behavior and performance of duty during the current period of service while actually performing AD or ADT. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant’s request for an upgrade of the characterization of her discharge was carefully considered. However, after examining the applicant’s record of service, the documents and the issue submitted with the application, there are insufficient mitigating factors to merit an upgrade of the applicant's discharge. 2. The record shows the applicant, while in entry-level status was released from active duty for training under the provisions of Chapter 4, AR 635-200, by reason of completion of required active service, with character of service described as uncharacterized. 3. The applicant contends her service was honorable and she is trying to apply for the GI Bill education benefits. The characterization of service for Soldiers separated under this provision of the regulation is normally honorable, unless the Soldier is in entry-level status. A Soldier is in entry-level status for the first 180 days of continuous active duty. Army Regulation 635-200 also provides, except in cases of serious misconduct, that a Soldier’s service will be uncharacterized when separated in entry-level status. For USAR Soldiers ordered to IADT/ADT, entry-level status terminates 180 days after the beginning of training. The applicant had completed 5 months and 25 days of continued active service at the time she was released from active duty; thus, she was in entry level status. 4. A general, under honorable conditions discharge is not authorized under ELS conditions and an honorable discharge may be granted only in cases which are clearly warranted by unusual circumstances involving outstanding personal conduct and/or performance of duty. A review of the applicant’s record does not indicate the presence of any unusual circumstances and her service did not warrant an honorable discharge. 5. The applicant's is commended for her successful accomplishments in the USAR where she has achieved the rank of SGT/E-5 as reflected in her service record. However, in review of the applicant’s entire service record for the period under review, it was determined that these accomplishments did not overcome the reason for discharge and the characterization of service granted. 6. Therefore, the reason for discharge and the characterization of service being both proper and equitable, recommend the Board deny relief. SUMMARY OF ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD HEARING: Type of Hearing: Records Review Date: 26 April 2013 Location: Washington, DC Did applicant testify: No Counsel: None Board Vote: Character Change: 0 No Change: 5 Reason Change: 0 No Change: 5 (Board member names available upon request) Board Action Directed: Issue a new DD Form 214: No Change Characterization to: No Change Change Reason to: No Change Change RE Code to: No Change Grade Restoration to: NA Change Authority for Separation: No Change Legend: AMHRR - Army Military Human Resource Record FG - Field Grade IADT – Initial Active Duty Training RE - Reentry AWOL - Absent Without Leave GD - General Discharge NA - Not applicable SCM- Summary Court Martial BCD - Bad Conduct Discharge HS - High School NIF - Not in File SPCM - Special Court Martial CG - Company Grade Article 15 HD - Honorable Discharge OAD - Ordered to Active Duty UNC - Uncharacterized Discharge CID - Criminal investigation Department MP – Military Police OMPF - Official Military Personnel File UOTH - Under Other Than Honorable ADRB Case Report and Directive (cont) AR 20120021449 5 ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD (ADRB) CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE 1