IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 10 June 2015 CASE NUMBER: AR20140006790 ___________________________________________________________________________ Board Determination and Directed Action After carefully examining the applicant’s record of service during the period of enlistment under review and notwithstanding the examiner’s Discussion and Recommendation that follows, the Board determined that the narrative reason for discharge is now inequitable based on her combat service and the mental health issues which impaired her ability to perform. Accordingly, the Board voted to change the narrative reason for separation to Secretarial Authority with the corresponding separation code of JFF. 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 a change to the narrative reason for separation. 2. The applicant states, in effect, she wants the “personality disorder” removed from her DD Form 214. The applicant contends, she was assigned 100% disability for PTSD. DISCHARGE UNDER REVIEW INFORMATION: a. Application Receipt Date: 15 April 2014 b. Discharge Received: Honorable c. Date of Discharge: 24 May 2006 d. Reason/Authority/SPD/RE Code: Personality Disorder, AR 635-200, Chapter 5-13, JFX, RE-3 e. Unit of assignment: Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Riley, KS f. Current Enlistment Date/Term: 1 July 2004/4 years, 17 weeks g. Current Enlistment Service: 1 year, 10 months, 24 days h. Total Service: 1 year, 10 months, 24 days i. Time Lost: None j. Previous Discharges: None k. Highest Grade Achieved: E-3 l. Military Occupational Specialty: 88M10, Motor Transporter Operator m. GT Score: 91 n. Education: HS Graduate o. Overseas Service: SWA p. Combat Service: Iraq (041117-051028) q. Decorations/Awards: NDSM, GWTEM, GWTSM, ASR, OSR r. Administrative Separation Board: N/A s. Performance Ratings: N/A t. Counseling Statements: Yes u. Prior Board Review: No SUMMARY OF SERVICE: The applicant enlisted in the Regular Army on 1 July 2004 for a period of 4 years and 17 weeks. She was 19 years old at the time of entry and a high school graduate. She served in Iraq. She completed 1 year, 10 months, and 24 days of active duty service. When her discharge proceedings were initiated, she was serving at Fort Riley, Kansas. SEPARATION FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES: 1. The record is void of a Mental Status Evaluation that reflects the applicant was diagnosed by competent medical authority with an adjustment disorder. However, the record contains a counseling statement, dated 16 May 2006, outlining the outcome of the applicant’s appointment with behavioral health. According to the statement, the applicant was seen on 13 April 2006 by CPT L of Behavioral Health. It was recommended that the applicant be chaptered under AR 635-200, Chapter 5-13. 2. On 18 May 2006, the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of separation action under the provisions of AR 635-200, Chapter 5-13, by reason of personality disorder, specifically for having attempted to take her life on divers occasions. 3. The unit commander recommended an honorable discharge and advised the applicant of her rights. 4. On 19 May 2006, the applicant consulted with legal counsel, was advised of the impact of the discharge action, and elected not to submit a statement in her own behalf. The unit commander subsequently recommended separation from the service. The intermediate commander recommended approval with an honorable discharge. 5. On 22 May 2006, the separation authority directed the applicant’s discharge with a characterization of service of honorable. 6. The applicant was discharged from the Army on 24 May 2006, with an honorable characterization of service. 7. The applicant’s service record contains no evidence of unauthorized absences or time lost. EVIDENCE OBTAINED FROM THE APPLICANT'S RECORD: Discharge Orders Number 144-0001, dated 24 May 2006, Headquarters, 24th Infantry Division (Mech) and Fort Riley, KS, reflects the applicant was discharged from the Regular Army with an effective date of 24 May 2006. EVIDENCE SUBMITTED BY THE APPLICANT: 1. The applicant provided a DD Form 149, dated 10 April 2014, and a DD Form 214 covering the period of service under review. 2. One counseling statement, dated 16 May 2006, informing the applicant of the initiation of separation proceedings based on the recommendation from the Behavioral Health Evaluation. 3. Department of Veterans Affairs Chicago Regional Office (VACRO) Rating Decision, dated 26 February 2011, reflects the applicant was granted 100% disability for PTSD (4 pages). 4. VACRO Award and Payment Start Date letter, dated 9 March 2011, informs the applicant of the decision made on her claim for an increase in her service connected compensation (1 page). POST-SERVICE ACTIVITY: None was provided with the application. REGULATORY AUTHORITY: 1. Army Regulation 635-200 provides the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Paragraph 5-13 in effect at the time, provided that a Soldier may be separated for a personality disorder, not amounting to disability, when the condition interfered 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 military duties. The regulation also directs that commanders will not take action prescribed in this Chapter in lieu of disciplinary action and requires that the disorder is so severe that the Soldier’s ability to function in the military environment is significantly impaired. 2. Army policy requires the award of a fully honorable discharge in such case. 3. Characterization of service under honorable conditions may be awarded to a Soldier who has been convicted of an offense by general court-martial or who has been convicted by more than one special court-martial in the current enlistment, period of obligated service, or any extension thereof. DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION: 1. The applicant’s request for a change to the narrative reason for discharge was carefully considered. However, after a careful review of her military records during the period of enlistment under review and the issue she submitted, there are insufficient mitigating factors to merit a change to the narrative reason for discharge. 2. The record is void of the Mental Status Evaluation that confirms the applicant was diagnosed by competent medical authority with a personality disorder. Based on the outcome of the appointment with behavioral health, the unit commander properly initiated discharge proceedings under the provisions of AR 635-200, Chapter 5-13, in effect at the time, by reason of personality disorder, with a characterization of service of honorable. 3. The applicant requests a change to the reason for her discharge; however, the narrative reason for separation is governed by specific directives. The applicant was discharged under the provisions of AR 635-200, Chapter 5-13, in effect at the time. 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 was no provision for any other reason to be entered under this regulation. 4. Therefore, the narrative reason for discharge being both proper and equitable, recommend the Board deny relief. BOARD DETERMINATION AND DIRECTED ACTION After carefully examining the applicant’s record of service during the period of enlistment under review and notwithstanding the examiner’s Discussion and Recommendation, the Board determined that the narrative reason for discharge is now inequitable based on her combat service and the mental health issues which impaired her ability to perform. Accordingly, the Board voted to change the narrative reason for separation to Secretarial Authority with the corresponding separation code of JFF. SUMMARY OF ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD HEARING: Type of Hearing: Records Review Date: 24 June 2015 Location: Washington, DC Did the Applicant Testify? NA Counsel: None Witnesses/Observers: NA Board Vote: Character Change: NA No Change: NA Reason Change: 5 No Change: 0 (Board member names available upon request) Board Action Directed: Issue a new DD Form 214: Yes Change Characterization to: NA Change Reason to: Secretarial Authority Change Authority for Separation: AR 635-200, Chapter 5-3 Change RE Code to: NA Grade Restoration to: NA Other: Change SPD code to JFF 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 UOTHC - Under Other Than Honorable Conditions ADRB Case Report and Directive (cont) AR20140006790 Page 2 of 5 pages ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD (ADRB) CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE 1