IN THE CASE OF: Mr. BOARD DATE: 21 September 2015 CASE NUMBER: AR20140019015 ___________________________________________________________________________ Board Determination and Directed Action After carefully examining the applicant's record of service during the period of enlistment under review, and considering the Discussion and Recommendation which 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 a change to the narrative reason for his discharge from personality disorder to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 2. The applicant states, in effect, his characterization of service and narrative reason for discharge is often confusing for employment. The applicant contends the narrative reason is an unfair assessment to his character of service and is inhibiting his opportunities to provide counseling on a state or federal level. The applicant states he is currently being treated for PTSD. DISCHARGE UNDER REVIEW INFORMATION: a. Application Receipt Date: 29 October 2014 b. Discharge Received: Honorable c. Date of Discharge: 4 March 2005 d. Reason/Authority/SPD/RE Code: Personality Disorder, AR 635-200, Chapter 5-13, JFX, RE-3 e. Unit of assignment: 1835th Combat Stress Medical Detachment, Fort Riley, Kansas f. Current Enlistment Date/Term: 24 April 2004/8 years g. Current Enlistment Service: 3 years, 11 days h. Total Service: 3 years, 11 days i. Time Lost: None j. Previous Discharges: USAR, 020222-020729, N/A ADT, 020730-030124, HD USAR, 030125-040423, N/A (Concurrent Service) k. Highest Grade Achieved: E-6 l. Military Occupational Specialty: 91X30, Health Physics Specialist m. GT Score: NIF n. Education: Associate Degree o. Overseas Service: SWA p. Combat Service: Iraq (040606-050101) q. Decorations/Awards: AAM, NDSM, GWOTSM, GWOTEM, AFRM W/M DEVICE, NPDR-2, ASR, AFTR r. Administrative Separation Board: N/A s. Performance Ratings: Yes t. Counseling Statements: No u. Prior Board Review: N/A SUMMARY OF SERVICE: The applicant enlisted in the Army Reserve on 22 February 2002 for a period of 8 years. He was 30 years old at the time of entry and a college graduate. He served in Iraq, earned an AAM, and completed 3 years and 11 days of creditable military service. When his discharge proceedings were initiated, he was serving at Fort Riley, Kansas. SEPARATION FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES: 1. The evidence of record shows that on 13 January 2005, the applicant was diagnosed by competent medical authority with (Axis I) Occupational Problem and (Axis II) Narcississtic Personality Disorder. In addition, it was noted that the service member’s health problems do not meet criteria for initiation of a medical evaluation board; however, his personality disorder is so severe that his ability to function effectively in the military environment is signficantly impaired. Furthermore, the applicant was deemed unsuitable for retention; therefore, an expeditious administrative separation from the Army was strongly recommended. 2. The complete facts and circumstances leading to the applicant's discharge from the Army are not contained in the available records. However, 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. 3. The DD Form 214 indicates that on 4 March 2005, the applicant was discharged under the provisions of AR 635-200, Chapter 5-13, for personality disorder, with the character of service of honorable. Furthermore, in accordance with AR 635-5-1, Table 2-3, the designated separation code for personality disorder is JFX, with a reentry eligibility (RE) code of 3 as outlined in AR 601-210. 4. The applicant’s service record does not contain any evidence of unauthorized absences or time lost. EVIDENCE OBTAINED FROM THE APPLICANT'S RECORD: DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) covering the period of service on active duty training, which was authenticated by the applicant's signature. EVIDENCE SUBMITTED BY THE APPLICANT: 1. The applicant provided a DD Form 293, dated 24 October 2014, and a DD Form 214 covering the period of service on active duty training. 2. The applicant provided the following documents in support of his application: a. DA Form 2166-8 (NCO Evaluation Report), period covering July 2003 through March 2004, indicates the applicant received two “Excellence” ratings in Physical Fitness & Military Bearing and Leadership; three “Success” ratings in Competence, Training, and Responsibility & Accountability; “Among The Best” for overall potential for promotion from his rater; and, “1/1” from his senior rater for overall performance and potential. b. DA Promotion Orders 04-103-00017, dated 12 April 2004, promoting applicant to the rank of staff sergeant (E-6). c. Certificate of Recognition, dated 6 June 2004, signed by the command sergeant major and commanding general of Task Force Danger, Operation Iraqi Freedom. d. DA Form 3822-R (Report of Mental Status Evaluation), dated 13 January 2005. e. Self-authored statement, dated 27 January 2005, outlines significant combat-related events that contributed to his overall mental and physical well-being. f. Two DA Forms 2173 (Statement of Medical Examination and Duty Status), dated 3 February 2005. g. Two DD Forms 2215E (Reference Audiogram), dated 4 May 2004 and 25 January 2005. h. Progress Notes (14 pages), dated 8 April 2010, printed at Phoenix VA Health Care System. i. Eight character letters, dated between 6 October 2003 and 8 April 2013, authored by past and present colleagues in the medical field. The letters carry the common theme of the applicant’s reliability, valuable skill set, and his dedication to the well being of the programs participants. j. Certificate of Appreciation, signed by the command sergeant major and commanding general of the 2d Medical Brigade, in recognition of his efforts in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from June 2004 through January 2005. k. Four College and University Transcripts, dated between March 2004 and October 2011: (1) American Council on Education, 4 pages (2) Rio Salado Community College, Associate in Applied Science Degree, Chemical Dependency Levels I & II. (3) Ashford University, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology (4) Ottawa University, Master of Arts in Professional Counseling POST-SERVICE ACTIVITY: The applicant states he is a licensed counselor with a trauma, abuse, and depreciation focus. 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 to change the narrative reason for his discharge was carefully considered. However, after a careful review of his military records during the period of enlistment under review and the issue he submitted, there are insufficient mitigating factors to merit a change to the narrative reason for discharge. 2. The record confirms that the applicant was diagnosed by competent medical authority with (Axis I) Occupational Problem and (Axis II) Narcississtic Personality Disorder. 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 contends the narrative reason is an unfair assessment to his character of service and is inhibiting his opportunities to provide counseling on a state or federal level. However, the applicant’s requested change to the DD Form 214 does not fall within the purview of this Board. The applicant may apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR), using the enclosed DD Form 149 regarding this matter. A DD Form 149 may also be obtained from a Veterans' Service Organization. 4. The applicant contends he is receiving treatment for PTSD. However, a careful review of the entire record reveals that this medical condition did not overcome the reason for discharge. The record shows that on 13 January 2005, the applicant underwent a mental status evaluation which indicates he was mentally responsible, with thought content as clear, and was able to recognize right from wrong. It appears the applicant’s chain of command determined that the applicant knew the difference between what was right and wrong as indicated by the mental status evaluation. Further, there are many Soldiers with the same condition that completed their service successfully. 5. The applicant requests a change to the reason for his discharge; however, the narrative reason for separation is governed by specific directives. The applicant was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 5, paragraph 5-13, AR 635-200, 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. 6. Therefore, the narrative reason for discharge being both proper and equitable, recommend the Board deny relief. SUMMARY OF ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD HEARING: Type of Hearing: Records Review Date: 21 January 2015 Location: Washington, DC Did the Applicant Testify? NA Counsel: None Witnesses/Observers: NA Board Vote: Character Change: NA No Change: NA 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: NA Change Reason to: No Change Change Authority for Separation: NA Change RE Code to: NA Grade Restoration to: NA Other: NA 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) AR20140019015 Page 6 of 6 pages ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD (ADRB) CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE 1