1. APPLICANT’S NAME: a. Application Date: 19 May 2015 b. Date Received: 6 July 2015 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, REASON, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of his general, under honorable discharge to honorable and a change to the narrative reason for his separation. The applicant states, in effect, he would like an upgrade of his discharge for the purpose of being able to reenlist and finish his time in the Army. He contends his discharge was unfair and unreasonable. His discharge was the result of medical and financial issues he was dealing with at the time of discharge. In a personal appearance review conducted at Arlington, VA on 22 February 2016, and by a 3-2 vote, the Board after carefully examining the applicant’s record of service during the period of enlistment under review and hearing his testimony, determined the characterization of service was too harsh based on the applicant’s testimony, post service accomplishment (i.e., obtaining fully funded scholarship while overcoming sever financial and emotional hardships) and the circumstances surrounding the discharge, and as a result it is inequitable. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade of the characterization of service to honorable. The Board further determined the reason for discharge was proper and equitable and voted not to change it. (Board member names available upon request.) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason/Authority/Codes/Characterization: NIF / AR 135-178 / NA / General, Under Honorable Conditions b. Date of Discharge: 6 June 2014 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: NIF (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was informed of the following reasons: NIF (3) Recommended Characterization: NIF (4) Legal Consultation Date: NIF (5) Administrative Separation Board: NIF (6) Separation Decision Date/Characterization: NIF 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date/Period of Enlistment: 16 February 2011 / 8 years b. Age at Enlistment/Education/GT Score: 20 years / HS Graduate / 96 c. Highest Grade Achieved/MOS/Total Service: E-2 / 91B10, Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic / 3 years, 3 months, and 21 days d. Prior Service/Characterizations: USAR-16 February 2011-21 March 2011 / NA ADT-22 March 2011-2 September 2011 / HD (Concurrent Service) e. Overseas Service/Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: NDSM, ASR g. Performance Ratings: None h. Disciplinary Action(s)/Evidentiary Record: NIF i. Lost Time: None j. Diagnosed PTSD/TBI/Behavioral Health: NIF 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: An online application; medical documents; and documents taken from his Official Military Personnel File (OMPF). 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 135-178 sets forth the policies, standards, and procedures to ensure the readiness and competency of the U.S. Army while providing for the orderly administrative separation of Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) enlisted Soldiers for a variety of reasons. The separation policies throughout the different Chapters in this regulation promote the readiness of the Army by providing an orderly means to judge the suitability of persons to serve on the basis of their conduct and their ability to meet required standards of duty performance and discipline. Specific categories include minor disciplinary infractions, a pattern of misconduct, and commission of a serious offense, to include abuse of illegal drugs, and convictions by civil authorities. The characterization is based upon the quality of the Soldier’s service, including the reason for separation and determined in accordance with standards of acceptable personal conduct and performance of duty as found in the UCMJ, Army regulations, and the time-honored customs and traditions of the Army. The reasons for separation, including the specific circumstances that form the basis for the discharge are considered on the issue of characterization. Possible characterizations of service include an honorable, general, under honorable conditions, under other than honorable conditions, or uncharacterized if the Soldier is in entry-level status. However, the permissible range of characterization varies based on the reason for separation. 8. DISCUSSION OF ISSUE(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of his general, under honorable discharge to honorable and a change to the narrative reason for his separation. The applicant’s available record of service, the issues and documents submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. The applicant’s record is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events which led to the former Soldier’s discharge from the US Army Reserve. Barring evidence to the contrary, the presumption of government regularity shall prevail, as all requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process. The applicant provided no independent corroborating evidence demonstrating that either the command's action was erroneous or that his service mitigated the type of discharge he received from the United States Army Reserve. The applicant seeks relief contending, his discharge was unfair and unreasonable. His discharge was the result of medical and financial issues he was dealing with at the time of discharge. The applicant's contentions were carefully considered. However, a determination on whether these contentions have merit cannot be made because the facts and circumstances leading to the discharge are unknown. The burden of proof remains with the applicant to provide the appropriate documents such as the discharge packet or other evidence sufficient to explain the facts, circumstances, and reasons underlying the separation action, for the Board's consideration. The applicant expressed his desire for an upgrade of his discharge for the purpose of being able to reenlist and finish his time in the Army. If reenlistment is desired, the applicant should contact a local recruiter to determine eligibility to reenlist. Recruiters can best advise a former service member as to the needs of the Army at the time, and are required to process waivers if appropriate. The discharge was consistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of the regulation, was within the discretion of the separation authority, and the applicant was provided full administrative due process. DOCUMENTS/TESTIMONY PRESENTED DURING PERSONAL APPEARANCE: 1. The applicant submitted the following additional document(s): a. Certificate of Achievement from Office of the Mayor, City of New Jersey, dated 12 November 2015 - (1 page) b. Certificate of Completion, United Rescue, dated 12 November 2015 - (1 page) 2. The applicant presented the following additional contention(s): Requests upgrade to the RE-Code In addition to the evidence in the record, the Board carefully considered the additional document(s) and testimony presented by the applicant at the personal appearance hearing. 9. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a New DD-214: Yes b. Change Characterization to: Honorable c. Change Reason to: No Change d. Change SPD/RE Code to: No Change e. Restore Grade to: No Change AUTHENTICATING OFFICIAL: COL, US ARMY Presiding Officer Army Discharge Review Board Legend: AWOL - Absent Without Leave GD - General Discharge NIF - Not in File SPCM - Special Court Martial BCD - Bad Conduct Discharge HS - High School OAD - Ordered to Active Duty SPD - Separation Program Designator CG - Company Grade Article 15 HD - Honorable Discharge OMPF - Official Military Personnel File TBI – Traumatic Brain Injury CID - Criminal Investigation Division MP – Military Police PTSD – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder UNC - Uncharacterized Discharge ELS – Entry Level Status IADT – Initial Active Duty Training RE - Reentry UOTHC - Under Other Than Honorable Conditions FG - Field Grade Article 15 NA - Not applicable SCM - Summary Court Martial ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE AR20150011578 1