1. Applicant’s Name: a. Application Date: 23 July 2015 b. Date Received: 27 July 2014 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests a change to the narrative reason for separation. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, she was never truly separated from the Army. When the Regular Army did a loss transaction, she was placed into the Inactive Ready Reserves (IRR). She was then picked up by a retention NCO and transferred to a unit. When she attempted to get a DA Form 1506 completed, the retirement analyst identified that she should have been discharged instead of transferred. The requested change would correct her DD Form 214 to match her career. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 31 August 2016, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board denied the request upon finding the separation was both proper and equitable. (Board member names available upon request) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason/Authority/Codes/Characterization: Parenthood / AR 635-200 / Chapter 5-8 / JDG / RE-3 / Honorable b. Date of Discharge: 22 April 2009 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 25 March 2009 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant’s parental obligations were interfering with her military duties. (3) Recommended Characterization: Honorable (4) Legal Consultation Date: 26 March 2009 (5) Administrative Separation Board: N/A (6) Separation Decision Date/Characterization: 7 April 2009 / Honorable 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date/Period of Enlistment: 1 March 2007 / 3 years and 18 weeks b. Age at Enlistment/Education/GT Score: 22 / HS Graduate / 89 c. Highest Grade Achieved/MOS/Total Service: E-3 / 92Y10, Unit Supply Specialist / 2 years, 1 month, and 22 days d. Prior Service/Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service/Combat Service: Korea / None f. Awards and Decorations: AAM, NDSM, GWTSM, KDSM, ASR, OSR g. Performance Ratings: N/A h. Disciplinary Action(s)/Evidentiary Record: DA Form 4856 (Developmental Counseling), dated 21 December 2008, for failing to establish a valid Family Care Plan and a recommendation to separate the applicant under Chapter 6-3b for hardship. i. Lost Time: None j. Diagnosed PTSD/TBI/Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 149, dated undated, and all listed enclosures. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 635-200 provides the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Paragraph 5-8 provides that a Soldier may be separated when parental obligations interfere with fulfillment of military responsibilities. Specific reasons for separation because of parenthood include inability to perform prescribed duties satisfactorily, repeated absenteeism, late for work, inability to participate in field training exercises or perform special duties such as CQ and Staff Duty NCO, and non-availability for worldwide assignment or deployment according to the needs of the Army. Unless the reason for separation requires a specific characterization, a Soldier being separated for the convenience of the government will be awarded a character of service of honorable, general under honorable conditions or an uncharacterized description of service if in entry-level status. No Soldier will be awarded a characterization of service under honorable conditions under this Chapter unless the Soldier is notified, using the notification procedure, of the specific factors in his/her service record that warrant such a characterization. Army Regulation 635-5-1 (Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes) provides the specific authorities (regulatory or directive), reasons for separating Soldiers from active duty, and the SPD codes to be entered on the DD Form 214. It identifies the SPD code of “JDG” as the appropriate code to assign enlisted Soldiers who are discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 5-8, Parenthood. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests a change to the narrative reason for separation. The applicant’s record of service, the issues and documents submitted with her application were carefully reviewed. The record confirms that the applicant’s discharge was appropriate because the quality of her service was not consistent with the Army's. The applicant’s involuntary separation was appropriate since the command determined her parental obligations interfered with the fulfillment of military responsibilities and she was properly informed as to the specific factors in her service record that would warrant such a characterization. The applicant contends the reason for the discharge should be changed to reflect what happened when she was discharged. However, the SPD code of “JDG” is the appropriate code to assign enlisted Soldiers who are discharged for parenthood. The regulation further stipulates that no deviation is authorized. 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. 9. BOARD DETERMINATION: In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 31 August 2016, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board denied the request upon finding the separation was both proper and equitable. 10. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a New DD-214/Issue a New Separation Order: No b. Change Characterization to: No Change c. Change Reason to: No Change d. Change SPD/RE Code to: No Change e. Restore (Restoration of) Grade to: No Change AUTHENTICATING OFFICIAL: COL, US ARMY Presiding Officer Army Discharge Review Board Legend: 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 BH – Behavioral Health HD - Honorable Discharge OAD - Ordered to Active Duty SPD - Separation Program Designator CG - Company Grade Article 15 IADT - Initial Active Duty Training 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 MST – Military Sexual Trauma RE - Reentry UOTHC - Under Other Than Honorable Conditions FG - Field Grade Article 15 ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE AR20150012315 3