1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 27 January 2016 b. Date Received: 4 February 2016 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of his general (under honorable conditions) discharge to honorable. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, he was discharged less than two months before his ETS for being a single father and that he had no one to help take care of his children. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 31 May 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined the characterization of service was improper. The record confirms that the applicant was not properly notified of the specific factors in the service record that warranted such a characterization. The record shows the proper discharge and separation authority procedures were not followed in this case. Therefore, the characterization of service being improper, the Board granted relief in the form of an upgrade of the applicant's characterization of service to honorable. However, the reason for discharge was found to be 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 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 28 December 2011 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 8 December 2011 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was unable to come up with and maintain a Family Care Plan. (3) Recommended Characterization: General (Under Honorable Conditions) (4) Legal Consultation Date: 9 December 2011 (5) Administrative Separation Board: Waived, 9 December 2011 (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 13 December 2011 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 22 February 2007 / 5 years b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 19 / HS Graduate / 98 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-4 / 11B1P, Infantryman / 6 years, 3 months, 15 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: RA, 14 September 2005 to 21 February 2007 / HD e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: SWA / Iraq (9 August 2006 to 29 August 2007 and 6 October 2008 to 22 September 2009) f. Awards and Decorations: ARCOM, AGCM, NDSM, GWOTDM, ICM-2CS, ASR, OSR-2 g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: Memorandum, dated 12 September 2011, reflects the applicant indicated he was unable to provide a Family Care Plan and understood that he would be separated from the Army. FG Article 15, dated 22 September 2011, for violating a lawful General order (25 February 2011), made a false official statement (26 February 2011), and wrongfully used K2 (synthetic cannabinoid). The punishment consisted of a reduction to E-2, forfeiture of $822 pay per month for two months (suspended), extra duty for 45 days, and restriction. Two Developmental Counseling Forms for Family Care plan and intent to separate from service. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293 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. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of his general (under honorable conditions) discharge to honorable. After a careful review of all the applicant's military records for the period of enlistment under review and the issues submitted with the application, it appears that the characterization of service was improper. The discharge was not consistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of the regulation, was not within the discretion of the separation authority and that the applicant was not provided full administrative due process. 9. BOARD DETERMINATION: In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 31 May 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined the characterization of service was improper. The record confirms that the applicant was not properly notified of the specific factors in the service record that warranted such a characterization. The record shows the proper discharge and separation authority procedures were not followed in this case. Therefore, the characterization of service being improper, the Board granted relief in the form of an upgrade of the applicant's characterization of service to honorable. However, the reason for discharge was found to be proper and equitable. 10. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a New DD-214: Yes b. Change Characterization to: Honorable c. Change Reason to: No Change d. Change Authority to: No Change e. Change SPD/RE Code to: No Change f. Restore (Restoration of) Grade to: No Change AUTHENTICATING OFFICIAL: Legend: AWOL - Absent Without Leave GD - General Discharge NCO - Noncommissioned Officer 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 NOS - Not Otherwise Specified SPD - Separation Program Designator CG - Company Grade Article 15 IADT - Initial Active Duty Training OAD - Ordered to Active Duty TBI - Traumatic Brain Injury CID - Criminal Investigation Division MP - Military Police OMPF - Official Military Personnel File UNC - Uncharacterized Discharge ELS - Entry Level Status MST - Military Sexual Trauma PTSD - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder UOTHC - Under Other Than Honorable Conditions FG - Field Grade Article 15 NA - Not applicable RE - Reentry VA - Veterans Affairs ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE AR20160003364 2