1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 8 January 2016 b. Date Received: 22 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, and changes to his narrative reason for separation and reentry eligibility (RE) code. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, he would like an upgrade for the purpose of being able to reenlist, to correct the mistakes he made in the past, and for employment purposes. The applicant contends he had been through a lot of stress in Korea and unfortunately, he turned to suicide. The applicant did receive the proper help. The applicant states is on the verge of being homeless and cannot seem to find a job. Per the Board's Medical Officer, based on the information available for review at the time, the applicant's behavioral health conditions did not mitigate his misconduct. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 26 April 2017, 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: Physical Condition, Not A Disability / AR 635-200, Chapter 5, Paragraph 5-17 / JFV / RE-3 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 13 December 2014 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 2 December 2014 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was informed of the following reasons: evaluated by the Behavioral Health Professional and diagnosed with Acute Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood, and was determined to be unfit for duty in the United States Army due to a personality disorder or other mental conditions (8 October 2014). received an Article 15 on 27 August 2014 for failing to go to his prescribed appointed place of duty, which was in violation of Article 86, UCMJ; and, failed to go to his prescribed appointed place of duty on 29 July 2014, which was in violation of Article 86, UCMJ. (3) Recommended Characterization: General (Under Honorable Conditions) (4) Legal Consultation Date: 2 December 2014 (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 3 December 2014 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 18 November 2013 / 3 years, 30 weeks b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 20 / GED / 101 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-2 / 25Q10, Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator Maintainer / 1 year, 26 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: Korea / None f. Awards and Decorations: NDSM, GWOTSM, KDSM, ASR g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: CG Article 15, dated 27 August 2014, failure to go at the time prescribed to his appointed place of duty on 28 July 2014, 29 July 2014, 30 July 2014, and 31 July 2014, and missing movement on 30 July 2015. The punishment consisted of a reduction to E-1, forfeiture of $357 pay, and 14 days extra duty and restriction. The applicant received numerous negative counseling statements for various acts of misconduct and performance counseling. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: Report of Mental Status Evaluation, dated 6 and 8 October 2014, reflects the applicant was diagnosed with an adjustment disorder with depressed mood, acute. The applicant was cleared for administrative separation IAW AR 635- 200, Chapter 5-17 from a psychiatric perspective. 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: Online application 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation (AR) 635-200 provides the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Paragraph 5-17 specifically provides that a Soldier may be separated for other physical or mental conditions not amounting to a disability, which interferes with assignment to or performance of duty and requires that the diagnosis be so severe that the Soldier's ability to function in the military environment is significantly impaired. AR 635-200, paragraph 5-1, states that a Soldier being separated under this paragraph will be awarded a characterization of service of honorable, under honorable conditions, or an uncharacterized description of service if in entry-level status. A general (under honorable conditions) discharge is normally inappropriate for individuals separated under the provisions of Chapter 5-17 unless properly notified of the specific factors in the service that warrant such 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 "JFV" as the appropriate code to assign enlisted Soldiers who are discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 5-17, Condition Not a Disability. The SPD Code/RE Code Cross Reference Table shows that a Soldier assigned an SPD Code of "JFV" will be assigned an RE Code of 3. Secretary of Defense Memorandum for Secretaries of the Military Departments (Subject: Supplemental Guidance to Military Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records Considering Discharge Upgrade Requests by Veterans Claiming Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, dated September 3, 2014), provided guidance to help ensure consistency across the military services in consideration of PTSD relevant to Service Members' discharges. "Liberal consideration will be given in petitions for changes in characterization of service to service treatment record entries which document one of more symptoms which meet the diagnostic criteria of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or related conditions. Special consideration will be given to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) determinations which document PTSD or PTSD-related conditions connected to military services. In cases where Service Records or any document from the period of service substantiated the existence of one or more symptoms of what is now recognized as PTSD or PTSD-related condition during the time of service, liberal consideration will be given to finding that PTSD existed at the time of service. Liberal consideration will also be given in cases where civilian providers confer diagnoses of PTSD or PTSD-related conditions, when case records contain narratives that support symptomatology at the time of service, or when any other evidence which may reasonably indicate that PTSD or a PTSD-related disorder existed at the time of discharge which might have mitigated the misconduct that caused the under other than honorable conditions characterization of service. This guidance in not applicable to cases involving pre- existing conditions which are determined not to have been incurred or aggravated while in military service." 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of his general (under honorable conditions) discharge to honorable, and changes to his narrative reason for separation and reentry eligibility (RE) code. The applicant's record of service, the issues and documents submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. The evidence of record shows the applicant, was diagnosed by competent medical authority with an acute adjustment disorder with depressed mood, and was determined to be unfit for duty due to a personality disorder or other mental conditions. The unit commander informed the applicant as to the specific factors in the service record that warranted a general, under honorable conditions discharge. The appropriate SPD code and narrative reason for discharge to assign enlisted Soldiers who are discharged for condition not a disability is "JFV" and the RE code is 3. The regulation further stipulates that no deviation was authorized. The applicant expressed his desire for an upgrade for the purpose of being able to reenlist and for employment purposes. However, the Board does not grant relief for the purpose of gaining employment or enhancing employment opportunities. Furthermore, Soldiers being processed for separation are assigned reentry codes based on their service records or the reason for discharge. Based on Army Regulation 635-5-1 and the SPD Code/RE Code Cross Reference Table the applicant was appropriately assigned an RE code of 3. There are no basis upon which to grant a change to the reason or to the RE code. An RE Code of 3 indicates the applicant requires a waiver prior to being allowed to reenlist. 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 of reentry eligibility (RE) codes if appropriate. The applicant contends that he had been through a lot of stress, which adversely affected his behavior and ultimately caused him to be discharged. However, he had many legitimate avenues through which to obtain assistance or relief and there is no evidence in the record that he ever sought such assistance before committing the misconduct which led to the separation action under review. The applicant contends that he is on the verge of being homeless and needs help. However, eligibility for housing supportive program benefits for Veterans does not fall within the purview of the Army Discharge Review Board. Accordingly, the applicant should contact a local office of the Department of Veterans Affairs for further assistance. Moreover, all veterans at risk for homelessness or attempting to exit homelessness can request immediate assistance by calling the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans hotline at 1-877-424-3838 for free and confidential assistance. The record does not contain any evidence of arbitrary or capricious actions by the command and all requirements of law and regulation were met and the applicant's rights were fully protected throughout the separation process. 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 26 April 2017, 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: 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 AR20160003482 4