1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 23 February 2016 b. Date Received: 7 March 2016 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of her under other than honorable conditions discharge to general (under honorable conditions). The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, she was a good Soldier who followed orders from her superiors, obeyed the rules, worked hard as a team member, and did not cause problems for her leadership. She contends she was discharged for one reason - missing drills. She knows there is no excuse to being absent from her professional obligations as a Soldier; however, she was going through a difficult stage in her life. She was pregnant and the father of her child denied her pregnancy. She was living on her own, working full-time, and going to school in the evenings. She had no one to support her mentally or emotionally. After terminating her pregnancy, and as a Catholic, she felt emotionally distressed, ashamed, and depressed. She would have looked for help, but during that time she did not feel like anyone could help her. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 3 May 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: NIF / AR 135-178 / NIF / Under Other Than Honorable Conditions b. Date of Discharge: 10 March 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 / Under Other Than Honorable 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 23 September 2011 / 8 years b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 20 / HS Graduate / NIF c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-3 / 91C10, Utilities Equipment Repairer / 2 years, 5 months, 11 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: USAR, 23 September 2011 to 14 November 2011 / NA OAD, 15 November 2011 to 24 May 2012 / HD (Concurrent Service) e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: NDSM, ASR g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: NIF i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: NIF j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: NIF 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: Online application 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application. 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 FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of her under other than honorable conditions discharge to general (under honorable conditions). The applicant's available record of service, the documents and the issues submitted with the application were carefully reviewed. The applicant's record is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events which led to her discharge from the US Army Reserve. Barring evidence to the contrary, the presumption of government regularity shall prevail, as all the requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process. There is insufficient evidence available in the official record to make a determination upon the applicant's quality of service. Moreover, there is a presumption of regularity in the conduct of governmental affairs which is applied in all Army discharge reviews unless there is substantial credible evidence to rebut the presumption. There is no evidence in the record, nor has the applicant produced any evidence, to support a change to the characterization of service granted. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, she was a good Soldier, who followed orders from her superiors, obeyed the rules, worked hard as a team member, and did not cause problems for her leadership. She contends she was discharged for one reason missing drills. She knows there is not excuse to being absent from her professional obligations as a Soldier; however, she was going through a difficult stag in her life. She was pregnant and the father of the child denied her pregnancy. She was living on her own, working full-time and going to school in the evenings. She had no one to support her mentally or emotionally. After termination of her child she felt emotionally distressed, and as a Catholic she felt ashamed about herself and depressed. If she could change her decision she would have looked for help but during that time she did not feel like anyone could help her. She now desires to make things right and apologizes to all her superiors that she let down. The applicant's contentions were noted; however, the facts and circumstances leading to the discharge are unknown. The burden of proof remains with the former Soldier 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. If the applicant desires a personal appearance hearing, it will be her responsibility to meet the burden of proof since the discharge packet is not available in the official record. 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 3 May 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 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 AR20160004727 1