1. Applicant’s Name: a. Application Date: 21 March 2016 b. Date Received: 23 March 2016 c. Counsel: Yes 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of the characterization of her discharge from general (under honorable conditions) to honorable. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, she was informed the characterization of her current discharge was a mistake and that she was to receive an honorable discharge. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 23 January 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined the characterization of the applicant’s discharge was improper. The Board found the command failed to properly notify the applicant of the specific basis for award of less than an honorable discharge. The diagnosis of having a hip injury alone was an insufficient basis for her receipt of a general discharge. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant partial relief in the form of an upgrade of the characterization of service to honorable. However, the Board further determined the reason for discharge was fully supported by the record and therefore, remains both proper and equitable. (Board member names available upon request) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason/Authority/Codes/Characterization: Condition, Not a Disability / AR 635-200, Paragraph 5-17 / JFV / RE-3 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 22 February 2016 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 27 January 2016 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant, being evaluated by the consolidated troop medical clinic physical therapy, was determined that she had developed right hip pain due to stress injury, and due to the diagnosis she was unable to complete basic combat training. (3) Recommended Characterization: Honorable (4) Legal Consultation Date: NIF (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date/Characterization: 16 February 2016 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date/Period of Enlistment: 13 July 2015 / 10 weeks for basic training and 20 weeks MOS training, or until completion for IADT per Orders 5194012, dated 30 June 2015 b. Age at Enlistment/Education/GT Score: 20 / HS Graduate / 116 c. Highest Grade Achieved/MOS/Total Service: E-3 / None / 1 year, 1 month, 1 day d. Prior Service/Characterizations: ARNG, 22 January 2015 to 12 July 2015 / NA (Continuous service) e. Overseas Service/Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: None g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s)/Evidentiary Record: Discharge Orders 050-1304, dated 19 February 2016, rendered at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri Discharge Orders 119-1054, dated 28 April 2016, rendered by the ARNG with an uncharacterized type of discharge i. Lost Time: None j. Diagnosed PTSD/TBI/Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 149; DD Form 214; and email correspondence. 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.  Army Regulation 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. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of the characterization of her discharge from general (under honorable conditions) to honorable. After a careful review of all the applicant’s military records for the period of enlistment under review, and the issues and documents submitted with the application, it appears that the characterization of service was improper. The evidence of record shows the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of discharge proceedings on 27 January 2016, because she was diagnosed with right hip pain due to stress injury, as such she was unable to complete basic combat training. The notification included a recommendation for an honorable characterization of service after she had completed 180 days of continuous active duty, thus she was no longer in entry level status. Army Regulation 635-200 provides, except in cases of serious misconduct, that a Soldier’s service will be uncharacterized when the separation is initiated while the Soldier is in entry level status. The regulation further defines entry level status for active duty Soldiers as the period of the first 180 days of continuous active duty. When the applicant was discharged, she had completed 7 months and 10 days of active duty service. Further, Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 5, paragraph 5-1b, states no Soldier will be awarded a character of service of general, under honorable conditions under this Chapter unless the Soldier is notified of the specific factors in her service record which warrants such a characterization, using the notification procedure. The record indicates the applicant was not notified of any specific factors which would warrant a general, under honorable conditions characterization of service. 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 23 January 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined the characterization of the applicant’s discharge was improper. The Board found the command failed to properly notify the applicant of the specific basis for award of less than an honorable discharge. The diagnosis of having a hip injury alone was an insufficient basis for her receipt of a general discharge. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant partial relief in the form of an upgrade of the characterization of service to honorable. However, the Board further determined the reason for discharge was fully supported by the record and therefore, remains both 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 SPD/RE Code to: No Change e. Restore (Restoration of) Grade to: NA AUTHENTICATING OFFICIAL: COL, US ARMY Presiding Officer Army Discharge Review Board 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 AR20160006799 3