1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 19 April 2016 b. Date Received: 22 April 2016 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of her general (under honorable conditions) discharge to honorable. The applicant seeks relief contending, in pertinent part and in effect, her commander recommended an honorable discharge. Thus her commander led her to believe she would be receiving an honorable due to all her accomplishments. She found that she was receiving a GD the day of her discharge. She was an outstanding Soldier. She enlisted as a PFC with an Associate degree and made SPC within one year of her enlistment. She was never in trouble and excelled at everything she did. Since her discharge, she has been successfully operating her business as a licensed massage therapist. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 16 June 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 in accordance with AR 635-200, Chapter 5, paragraph 5-1b. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant full relief in the form of an upgrade of the characterization of service to honorable. However, 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: Parenthood / AR 635-200, Paragraph 5-8 / JDG / RE-3 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 27 November 2002 c. Separation Facts: NIF; however, the applicant's documentary evidence provides the following: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 7 October 2002 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant failed to provide an adequate family care plan. (3) Recommended Characterization: Honorable (4) Legal Consultation Date: 9 October 2002 (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 12 November 2002 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 27 January 2000 / 4 years b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 21 / Associate of General Studies / 104 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-4 / 91B10, Medical Specialist / 2 years, 9 months, 29 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None / NA e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: Germany / None f. Awards and Decorations: NDSM; ASR; OSR g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: Discharge Orders, dated 15 November 2002 i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None / NA j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record), dated 19 April 2016; discharge orders, dated 15 November 2002; notification memorandum, dated 7 October 2002; election of rights response, dated 9 October 2002; unit commander's forwarding recommendation, dated 7 October 2002; separation authority's decision memorandum, dated 12 November 2002; certificate of training completion, dated 23 October 2002; certificate of training, dated 23 March 2001; Associate of General Studies diploma; certificate of course completion; recommendation for Soldier of the Month board, dated 25 February 2002; memorandum for record, dated 29 November 2001; continuing education record, dated 12 May 2000; Emergency Medical Technician certification; and information assurance computer user license. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: The applicant states, in effect, since her discharge, she has been successfully operating her business as a licensed massage therapist. 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 her general (under honorable conditions) discharge to honorable. After a careful review of the applicant's available record of service, and the issues and documents submitted with the application, it appears that the characterization of service was improper. Although the applicant's record is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events which led to her discharge from the Army, the applicant's documentary evidence confirms that the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of discharge proceedings on 7 October 2002, under the provisions of AR 635-200, Chapter 5, paragraph 5-8, by reason of "Parenthood," with an honorable characterization of service. The unit commander's notification shows her involuntary separation was appropriate since the command determined her parental obligations interfered with the fulfillment of military responsibilities. 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 Chapter 5, unless the Soldier is notified of the specific factors in her service record which warrants such a characterization, using the notification procedure. There is no available record of evidence showing the applicant was notified of the specific factor(s) which would warrant a general (under honorable conditions) characterization of service. Further, the unit commander's forwarding memorandum, dated 7 October 2002, indicates there is no record of any action under the UCMJ, or any negative counseling statement. The applicant was discharged at the rank of SPC/E-4. In view of the foregoing, 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 16 June 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 in accordance with AR 635-200, Chapter 5, paragraph 5-1b. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant full relief in the form of an upgrade of the characterization of service to honorable. However, 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 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 AR20160008483 4