1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 30 April 2016 b. Date Received: 6 May 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 thought he was going to receive an honorable discharge, but when he went to the education center, he found out he received a general discharge. He was chaptered out of the Army under AR 635-200, paragraph 5-17. He was not given the notification that he would receive a general discharge. He requests that he be granted an upgrade because he never received notification to appeal and defend his honor. In a records review conducted at San Antonio, TX on 21 March 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined that the characterization of service is improper. The Board noted that the applicant was not properly notified by the company commander of the reason he was receiving a characterization of service of less than honorable. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant full relief in the form of an upgrade of characterization of service to honorable. However, the Board determined the reason for discharge to be proper and equitable and voted not to change it. (Board member names available upon request) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason / Authority / Codes / Characterization: Condition, Not a Disability / AR 635- 200, Chapter 5-17 / JFV / RE-3 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 28 April 2016 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 6 April 2016 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was informed of the following reasons: Diagnosed with adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, by a psychiatrist, which is a mental condition that potentially interfered with his ability to deploy worldwide. (3) Recommended Characterization: Honorable (4) Legal Consultation Date: 18 December 2016 (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 12 April 2016 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 30 April 2013 / 4 years b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 21 / HS Graduate / 96 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-4 / 12N10, Horizontal Construction Engineer / 2 years, 11 months, 29 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: NDSM, ASR g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: Memorandum of concern, dated 18 April 2016, from the Fort Hood, Trial Defense Service, reflects that office notified the applicant's commander, that a general (under honorable conditions) characterization of service was normally inappropriate without proper notification. Further, the applicant was not notified of the general (under honorable conditions) characterization of service. The original characterization of honorable was requested or in the alternative, proper notification be given to the applicant in accordance with the governing regulation. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: Notification of intent to separate memorandum, dated 6 April 2016, reflects the applicant was diagnosed with Adjustment disorder, with anxiety and depressed mood. 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293, with all allied documents listed in block 8 of the application; and, a copy of his case separation file. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with his 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. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of his general (under honorable conditions) discharge to honorable. The applicant's record of service, the issues and documents submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. After carefully examining the applicant's record of service during the period of enlistment under review, the Board determined the applicant's characterization was improper. The applicant was not properly notified as to the specific reasons for which he would not get an honorable characterization as required by paragraph 5-1b, AR 635-200. However, the reason for discharge was proper and equitable. The discharge was not consistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of the regulation, was not within the discretion of the separation authority, and the applicant was not provided full administrative due process. 9. BOARD DETERMINATION: In a records review conducted at San Antonio, TX on 21 March 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined that the characterization of service is improper. The Board noted that the applicant was not properly notified by the company commander of the reason he was receiving a characterization of service of less than honorable. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant full relief in the form of an upgrade of characterization of service to honorable. However, the Board determined the reason for discharge to be proper and equitable and voted not to change it. 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: 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 AR20160008904 1