1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 2 June 2016 b. Date Received: 3 June 2016 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of his uncharacterized discharge to honorable. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, that his discharge was approved with a characterization of service of honorable; however, his DD Form 214 shows a characterization of service of uncharacterized. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 25 August 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, notwithstanding the propriety of the applicant's discharge, the Board found that the applicant's DD Form 214, block 24, contains the erroneous character of service of uncharacterized. In view of the error, the Board directed an administrative correction to block 24, character of service to read "honorable," as approved by the separation authority. (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 / Uncharacterized b. Date of Discharge: 8 April 2016 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 9 March 2016 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was informed of the following reason: after being transferred to RHU and place on convalescence leave from 21 November 15 to 3 January 2016; upon his return and exam was done on 29 January 2016, which show an injury to the nerves in the right arm. The applicant continued to have marked weakness and pain with all attempts to resume normal training activities. It was determined that the applicant was not a candidate for an EPTS, Medical Board or transfer to WTRP. Therefore base on his failure to return to training, separation action was initiated under the provisions of Army Regulation (AR) 635-200, Chapter 5-17. (3) Recommended Characterization: Honorable (4) Legal Consultation Date: 15 March 2016 (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 7 April 2016 / Honorable 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 24 August 2015 / 3 years, 30 weeks b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 20 / HS Graduate / 124 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-2 / None / 7 months, 15 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: None g. Performance Ratings: None h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: NIF i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: NIF 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 149 in lieu of DD Form 293 and copy of discharge approval memorandum. 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. 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." "Conditions documented in the record that can reasonably be determined to have existed at the time of discharge will be considered to have existed at the time of discharge. In cases in which PTSD or PTSD related conditions may be reasonably determined to have existed at the time of discharge, those conditions will be considered potential mitigating factors in the misconduct that caused the under other than honorable conditions characterization of service. Correction boards will exercise caution in weighing evidence of mitigation in cases in which serious misconduct precipitated a discharge with a characterization of service other than honorable conditions. Potentially mitigating evidence of the existence of undiagnosed combat related PTSD or PTSD-related conditions as a causative factor in the misconduct resulting in discharge will be carefully weighed against the severity of the misconduct. PTSD is not a likely cause of premeditated misconduct. Correction Boards will also exercise caution in weighing evidence of mitigation in all cases of misconduct by carefully considering the likely causal relationship of symptoms to the misconduct." 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of his uncharacterized discharge to honorable. The applicant's record of service, the issues and documents submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. The service record indicates that someone in the discharge process erroneously entered on the applicant's DD Form 214, block 24, "character of service" as "uncharacterized." The discharge packet confirms the separation authority approved the discharge with a character of service of "honorable." Notwithstanding the propriety of the applicant's discharge; in view of this clerical error, it appears that an administrative change should be made to block 24, character of service to read "honorable," as approved by the separation authority. 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 25 August 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, notwithstanding the propriety of the applicant's discharge, the Board found that the applicant's DD Form 214, block 24, contains the erroneous character of service of uncharacterized. In view of the error, the Board directed an administrative correction to block 24, character of service to read "honorable," as approved by the separation authority. 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 AR20160010630 1