1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 17 June 2016 b. Date Received: 22 June 2016 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests a narrative reason change. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, that the reason change from "Sufficient Service for "Retirement" to "Family Hardship" would enable his children to use his Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits. At the time of his retirement, he was six months short of his GI Bill obligation, but due to his then wife's extreme alcoholism, he opted to retire. He had no idea that the narrative reason would have any relevance at the time. After multiple alcohol related events in Japan, the applicant's wife was sent to inpatient alcohol rehabilitation by the Army Behavioral Services, before he retired, which was not successful. His children were in therapy at a Naval Base and were seeing the school counselors regarding this situation prior to his retirement. The applicant's neighbors were constantly assisting his family, while he was TDY, because the applicant's wife had been sent several times to the emergency room due to extreme intoxication. About six months prior to his actual retirement, his family departed for Illinois, where his wife would leave the home for days at a time and was eventually sent to jail for 90 days, after receiving her fourth DUI. During this time, his teenage daughters were under her supervision and care in Illinois. The applicant had to take emergency leave twice from Japan to go to Illinois due to alcohol issues with his wife and the lack of care for his children. The applicant had no choice due to his children's safety and wellbeing, but to retire and go to Illinois to take care of them. The applicant opted to retire, knowing he was approximately six months short of his service obligation for transferring his Post 9/11 GI bill benefits to his children. Shortly after arrival in Illinois, he filed for divorce and moved with his children away from his wife for the safety and emotional wellbeing of his two children. When he signed his DD Form 214, He had no idea that the narrative reason, would have any relevance that would potentially make a difference whether or not his children could use his Post 9/11 GI Bill. The applicant states, he only knew that he had to retire to be with his children and remove them from a horrific situation. At the time, he believed he was able to retire and that was all that mattered. He states, had he known, or if someone would have told him how much the narrative reason mattered, he certainly would have requested that the narrative reason for separation reflect "Family Hardship," at the time of his separation. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 8 September 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: Sufficient Service For Retirement / AR 600-8-24, Chapter 6-13C (2) / RBD / NA / Honorable b. Date of Discharge: 31 January 2011 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Voluntary Retirement Request: 4 January 2010 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant requested voluntary retirement from active duty under AR 600-8-24, paragraph 6-13c (2), voluntary retirement. (3) Recommended Characterization: On 7 January 2010, the commanding general, US Army Japan, recommended that the applicant's voluntary request be approved. The recommendation did not include a recommended characterization of service. (4) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: Official orders 036-0105, dated 5 February 2010, directed the applicant's retirement and that he be placed on the retirement list, effective 1 February 2011 / Honorable 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Appointment: 13 February 1992 / Indefinite b. Age at Appointment / Education / GT Score: 27 / Bachelor's Degree / NA c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: CW4 / 155FB, Jet Aircraft Pilot / 20 years, 29 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: RA, 2 January 1991 - 12 February 1992 / HD e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: Bosnia, Germany, Japan, Kwajalein Island, Korea / Bosnia (2 March 2004 - 1 September 2004) f. Awards and Decorations: LOM, MSM-2, ARCOM-4, JSAM, AAM, ASUA, AGCM, NDSM-2, AFEM, GWOTEM-2, GWOTSM, KDSM, AFSM, ASR, OSR-2, KCM-BS, NATOMDL g. Performance Ratings: 14 February 1992 - 11 December 1993, Promote Ahead 12 December 1993 - 8 January 1996, Promote Ahead 19 July 1996 - 30 September 1997, Promote Ahead 1 October 1997 - 26 February 2000, Best Qualified 29 April 2000 - 14 June 2002, Best Qualified 15 June 2002 - 1 September 2004, Best Qualified 1 September 2004 - 18 April 2006, Best Qualified 19 April 2006 - 20 February 2009, Best Qualified 21 February 2009 - 1 September 2009, Best Qualified 2 September 2009 - 1 September 2010, Best Qualified h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: Request for voluntary retirement from active duty as described in previous paragraph 3c. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: Online application, with all allied documents listed in the supporting documentation information section of the application. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 600-8-24, Officer Transfers and Discharges, sets forth the basic authority for the separation of commissioned and warrant officers. Chapter 6 outlines the policy and procedure for the officer retirement program. This chapter applies to nondisability retirement of ADL commissioned and warrant officers on AD to include AGR commissioned and warrant officers who have 20 years or more of AFS. The Secretary of the Army is the approval authority for retirements. Paragraph 13c (2), provides that any warrant officer with 20 years of AFS may upon request and the approval of the Secretary of the Army be retired (10 USC 1293). Army Regulation 635-5-1 (Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes) provides the specific authorities (regulatory or directive), reasons for separating Soldiers from active duty, and the SPD codes to be entered on the DD Form 214. It identifies the SPD code of "RBD" as the appropriate code to assign commissioned officers or warrant officers who are discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 600-8-24, Chapter 6-13c (2), Sufficient Service for Retirement. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests a narrative reason change. The applicant's record of service, the issues and documents submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. The record confirms that the applicant voluntarily requested retirement and based on that request and that he met the sufficient service requirement for retirement and it was approved by the appropriate authority. The applicant provided no corroborating evidence demonstrating that the command's action was erroneous and the applicant's record contains no evidence of arbitrary or capricious actions by the command. The applicant contends the narrative reason for the discharge should be changed to Hardship to allow his children eligibility for the Post 9/11 GI Bill . However, the applicant was separated under the provisions of Chapter 6, paragraph 13c (2) with a honorable conditions discharge. The narrative reason specified by Army Regulations for a discharge under this paragraph is "Sufficient Service For Retirement," and the separation code is "RBD." Army Regulation 635-5, Separation Documents, governs preparation of the DD Form 214 and dictates that entry of the narrative reason for separation, entered in block 28 and separation code, entered in block 26 of the form, will be exactly as listed in tables 2-2 or 2-3 of AR 635-5-1, Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes. The regulation further stipulates that no deviation is authorized. There is no provision for any other reason to be entered under this regulation. The applicant provided third pary statements with his application to support his contention that his descion to retire was based on the hardship created by his wife's alcoholism. However, eligibility for veteran's benefits to include educational benefits under the Post-9/11 or Montgomery GI Bill does not fall within the purview of the Army Discharge Review Board. Accordingly, the applicant should contact a local office of the Department of Veterans Affairs for further assistance. 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 8 September 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 DD-214/Issue new Separation Order: No b. Change Characterization to: No Change c. Change Reason to: No Change d. Change Authority to: No Change e. SPD/RE Code Change to: No Change f. Restoration to Grade: 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 AR20160011050 1