1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 1 August 2016 b. Date Received: 11 August 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 and a change to the narrative reason for separation. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, her discharge should be changed and that she should be allowed to resume her time in service. The applicant believes that her discharge was based on an incident that occurred two years ago for unsatisfactory participation. She made tremendous progress in her attendance and started receiving acknowledgements for her efforts and improvements. After making so much progress, the applicant states she was shut down after being promised an opportunity to improve. The applicant states that she loves the Army and has almost six years of service and is aware of the duties and responsibilities of an Army Soldier and vows to remain committed to those obligations, if given the opportunity to continue her growth as a Soldier. In a personal appearance hearing conducted at Arlington, VA on 27 February 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: NIF / AR 135-178, NIF / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 8 June 2016 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: NIF (2) Basis for Separation: NIF (3) Recommended Characterization: NIF (4) Legal Consultation Date: NIF (5) Administrative Separation Board: NIF (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: NIF 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 8 April 2011 / 8 years b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 19 / HS Graduate / NIF c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-4 / 91B10, Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic / 5 years, 2 months, 1 day d. Prior Service / Characterizations: IADT, 2 August 2011 to 27 January 2012 /HD (Concurrent Service) e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: NDSM, ASR g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: NIF i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: NIF j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: NIF 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: Online application and Discharge Orders 16-154-00167. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: The applicant has gotten a job at the National Guard Youth Challenge Foundation and is working with at risk youth mentoring and training them to help change their lives. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 135-178 sets forth the policies, standards, and procedures to ensure the readiness and competency of the U.S. Army while providing for the orderly administrative separation of Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) enlisted Soldiers for a variety of reasons. The separation policies throughout the different Chapters in this regulation promote the readiness of the Army by providing an orderly means to judge the suitability of persons to serve on the basis of their conduct and their ability to meet required standards of duty performance and discipline. Specific categories include minor disciplinary infractions, a pattern of misconduct, and commission of a serious offense, to include abuse of illegal drugs, and convictions by civil authorities. The characterization is based upon the quality of the Soldier's service, including the reason for separation and determined in accordance with standards of acceptable personal conduct and performance of duty as found in the UCMJ, Army regulations, and the time-honored customs and traditions of the Army. The reasons for separation, including the specific circumstances that form the basis for the discharge are considered on the issue of characterization. Possible characterizations of service include an honorable, general, under honorable conditions, under other than honorable conditions, or uncharacterized if the Soldier is in entry-level status. However, the permissible range of characterization varies based on the reason for separation. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of her general (under honorable conditions) discharge to honorable and a change to the narrative reason for separation. The applicant's available record of service, the issues and documents submitted with her application were carefully reviewed. The applicant's record is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events which led to the former Soldier's discharge from the US Army Reserve. Barring evidence to the contrary, the presumption of government regularity shall prevail, as all the requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process. The applicant requested a change to the narrative reason for separation. The narrative reason for separation is governed by specific directives. The applicant was discharged under the provisions of AR 135-178. The applicant bears the burden of presenting substantial and credible evidence to support her request to change the reason for her discharge and the RE code. There is no evidence in the available record, nor has the applicant provided any evidence, to support the request that the reason for her discharge was improper or inequitable. The applicant's contentions regarding her belief that her discharge should be changed, afforded the opportunity to resume her time in service, her discharge being based on an incident that occurred two years ago, and receiving acknowledgments for her efforts, improvements and feeling better about her career and status were carefully considered. However, the merit of these contentions cannot be established because the facts and circumstances leading to the discharge are unknown. The burden of proof remains with the applicant to provide the appropriate documents such as the discharge packet or other evidence sufficient to explain the facts, circumstances, and reasons underlying the separation action, for the Board's consideration. It is her responsibility to meet this burden of proof since the discharge packet is not available in the official record. Lastly, the applicant contends that she has almost six years of service and is aware of the duties and responsibilities of an Army Soldier and vows to remain committed to those obligations, if given the opportunity to continue her growth as a Soldier. If reenlistment is desired, the applicant should contact a local recruiter to determine eligibility to reenlist. Recruiters can best advise a former service member as to the needs of the Army at the time, and are required to process waivers of reentry eligibility (RE) codes if appropriate. 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. DOCUMENTS / TESTIMONY PRESENTED DURING PERSONAL APPEARANCE: In addition to the evidence in the record, the Board carefully considered the testimony presented by the applicant at the personal appearance hearing. a. The applicant submitted the following additional document(s): 1. Baltimore Police Dept. Trainee Appointment, dated Dec 3, 2013, 1 page 2. Baltimore Police Dept. Personnel Questionnaire, dated Dec 3, 2013, 1 page 3. Baltimore Police Dept. Uranalysis approval form, dated Dec 3, 2013, 1 page 4. Baltimore Police Dept. Field Training Contract Costs Agreement, dated Dec 3, 2013, 1 page 5. Baltimore Police Dept. Confidentiality Agreement, dated Dec 3, 2013, 1 page b. The applicant presented no additional contention(s). c. Witness(es) / Observer(s): None. 10. BOARD DETERMINATION: In a personal appearance hearing conducted at Arlington, VA on 27 February 2017, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board denied the request upon finding the separation was both proper and equitable. 11. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a New Separation Order: No b. Change Characterization to: No Change 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 AR20160013552 1