1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 5 January 2017 b. Date Received: 7 February 2017 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests a narrative reason change. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, was discharged under parenthood/family hardship. The applicant deployed to Afghanistan and the wife at the time, pawned their kids off with anyone that she could in order to spend all the money partying. The applicant filed for divorce and gained full custody of the children and tried to remain in service, but the chain of command failed by not giving adequate time to come up with a solution of being a single parent in the Army. The command refused to look at the current situation and made no attempt to get the children into daycare without waiting on the one to two year wait list. The applicant states, private daycare cost more than the applicant was making, so it was not an option. Though the applicant did not want to, the applicant had to start the chapter process. The applicant understands the Army's reasoning, but all the applicant ever wanted to be was to be in an infantry Soldier. Due to the type of chapter received, it included a reentry (RE) code of 3. The applicant has been to recruiters multiple times over the years trying to obtain a waiver, but they will not consider the applicant with an RE-3 code. The applicant understands why there is a RE code of 3, but believes the situation now does not call for one. The applicant is now remarried and no longer a single father and desires a change to the RE code in order to rejoin and make up the last five years that was lost in time and service. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 31 May 2019, 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: Parenthood / AR 635-200 / Chapter 5-8 / JDG / RE-3 / Honorable b. Date of Discharge: 25 May 2011 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 20 April 2011 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was informed of the following reasons: His parenthood was interfering with the performance of his military duties and obligations. (3) Recommended Characterization: Honorable (4) Legal Consultation Date: 20 April 2011 (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 9 May 2011 / Honorable 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 5 December 2009 / 5 years b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 31 / GED / 97 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-5 / 11B20, Infantryman / 4 years, 7 months d. Prior Service / Characterizations: RA, 26 October 2006 - 4 December 2009 / HD e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: SWA / Afghanistan (19 July 2009 - 13 July 2010) f. Awards and Decorations: ACM-CS, ARCOM, AGCM, GWOTSM, NCIPDR, ASR, OSR, NATOMDL, CIB g. Performance Ratings: 1 December 2010 - 25 May 2011 / Fully Capable h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: Family Care Plan, dated 5 January 2011, reflects the applicant was counseled on his obligations and responsibilities to the Army and to his dependent family members. Developmental Counseling Form, dated 6 April 2011, reflects the applicant was counseled for failing to establish a Family Care Plan. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: Online application. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application. 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. 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 "JGD" as the appropriate code to assign enlisted Soldiers who are discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 5-8, Parenthood. The SPD Code/RE Code Cross Reference Table shows that a Soldier assigned an SPD Code of "JDG" will be assigned an RE Code of 3. 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 applicant's involuntary separation was appropriate since the command determined that his parental obligations interfered with the fulfillment of military responsibilities and he was properly informed as to the specific factors in his service record that would warrant such a characterization. The applicant contends his command failed him by not giving him adequate time to come up with a Family Care Plan and made no attempt to get his children into daycare without waiting on the one to two year wait list. However, the record does not contain any indication or evidence of arbitrary or capricious actions by the command and all requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process. The character of the applicant's discharge is commensurate with his overall service record. The applicant contends the narrative reason for the discharge should be changed because he no longer warrants having a RE code of 3. The narrative reason specified by Army Regulations for a discharge under this paragraph is "Parenthood," and the separation code is "JDG." 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 desires to rejoin the Military Service. However, Soldiers being processed for separation are assigned reentry codes based on their service records or the reason for discharge. Based on Army Regulation 635-5-1 and the SPD Code/RE Code Cross Reference Table, the applicant was appropriately assigned an RE code of 3. There is no basis upon which to grant a change to the reason or to the RE code. An RE Code of 3 indicates the applicant requires a waiver prior to being allowed to reenlist. 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. BOARD DETERMINATION: In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 31 May 2019, 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 a New Separation Order: No b. Change Characterization to: No Change c. Change Reason to: No Change d. Change Authority to: No Change e. Change SPD / RE Code 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 AR20170001640 1