1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 6 December 2016 b. Date Received: 12 December 2016 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests a change of narrative reason for discharge from parenthood to hardship. The applicant seeks relief contending the applicant was separated for parenthood with a year left on the GI Bill four year term contract and that the kids are being charged for overpayment. The applicant contends the term of eligibility date can be adjusted if the DD Form 214 would have said hardship in block 28, however, the DD Form 214 says parenthood. The applicant believes being dual military and separating from parenthood was a hardship. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 29 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: 27 September 2015 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 26 May 2015 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was informed of the following reason: failure to maintain an adequate family care plan. (3) Recommended Characterization: Honorable (4) Legal Consultation Date: 26 May 2015 (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 23 July 2015 / Honorable 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 3 May 2012 / 6 years b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 36 / HS Graduate / 97 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-6 / 88M30, Motor Transport Operator / 13 years, 6 months d. Prior Service / Characterizations: ARNG, 27 March 2002 to 28 May 2002 / NA ADT, 29 May 2002 to 20 September 2002 / UNC ARNG, 21 September 2002 to 13 February 2003 / NA OAD, 14 February 2003 to 20 August 2003 / HD ARNG, 21 August 2003 to 27 August 2007 / HD RA, 28 August 2007 to 2 May 2012 / HD e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: Germany, SWA / Iraq (20 March 2008 to 10 June 2009) and Kuwait (13 March 2011 to 11 September 2011) f. Awards and Decorations: ARCOM-3, AAM-3, MUC, ASUA, AGCM-2, ARCAM, NDSM, GWOTSM, HSM, ICM-CS, NOPDR-2, ASR, OSR-4, AFRM-M Device g. Performance Ratings: 1 September 2011 to 31 August 2012, Among The Best 1 October 2012 to 31 May 2013, Among The Best 1 June 2013 to 31 May 2014, Among The Best 2 June 2014 to 31 May 2015, Among The Best h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: Counseling statements reference separation for failure to have a family care plan. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 149 in lieu of DD Form 293; self-authored statement; an extract from AR 635-200 Chapter 6; and a copy of her Honorable Discharge certificate. 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 "JDG" as the appropriate code to assign enlisted Soldiers who are discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 5, 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 change of her narrative reason for discharge from parenthood to hardship. The applicant's record of service, the issues and documents submitted with her application were carefully reviewed. The applicant seeks relief contending that she was separated for parenthood with a year left on her GI Bill four year term contract and that her kids are being charged for overpayment. She contends the term of eligibility date can be adjusted if her DD Form 214 would have said hardship in block 28, however, her DD Form 214 says parenthood. She believes being dual military and separating from parenthood was a hardship. The applicant's contentions were noted; however, as note in her separation documents and her self-authored letter the applicant failed to provide a family care plan. The applicant's involuntary separation was appropriate since the command determined that her parental obligations interfered with the fulfillment of military responsibilities. 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. Although the applicant believes being dual military and separating because of parenthood was a hardship; AR 635-200, Chapter 6, does not apply, in that separation under this chapter is for the convenience of the government. The applicant was discharged as a result of her failure to provide a family care plan. 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 her overall service record. 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 29 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 AR20170001801 1