1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 27 February 2017 b. Date Received: 9 March 2017 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests to change the reentry code. The applicant seeks relief contending, in pertinent part and in effect, that in September 2013, a request to leave the service early to attend a civilian school was granted and the applicant was released three months prior to the ETS date. The applicant is currently a police officer after obtaining a certification from a Law Enforcement Training Center. The applicant completed nine years of active Army service and served two deployments to Iraq. The applicant served honorably with no adverse action. However, after leaving the Service, the applicant began to miss the Army and attempted to join the Army National Guard. However, an RE code of 3 on the DD Form 214 forces the applicant to obtain a waiver to reenlist. The Coast Guard has also informed the applicant that an RE code of 3 makes it tough for the applicant to enter the Service, again. The applicant left to fulfill a dream-was not forced out, court- martialed, or medically discharged. A change to the reentry code to a "1" would allow the applicant to serve the country, again. Reentry code 3 does not fit the honorable service, but it is affecting the applicant's ability to reenlist. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 6 September 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: Attend Civilian School / AR 635-200, Paragraph 5-16 / KCF / RE-3 / Honorable b. Date of Discharge: 25 November 2013 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: NIF (2) Basis for Separation: NIF (3) Recommended Characterization: Honorable (4) Legal Consultation Date: NIF (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: NIF / Honorable 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 23 February 2010 / 4 years (NIF, but according to DD Form 214) b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 20 / HS Graduate / 95 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-5 / 31B20, Military Police / 11 years, 3 months, 23 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: USAR (3 October 2002 to 2 March 2005) / HD RA (3 March 2005 to 14 November 2007) / HD RA (15 November 2007 to 22 February 2010) / HD e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: Germany, SWA / Iraq (7 December 2005 to 6 December 2006), (27 June 2008 to 4 September 2009) f. Awards and Decorations: ARCOM-3; AAM; AGCM-2; NDSM; ICM-3CS; GWOTSM; NCOPDR; ASR; OSR-3; MUC; USNUC g. Performance Ratings: Four NCOERs: 1 November 2008 thru 31 October 2009, Fully Capable 1 July 2010 thru 30 June 2011, Among the Best 1 July 2011 thru 30 June 2012, Fully Capable 1 July 2012 thru 30 June 2013, Fully Capable h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: Separation Orders i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None / NA j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: Online application. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: The applicant states, in effect, that he received his law enforcement certification and currently is serving as a law enforcement officer. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation (AR) 635-200 provides the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Paragraph 5-16 specifically provides that Soldiers may be discharged or released from active duty for the convenience of the Government, up to 90 days before ETS, in order to attend a specific term at college, university, vocational school, or technical school. 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. No Soldier will be awarded a character of service under honorable conditions under this chapter unless the Soldier is notified of the specific factors in his/her service record that warrant such a characterization, using the notification procedure. However, such characterization is normally inappropriate for Soldiers separated under the provisions of paragraph 5-16. 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 "KCF" as the appropriate code to assign enlisted Soldiers who are discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, paragraph 5-16, attend civilian school. The SPD Code/RE Code Cross Reference Table shows that a Soldier assigned an SPD Code of "KCF" will be assigned an RE Code of 3. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests to change the reentry code from "3" to "1." The applicant's available record of service and the issues submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. The applicant's record contains a properly constituted DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), which was digitally authenticated by the applicant's signature. This document identifies the reason and characterization of the discharge and government regularity is presumed in the discharge process. The DD Form 214 indicates the applicant was released from active duty under the provisions of AR 635-200, Chapter 5, by reason of early separation to attend a civilian school, with a characterization of service of honorable. Barring evidence to the contrary, the presumption of government regularity prevails as all the requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process. The DD Form 214 further shows a Separation Code of KCF (i.e., to "Attend Civilian School," with a reentry code of "3." The applicant requests a change to his reentry eligibility (RE) code from "3" to "1," to enable him to serve his country, again. He successfully completed nine years of active Army service and served two deployments to Iraq, and the RE code of "3" does not fit his honorable service. However, Soldiers being processed for separation are assigned reentry codes based on the reason for discharge and as approved by the separation authority. 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 was no basis to grant a change to the reason or to the reentry 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 available record indicates that 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 6 September 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 AR20170003574 1