1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 13 April 2017 b. Date Received: 16 June 2017 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of general (under honorable conditions) discharge to honorable. The applicant seeks relief contending, in pertinent part and in effect, was discharged for APFT failures. The applicant asserts that under chapter 13, paragraph 5b, it states that the commander must reflect the reason for the general (under honorable conditions) characterization of service. However, the applicant never received any punishment under the UCMJ. The applicant agrees with not being unable to pass the APFT, but it never affected the behavior. The applicant embodied the Army Values and did everything that was asked by the leadership. Per the Board's Medical Officer, a voting member, based on the information available for review at the time in the service record, the Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application (AHLTA), and Joint Legacy Viewer (JLV), notes indicate the applicant did not have a medical or behavioral health condition that was mitigating for the misconduct which led to separation from the Army. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 16 January 2019, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined that the characterization of service was too harsh based on the matters surrounding discharge and as a result it is inequitable. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade to the characterization of service to honorable. The Board determined the narrative reason, SPD code and RE code were proper and equitable and voted not to change them. (Board member names available upon request) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason / Authority / Codes / Characterization: Physical Standards / AR 635-200, Chapter 13-2e / JFT / RE-3 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 21 March 2017 c. Separation Facts: (The available record is limited to the undated separation authority's decision memorandum and the undated commander's report memorandum.) (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: NIF (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant failed two consecutive APFTs, specifically on 23 November 2016 and 12 December 2016. (According to the applicant's documentary evidence consisting of two memoranda-specifically, the unit commander's notification memorandum to the applicant and the separation authority's decision memorandum, and both are undated.) (3) Recommended Characterization: Honorable (According to the applicant's documentary evidence) (4) Legal Consultation Date: NIF (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: In an undated memorandum / General (Under Honorable Conditions) 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 9 September 2015 / 4 years, 21 weeks b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 18 / HS Graduate / 105 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-3 / 11B10, Infantryman / 1 year, 6 months, 13 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None / NA e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: Hawaii / None f. Awards and Decorations: NDSM; GWOTSM; ASR g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: There is no record of any negative counseling statement available or evidence of any action under the UCMJ. The commander's report indicate the applicant never received any action under the UCMJ, and the applicant was discharged at the rank of PFC/E-3, the highest grade he achieved. The available record and the applicant, also do not provide documentary evidence of any medical limitation(s). Discharge Orders i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None / NA j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: Online application and two decision memoranda, the separation authority's and the unit commander's report. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None provided with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the requirements and procedures for administrative discharge of enlisted personnel. Chapter 13, paragraph 13-2e states in pertinent part, that separation proceedings will be initiated for Soldiers without medical limitations that have two consecutive failures of the Army Physical Fitness Test. The reason for discharge will be shown as physical standards. Paragraph 13-4 for counseling and rehabilitation requirements, stipulates that before initiating separation action against a Soldier, commanders will ensure that the Soldier has received adequate counseling and rehabilitation, because military service is a calling different from any civilian occupation, a Soldier should not be separated when unsatisfactory performance is the sole reason for separation unless there have been efforts at rehabilitation (Paragraph 1-16 prescribes the counseling and rehabilitation requirements.) Paragraph 13-10 for characterization of service, stipulates that the service of Soldiers separated because of unsatisfactory performance will be characterized as honorable or under honorable conditions as warranted by their military records. (See paragraphs 3-5 and 3-7.) 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 "JFT" as the appropriate code to assign enlisted Soldiers who are discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, Paragraph 13-2e as Physical Standards. The SPD Code/RE Code Cross Reference Table shows that a Soldier assigned an SPD Code of "JFT" will be assigned an RE Code of 3. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of his general (under honorable conditions) discharge to honorable. The applicant's available record of service, and the issues and documents submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. The available record confirms the applicant was discharged for the sole reason of failing to meet the minimum standards of the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). The service record does not contain any other derogatory information. The applicant's record also contains a properly constituted DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), which was digitally authenticated by the applicant's signature, and the separation authority's decision memorandum. The DD Form 214 indicates the applicant was discharged under the provisions of AR 635-200, Chapter 13-2e, by reason of Physical Standards, with a characterization of service of general (under honorable conditions). Barring evidence to the contrary, it appears that all requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant would have been protected throughout the separation process. The applicant provided no independent corroborating evidence demonstrating that either the command's action was erroneous or that the applicant's service mitigated the misconduct or duty performance, such that he should have been retained on Active Duty. In consideration of the applicant's service accomplishments and quality of his service, the Board can find that his complete period of service was or was not sufficiently mitigating to warrant an upgrade of his characterization of service. Based on the available 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 16 January 2019, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined that the characterization of service was too harsh based on the matters surrounding discharge and as a result it is inequitable. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade to the characterization of service to honorable. The Board determined the narrative reason, SPD code and RE code were proper and equitable and voted not to change them. 10. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a New DD-214: Yes b. Change Characterization to: Honorable 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 AR20170009390 1