1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 5 June 2017 b. Date Received: 9 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 effect, the narrative reason for discharge reflects completion of required active service. The applicant never received any form of nonjudicial or judicial punishment during the time in service. The applicant never failed to meet all expectations of military conduct. Upon receiving the personnel files, the applicant found no information explaining why the discharge characterization is general (under honorable conditions). In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 30 October 2019, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined that the characterization of service was improper. The record indicates the applicant was not notified of any specific factors which would warrant a general (under honorable conditions) characterization of service. Therefore, the characterization not being proper and equitable, the Board granted relief in the form of an upgrade of the applicant's 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: Completion of Required Active Service / AR 635-200 / Chapter 4 / MBK / RE-1 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 9 June 2016 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 8 April 2016 (2) Basis for Separation: Orders 099-0270, reflect the applicant was reassigned to the U.S. Army transition point for transition process. He was released from active duty not by reason of physical disability and assigned to the USAR Control Group after his release from active duty. (3) Recommended Characterization: NIF (4) Legal Consultation Date: NIF (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 8 April 2016 / Honorable 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 30 October 2012 / 3 years, 32 weeks b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 20 / HS Graduate / 111 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-4 / 91F10, Small Arms/Artillery / 3 years, 7 months, 10 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: AAM, AGCM, NDSM, GWOTSM, ASR g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: Orders 099-0270, dated 8 April 2016, reflects the applicant was ordered to report to the transition point on 11 April 2016. The date of his release from active duty unless changed or rescinded: 9 June 2016. The applicant was transferred to the USAR Control Group (REINF) with a Terminal date of Reserve obligation of 2 April 2020. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DA Forms 4950; DA Form 4980-18; DD Form 149; DD Form 214; DD Form 293; Orders 099-0270; Order 178-022; Permanent Orders 070-12; Permanent Orders 322-03; Permanent Orders 163-2878; Enlisted Record Brief. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Chapter 3, paragraph 3-7, establishes the types of administrative discharges/character of service. An honorable discharge is a separation with honor. The honorable characterization is appropriate when the quality of the Soldier's service generally has met the standards of acceptable conduct and performance of duty for Army personnel or is otherwise so meritorious that any other characterization would be clearly inappropriate. Only the honorable characterization may be awarded a Soldier upon completion of his/her period of enlistment or period for which called or ordered to AD or ADT or where required under specific reasons for separation, unless an entry-level status separation (uncharacterized) is warranted. Paragraph 3-7b, states a general discharge is a separation from the Army under honorable conditions. When authorized, it is issued to a Soldier whose military record is satisfactory, but not sufficiently meritorious to warrant an honorable discharge. A characterization of under honorable conditions may be issued only when the reason for separation specifically allows such characterization. It will not be issued to Soldiers solely upon separation at expiration of their period of enlistment, military service obligation, or period for which called or ordered to AD. Chapter 4, establishes the policies and procedures for separating a Soldier upon expiration of enlistment of fulfillment of service obligation. The periods of military service required of all Army Soldiers will be in accordance with applicable laws. Periods for which enlistment is authorized are in NGR 600-200, AR 140-111, and AR 601-210. Periods for which Soldiers are ordered to AD are prescribed by law. Soldier enlisted or ordered to AD normally will be discharged or released from AD on the date he/she completes the period for which enlisted or ordered to AD. Personnel released from AD and transferred to the USAR upon completion of the term of service for which ordered into active Federal service, or released to their Reserve Component upon completion of AD. These Soldiers will not be discharged until completion of their reserve obligation. Paragraph 4-5, states, a Soldier being separated upon expiration of enlistment or fulfillment of service obligation will be awarded a character of service of honorable, unless the Soldier is in entry-level status and service is uncharacterized. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of his general (under honorable conditions) discharge to honorable. The applicant's record of service, the issues and documents submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. The record confirms that the applicant's discharge was appropriate because the quality of his service was consistent with the Army's standards for acceptable personal conduct and performance of duty by military personnel. The evidence of the record reflects that the applicant entered Active Duty on 30 October 2012, for a period of 3 years and 32 weeks. At the time of the applicant's discharge, the applicant had served 3 years, 7 months and 10 days on Active Duty. The applicant's official service record reflects no acts of misconduct or derogatory information. Upon the applicant's separation from Active Duty, he was transferred to the USAR Control Group to serve his remaining service obligation until 2 April 2020. Based on the service record, it appears that someone in the discharge process erroneously entered on the applicant's DD Form 214, block 24, Character of Service as General (Under Honorable Conditions). The service record confirms the applicant had completed the period for which he was ordered to Active Duty and then was transferred to the USAR Control Group. Soldiers being separated upon expiration of enlistment or fulfillment of service obligation will be awarded a character of service of honorable, unless the Soldier is in entry-level status and service is uncharacterized. Notwithstanding the administrative errors, 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 that the applicant was provided full administrative due process. 9. BOARD DETERMINATION: In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 30 October 2019, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined that the characterization of service was improper. The record indicates the applicant was not notified of any specific factors which would warrant a general (under honorable conditions) characterization of service. Therefore, the characterization not being proper and equitable, the Board granted relief in the form of an upgrade of the applicant's 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 AR20170010398 1