1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 28 June 2017 b. Date Received: 20 July 2017 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests a change to narrative reason for discharge and a change to reentry eligibility (RE) code. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, entered the Army on 25 October 2016 and went to Fort Benning to complete Basic and OSUT. The applicant graduated on 24 February 2017. The MOS was Special Forces and during a physical for Airborne School they put a 24 hour Ambulatory monitor on the applicant for Blood Pressure. The applicant did hit high during this 24 hour period due to nervousness but the readings still averaged out to the Army standards. The Doctor recommended the applicant be separated based on this 24 hour reading. The applicant had the BP taken several times during training and was well within Army standards all 12 times that it was taken, but the Doctor would not take those reading into consideration. The applicant contends that on the DD Form 214, the separation code is listed as JFW, which is the code for "Erroneous enlistment; Medical condition disqualifying for military service, with no medical waiver approved." The problem with this code is that the applicant did have a Medical waiver approved from USAREC upon entering the service. The applicant has applied for a copy of the waiver from the National Archives, but it still has not come. The recruiter called over to the MEPS station in Tampa where the applicant was processed and they found it, but the applicant still doesn't have a copy to attach to the request. The applicant does have the email from USAREC that states that the waiver was approved which the applicant will send. The applicant was also given an RE code of 3 which is not warranted. The applicant had no BP issues during training and graduated with the class. The applicant is now asking that the separation code, as well as, the reentry code be looked at. Since the applicant returned home, the applicant has seen a Doctor that specializes in blood pressure. The doctor sees no signs of Hypertension. The applicant had written a letter to take to the recruiter in order to be able to rejoin the Army. The applicant would appreciate anything that can be done to remove these codes from the records so that the applicant can continue on with a military career. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 14 August 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: Failed Medical/Physical/Procurement Standards / AR 635-200, Paragraph 5-11 / JFW / RE-3 / Uncharacterized b. Date of Discharge: 13 April 2017 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 1 November 2016 (2) Basis for Separation: The Entrance Physical Standards Board (EPSBD) Proceedings show the applicant was diagnosed with essential hypertension P-3 ICD-10110. It was recommended that EPTS Medical Separation be completed on the applicant. He did not meet medical fitness standards for enlistment IAW AR 40-501, Chapter 2-19b. current or history of hypertensive vascular disease was disqualifying at the time of discharge. (3) Recommended Characterization: Uncharacterized (4) Legal Consultation Date: On 29 March 2017, the applicant concurred with the proceedings and requested to be discharge from the US Army without delay. (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 3 April 2017 / Uncharacterized 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 25 October 2016 / 5 years b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 21 / HS Graduate / 123 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-1 / None / 5 months, 13 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: None g. Performance Ratings: None h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: Counseling statement's reference recommendation for an existing prior to service (EPTS) discharge. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: Online application; certificate for completion of the infantry school; clinical record; Entrance Physical Standard Board (EPSBD) Proceedings; Army Physical Fitness Test Scorecard; Individual Training Record; listing of blood pressure monitoring at Fort Benning, GA; and DD Form 214. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation (AR) 635-200 provides the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Paragraph 5-11 specifically provides that Soldiers who were not medically qualified under procurement medical fitness standards, when accepted for enlistment, or who became medically disqualified under these standards prior to entry on active duty or active duty training or initial entry training will be separated. A medical proceeding, regardless of the date completed, must establish that a medical condition was identified by appropriate medical authority within six months of the Soldier's initial entrance on active duty, that the condition would have permanently or temporarily disqualified the Soldier for entry into the military service had it been detected at that time, and the medical condition does not disqualify the Soldier from retention in the service under the provisions of AR 40-501, Chapter 3. The characterization of service for Soldiers separated under this provision of the regulation will normally be honorable. However for Soldiers in entry-level status, it will be uncharacterized. AR 635-200 states that a Soldier is in an entry-level status if the Soldier has not completed more than 180 days of creditable continuous active duty prior to the initiation of separation action. 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 "JFW" as the appropriate code to assign enlisted Soldiers who are discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 5-11, and failed medical/physical/procurement standards. The SPD Code/RE Code Cross Reference Table shows that a Soldier assigned an SPD Code of "JFW" will be assigned an RE Code of 3. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests a change to his narrative reason for discharge and a change to his reentry eligibility (RE) code. The applicant's record of service, the issues and documents submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. The applicant seeks relief contending that the doctor recommended he be separated based on a 24 hour reading. He had his BP taken several times during training and was well within Army standards 12 times that it was taken but the doctor said that he would not take those reading into consideration. He contends that on his DD Form 214 his separation code is listed as JFW, which is the code for "Erroneous enlistment; Medical condition disqualifying for military service, with no medical waiver approved." The problem with this code is that he did have a Medical waiver approved from USAREC when he entered the service. He has applied for a copy of the waiver from the National Archives but it still has not come. His recruiter called over to the MEPS station in Tampa where he was processed and they found it, but he still doesn't have a copy to attach to his request. He does have the email from USAREC that states that the waiver was approved which he will send. He was also given an RE code of 3 which he feels is not warranted. He contends he had no BP issues during training and graduated with my class. He is now asking that his separation code as well as the reentry code be looked at. Since he has been back home he has seen a Doctor that specializes in blood pressure. He sees no signs of Hypertension. He had written a letter to that effect for him to take to his recruiter for him to be able to rejoin the Army. He would appreciate anything that can be done to remove these codes from his records so that he can continue on with his military career. However, evidence of records shows the applicant was diagnosed with essential hypertension P-3 ICD-10110; which resulted in him being separated under the provisions of Chapter 5, paragraph 5-11, AR 635-200 with an uncharacterized discharge. The narrative reason specified by Army Regulations for a discharge under this paragraph is "Failed Medical/Physical/Procurement Standards," and the separation code is "JFW." 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 appropriate RE code is 3. Evidence of record shows the applicant was not discharged as a result of erroneous enlistment. It appears that although the applicant had/has an email that states he had a waiver, it was determined that he did not meet medical fitness standards for enlistment IAW AR 40-501, Chapter 2-19b and that his current or history of hypertensive vascular disease was disqualifying at the time of discharge. It should be noted; 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 are 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 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 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 14 August 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 AR20170010885 1