1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 19 July 2017 b. Date Received: 25 July 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, the reenlistment code should be changed from a "3," because the applicant left Active Duty on honorable terms for a civilian school. Currently, it is impossible for the applicant to rejoin the ranks of any military branch because of the reentry code. The applicant should not be punished with such a bad code as the Army allowed the applicant to be released early to continue an education. College and real life experiences have grown the applicant to continue to better oneself and peers through enlistment. The applicant would like to take the knowledge and skills to another branch, and be able to move freely without the reentry code "3" weighing the applicant down. 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 / MCF / RE-3 / Honorable b. Date of Discharge: 18 January 2013 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of DA Form 4187 (Personnel Action) - Request for Voluntary and early Separation: 27 August 2012 (2) Basis for Separation: Pursuant to the applicant's request for separation under the provisions of paragraph 5-16, AR 635-200, for early separation to "attend civilian school." (3) Recommended Characterization: Honorable (4) Legal Consultation Date: None (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: Undated, but subsequent to 11 September 2012 / Honorable 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 10 November 2009 / 3 years, 21 weeks b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 18 / HS Graduate / NIF c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-9 / 19D10, Cavalry Scout / 3 years, 2 months, 9 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None / NA e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: SWA / Iraq (20 August 2010 to 5 August 2011) f. Awards and Decorations: ARCOM-2; AGCM; NDSM; ICM-2CS; GWOTSM; ASR; OSR g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: DA Form 4187 (Personnel Action), dated 6 February 2013, described at the preceding paragraphs 3c(1)-(6). 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: None provided with the application; however, the available record shows the applicant was assigned to a USAR unit on 8 January 2014, and honorably discharged from USAR on 25 July 2017. 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" or "MCF" 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" and "MCF" 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 record confirms that the applicant voluntarily requested early separation from the Army to attend civilian school. The applicant's request with an ETS date of 6 April 2013, was approved to be separated to attend a civilian school with class start date of 22 January 2013. The applicant requests a change to his reentry eligibility (RE) code from "3" to "1," to enable him to rejoin the ranks of any military branch because he would like to take his knowledge and skills to another branch, and be able to move freely without the reentry code "3" weighing him down. 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 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 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 AR20170011184 1