1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 23 August 2017 b. Date Received: 29 August 2017 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of his uncharacterized discharge to general (under honorable conditions) or honorable and to change the narrative reason for his discharge. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, he served a total of 192 days of active duty. When he was briefed of his medical discharge, he signed a document that stated an honorable discharge. However, it was changed due to the battalion commander noting the wrong date. In a record review hearing conducted at Arlington, VA on 15 October 2018, the Board determined the applicant's characterization of service was improper. The board noted the evidence of record shows the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of discharge proceedings after he had completed 180 days of continuous active duty, thus he was no longer in entry level status. The applicant completed 6 months and 2 days of continuous active service, when his separation was initiated on 1 August 2017. In view of the aforementioned, the Board voted by a 5-0 vote, to grant relief by changing the characterization of service to honorable. The Board further determined the reason for discharge was both proper and equitable and voted not to change it. (Board member names available upon request) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason / Authority / Codes / Characterization: Condition, Not a Disability / AR 635- 200, Paragraph 5-17 / JFV / RE-3 / Uncharacterized b. Date of Discharge: 11 August 2017 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 1 August 2017 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was evaluated by a Consolidated Troop Medical Clinic and it was determined he had a left hip injury, and due to his diagnosis, he is unable to complete Advanced Individual Training. (3) Recommended Characterization: Honorable (4) Legal Consultation Date: Waived, 1 August 2017 (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 8 August 2017 / Uncharacterized 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 31 January 2017 / 4 years, 22 weeks b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 29 / HS Graduate / 105 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-1 / None / 6 months, 11 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None / NA e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None / None f. Awards and Decorations: None g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: Physical Profile Record, dated 28 June 2017, with an expiration date of 28 July 2017, indicates the applicant was recovering from a left hip stress injury, and to "consider Chapter 5- 17, if deemed appropriate by his command. Counseling statement, dated 10 July 2017, shows the unit commander informing the applicant of being diagnosed with a left hip stress injury, that the medical provider recommended his separation for other designated physical or mental condition, that he will not graduate in a timely manner, and that he will be flagged for an administrative separation. Report of Medical Assessment, dated 13 and19 July 2017, shows the applicant and the examiner noted "left hip injury" that limited the applicant's ability to perform his military duties, respectively. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None / NA j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293 (Application for the Review of Discharge), dated 23 August 2017; Section1 and II of DD Form 2697 (Report of Medical Assessment), dated 13 and 19 July 2017; DD Form 214; battalion commander's recommendation, dated 4 August 2017; Separation Worksheet; separation authority's decision memorandum, dated 8 August 2017; commander's report, dated 3 August 2017; 2nd page of counseling statement, dated 10 July 2017; and page 1 of separation memorandum, dated 1 August 2017. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None provided with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation (AR) 635-200 provides the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Paragraph 5-17 specifically provides that a Soldier may be separated for other physical or mental conditions not amounting to a disability, which interferes with assignment to or performance of duty and requires that the diagnosis be so severe that the Soldier's ability to function in the military environment is significantly impaired. 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. Paragraph 3-9 stipulates that a separation will be described as entry-level with service uncharacterized if processing is initiated while a Soldier is in entry-level status. A general, under honorable conditions discharge is normally inappropriate for individuals separated under the provisions of Chapter 5-17, unless properly notified of the specific factors in the service that warrant such characterization. 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 "JFV" as the appropriate code to assign enlisted Soldiers who are discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 5, paragraph 5-17, "Condition, Not a Disability." The SPD Code/RE Code Cross Reference Table shows that a Soldier assigned an SPD Code of "JFV" will be assigned an RE Code of 3. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of his uncharacterized discharge to honorable. After a careful review of all the applicant's military records for the period of enlistment under review and the issue, and documents submitted with the application, it appears that the characterization of service was improper. Army Regulation 635-200 provides, except in cases of serious misconduct, that a Soldier's service will be uncharacterized when the separation is initiated while the Soldier is in entry level status. The evidence of record shows the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of discharge proceedings on 1 August 2017, after he had completed 181 days of continuous active duty, thus he was no longer in entry level status. AR 635-200 defines entry level status for active duty Soldiers as the period of the first 180 days of continuous active duty. When the applicant was discharged, he had completed 6 months and 11 days of active duty service. In view of the foregoing, the discharge was not consistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of the regulation, was not within the discretion of the separation authority, and the applicant was not provided full administrative due process. 9. BOARD DETERMINATION: In a record review hearing conducted at Arlington, VA on 15 October 2018, the Board determined the applicant's characterization of service was improper. The board noted the evidence of record shows the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of discharge proceedings after he had completed 180 days of continuous active duty, thus he was no longer in entry level status. The applicant completed 6 months and 2 days of continuous active service, when his separation was initiated on 1 August 2017. In view of the aforementioned, the Board voted by a 5-0 vote, to grant relief by changing the characterization of service to honorable. The Board further determined the reason for discharge was both proper and equitable and voted not to change it. 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 AR20170015653 1