1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 6 November 2017 b. Date Received: 16 November 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, an upgrade would allow the applicant to gain future employment with the federal government. The discharge has not impeded employment as the applicant is currently works for a private company, under a contract with the Federal Bureau of Investigations. As the applicant looks forward, the applicant wants to pursue employment within the government to be successful in the future. The applicant believes it would be more difficult to further a career with a general discharge. The applicant did not deserve the discharge and did not have the proper chance to fight the discharge, while in the Army. 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: Unacceptable Conduct / AR 600-8-24, Chapter 4-2b and 4-24a (1) / BNC / NA / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 13 January 2017 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 23 February 2016 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was informed to show cause for retention on active duty under the provisions of AR 600-8-24, paragraphs 4-2b for acts misconduct and moral or professional dereliction and paragraph c, for derogatory information: Acts of personal misconduct, in that she engaged in an inappropriate relationship and fraternized with a junior enlisted Soldier; Conduct unbecoming an officer, in that she engaged in an inappropriate relationship and fraternized with a junior enlisted Soldier; and Adverse information filed in the Army Military Human Resource Record. (3) Legal Consultation Date: NIF (4) GCMCA Recommendation Date / Characterization: On 22 July 2016, the GCMCA recommended disapproval of the applicant's request for resignation in lieu of elimination / General (Under Honorable Conditions) (5) DA Ad Hoc Review Board: the AD Hoc review board considered the applicant's request for resignation in lieu of elimination in accordance with AR 600-8-24, Chapter 4. (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: On 3 January 2017, the DASA RB, accepted the applicant's resignation and directed her discharge under the provisions of AR 600- 8-24, paragraph 4-2b, (misconduct and moral or professional dereliction); and, paragraph 4-24c (derogatory information) / General (Under Honorable Conditions) 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Appointment: 10 May 2014 / Indefinite b. Age at Appointment / Education: 22 / Bachelor's Degree c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: O-1 / 25A, Signal, General / 2 years, 8 months, 4 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: NDSM, GWOTSM, ASR g. Performance Ratings: 16 March 2015 - 31 December 2015 / Not Qualified 1 January 2016 - 15 June 2016 / Highly Qualified h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: AR 15-6 Investigation, Report of Investigation (memo), 3 September 2015, reflects the investigation officer found that the applicant and SPC W, were having an inappropriate relationship; and, the relationship was approximately four months long and was of an intimate nature. General Officer Memorandum Of Reprimand, dated 2 November 2015, for fraternizing with a junior enlisted Soldier in her platoon. An investigation revealed she engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a junior enlisted Soldier for several months. Some of her peers and other junior enlisted Soldiers witnessed her closeness firsthand, while others became aware by her admissions and those of the junior enlisted Soldier with whom she was in a relationship. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None submitted with the application. 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293; character statement. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: The applicant states she gained employment. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 600-8-24, Officer Transfers and Discharges, sets forth the basic authority for the separation of commissioned and warrant officers. Chapter 4 outlines the policy and procedure for the elimination of officers from the active Army for substandard performance of duty, misconduct, moral or professional dereliction, and in the interest of national security. A discharge of honorable, general, or under other than honorable conditions characterization of service may be granted. 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 "BNC" as the appropriate code to assign commissioned officers who are discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 600-8-24, Chapter 4-2b, unacceptable conduct; and, 4-24a (1), resignation in lieu of elimination. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of her general (under honorable conditions) discharge to honorable. The applicant's record of service, the issues and documents submitted with her application were carefully reviewed. The record confirms that the applicant's discharge was appropriate because the quality of her service was not consistent with the Army's standards for acceptable personal conduct and performance of duty by Army officers. It brought discredit on the Army and was prejudicial to good order and discipline. The applicant provided no corroborating evidence demonstrating that either the command's action was erroneous or that her service mitigated the unacceptable conduct or poor duty performance, such that he should have been retained. Further, the applicant's record contains no evidence of arbitrary or capricious actions by the command. The Army Discharge Review Board is authorized to consider post-service factors in the recharacterization of a discharge. However, there is no law or regulation which provides an unfavorable discharge may be upgraded based solely on the passage of time or good conduct in civilian life subsequent to leaving the service. Outstanding post-service conduct, to the extent such matters provide a basis for a more thorough understanding of the applicant's performance and conduct during the period of service under review, is considered during Board proceedings. The Board reviews each discharge on a case-by-case basis to determine if post-service accomplishments help demonstrate previous in-service misconduct was an aberration and not indicative of the member's overall character. The applicant contends that an upgrade of her discharge will allow her to obtain better employment. However, the Board does not grant relief for the purpose of gaining employment or enhancing employment opportunities. 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 AR20170017664 1