1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 29 October 2017 b. Date Received: 1 November 2017 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of an uncharacterized discharge to honorable. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, throughout life, the applicant had planned to enter the military and even join the JR- ROTC in high school. The intent was to join the Army Reserve, complete basic training and college education, go to Officer Candidate School to earn a commission and enter the regular Army and make it a career. The applicant states the first part went well upon entrance into the Army National Guard and left for basic training, which is where things went awry. While in basic training, the applicant fractured a foot and went to the medical rehabilitation unit. The foot never properly healed and the Army sent the applicant home to rehabilitate and return to basic training. The applicant states the foot fractured again and this time the Army discharged the applicant with a medical discharge. If the applicant had not had a foot injury, the applicant would have made the Army a career. The applicant would have completed a college education and earned a commission. Since the foot would not heal properly, the Army discharged the applicant with an uncharacterized discharge. The applicant tried to obtain educational benefits from the Veterans Administration, but they denied the request due to the character of service. The applicant did not plan to be injured in basic training and did not plan to be discharged from the Army before a career even began. The applicant requests the Board to allow the applicant to continue a college education. 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: Condition, Not a Disability / AR 635- 200, Chapter 5-17 / JFV / RE-3 / Uncharacterized b. Date of Discharge: 15 October 2014 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 1 October 2014 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was informed of the following reasons: Left knee and right foot pain, which prevents the successful completion of BCT. (3) Recommended Characterization: Uncharacterized (4) Legal Consultation Date: On 1 October 2014, the applicant waived his rights to consult with a JAG officer. (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 6 October 2014 / Uncharacterized 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 5 August 2014 / 31 weeks (IADT) b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 20 / HS Graduate / 113 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-3 / None / 2 years, 19 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: ARNG, 27 September 2012 - 16 October 2014 / UNC (Concurrent Service) e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: None g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: Memorandum for record, dated 10 September 2014, reflects the applicant was evaluated by a Physical Therapist for his left knee and right foot pain. He had stress changes from over use to his right foot 2-4th meta-tarsals and this pain is significantly limiting his ability to train. Further profiling would make it very difficult for him to graduate in a timely manner with peers. He had currently been on profile for about a week, but was a REFRAD from Fort Sill BCT with same injuries that first started back in April 2013. The recommendation was that the chain of command consider him for discharge under AR 635-200, Chapter 5-17. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: NA 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293. 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 5-17 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, general (under honorable conditions), or an uncharacterized description of service if 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. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of his uncharacterized discharge to honorable. The applicant's record of service, the issues and documents submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. The applicant provided no independent corroborating evidence demonstrating that either the command's action was erroneous or that the applicant's service mitigated the misconduct or poor duty performance, such that he should have been retained on Active Duty. Further, the uncharacterized description of service accurately reflects the applicant's overall record of service. An uncharacterized discharge is neither positive nor negative and it is not meant to be a negative reflection of a Soldier's military service. It merely means that the Soldier has not been in the Army long enough for his or her character of service to be rated as honorable or otherwise. The evidence of record shows the applicant, while in training status, was evaluated by competent medical authority and determined the applicant stress changes from over use to his right foot 2-4th meta-tarsals and this pain is significantly limiting his ability to train. It was determined these injuries would prevent him from completing training. The applicant contends that an upgrade of his discharge would allow educational benefits through the use of the GI Bill. However, eligibility for veteran's benefits to include educational benefits under the Post-9/11 or Montgomery GI Bill does not fall within the purview of the Army Discharge Review Board. Accordingly, the applicant should contact a local office of the Department of Veterans Affairs for further assistance. 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 AR20170019036 1