1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 18 January 2018 b. Date Received: 23 January 2018 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of the characterization of service from uncharacterized to general (under honorable conditions) or honorable. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, needs current leave and earnings to be adjusted towards Federal employment status under Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Regulation. The applicant's service has always been honorable. Entry level training for the Reserve is classified as uncharacterized which is not an approved characterization for OPM to award leave and compensation for active duty time. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 21 August 2020, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined that the characterization of service was inequitable based on the applicant's length and quality of service to include combat service. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade to the characterization of service to honorable. (Board member names available upon request) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason / Authority / Codes / Characterization: Completion of Required Active Service / AR 635-200 / Chapter 4 / MBK / NA / Uncharacterized b. Date of Discharge: 9 March 2001 c. Separation Facts: No (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: NIF (2) Basis for Separation: NIF (3) Recommended Characterization: NIF (4) Legal Consultation Date: NIF (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: NIF 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 4 October 2000 / NIF / IADT b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 18 years / 11th Grade / NIF c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: 91T10, Animal Care Specialist / 1 year, 1 month, 13 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: USAR, 27 January 2000 to 3 October 2000 / NA (Concurrent Service) e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: ASR g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: NIF i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: NIF 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 149 (two pages); DD Form 214(period under review); e-mail traffic (seven pages); discharge orders 17-311-00015; three other DD Forms 214. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for separation of enlisted personnel. Chapter 4 of that regulation provides, in pertinent part, for the separation of individuals upon completion of required service (i.e., expiration term of service). The characterization of service for Soldiers separated under the provisions of Chapter 4, AR 635-200 will be honorable unless the Soldier is in entry-level status. The service of Soldiers in entry-level status will be uncharacterized. A Soldier is in an entry- level status if the Soldier has not completed more than 180 days of creditable continuous active duty at the time of the discharge or release from active duty. A general discharge (GD) under honorable conditions discharge is not authorized under ELS conditions and an honorable discharge (HD) is rarely ever granted. An HD may be given only in cases which are clearly warranted by unusual circumstances involving outstanding personal conduct and/or performance of duty. In the case of an ARNGUS or USAR Soldier on active duty (AD) or active duty training (ADT) who is to be discharged, the character of the period of service from which he / she is being discharged will be based solely on military behavior and performance of duty during the current period of service while actually performing AD or ADT. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of the characterization of service from uncharacterized to general (under honorable conditions) or honorable. The applicant's available record of service, the issues and documents submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. The applicant's record is void of the complete facts and circumstances concerning the events which led to his release active duty training. However, the applicant's record does contain a properly constituted DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), which was authenticated by the applicant's signature. This document identifies the reason and characterization of the discharge and government regularity is presumed in the discharge process. The DD Form 214 indicates the applicant was discharged under the provisions of AR 635-200, Chapter 4, by reason of completion of required active service, with a characterization of service of uncharacterized. Barring evidence to the contrary, the presumption of government regularity prevails as all the requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process. Further, the DD Form 214 shows a Separation Code of MBK (i.e., completion of required active service) with a reentry eligibility (RE) code of NA. The service of Soldiers in entry-level status will be uncharacterized. A Soldier is in an entry- level status if the Soldier has not completed more than 180 days of creditable continuous active duty at the time of the discharge or release from active duty. Of note, AR 635-200, paragraph 3-9a(3), uncharacterized separations, a separation will be described as entry-level with service uncharacterized if processing is initiated while a Soldier is in entry-level status, except when, the Soldier has less than 181 days of continuous active military service, has completed Initial Entry Training, has been awarded an MOS, and has reported for duty at a follow-on unit of assignment The applicant seeks relief contending, he needs his leave and earnings to be adjusted towards his Federal employment status under Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Regulation. The applicant's request does not fall within the purview of this Board. The applicant may apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR), using the enclosed DD Form 149 regarding this matter. The applicant further contends, his service has always been honorable; and entry level training for the Reserve is classified as uncharacterized which is not an approved characterization for OPM to award leave and compensation for active duty time. A general discharge (GD) under honorable conditions discharge is not authorized under ELS conditions and an honorable discharge (HD) is rarely ever granted. An HD may be given only in cases which are clearly warranted by unusual circumstances involving outstanding personal conduct and/or performance of duty. If the applicant desires a personal appearance hearing, it is his responsibility to meet the burden of proof and provide the appropriate documents (i.e., the discharge packet) or other evidence sufficient to explain the facts, circumstances, and reasons underlying the separation action, for the Board's consideration because they are not available in the official record. Based on the available record, the characterization of service appears inconsistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of the regulation, was not within the discretion of the separation authority and that the applicant was not provided full administrative due process. 9. BOARD DETERMINATION: In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 21 August 2020, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined that the characterization of service was inequitable based on the applicant's length and quality of service to include combat service. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade to the characterization of service to honorable. 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 AR20180002874 1