1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 25 March 2018 b. Date Received: 30 March 2018 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, that the applicant would like an upgrade for the purpose of being able use education benefits. The applicant contends that documents received from the Department of Veteran Affairs show that the separation was honorable. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 24 April 2020, 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: 27 October 2017 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 7 October 2017 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was informed of the following reasons: for having been recommended for separation IAW AR 635-200, Chapter 5-17 for having a bilateral knee pain/injury and the lengthy recovery for his injury. (3) Recommended Characterization: Uncharacterized (4) Legal Consultation Date: 10 October 2017 (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 23 October 2017 / Uncharacterized 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 7 August 2017 / 3 years, 19 weeks b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 19 / HS Graduate / 103 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-2 / None / 2 months, 21 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: None g. Performance Ratings: None h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: None i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: NIF 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293 and a Summary of Benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The summary of benefits indicates the applicant is receiving 10 percent service connected disabilities from the Department of Veterans Affairs. 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, 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 available/record of service, the issues and documents submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. The applicant seeks relief contending that documents received from the Department of Veteran Affairs shows that his separation was honorable. However, the evidence of record shows the applicant, while in training status, was diagnosed by competent medical authority with having a bilateral knee pain/injury and was recommended for separation IAW AR 635-200, Chapter 5-17, due to the lengthy recovery for his injury. The applicant's service was uncharacterized because he was in entry-level status (ELS). A Soldier is in ELS for the first 180 days of continuous active duty. Army Regulation 635-200 provides, except in cases of serious misconduct, that a Soldier's service will be uncharacterized when separated in ELS. A general, under honorable conditions discharge is not authorized under ELS conditions and an honorable discharge may be granted only in cases which are clearly warranted by unusual circumstances involving outstanding personal conduct and/or performance of duty. The service record confirms that no such unusual circumstances were present and his service did not warrant an honorable discharge. 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 character of service to be rated as honorable or otherwise. As noted in the document submitted by the applicant from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the letter was a summary of benefits the applicant was currently receiving from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The letter was/is provided to disabled Veterans to use in applying for benefits such as state or local property or vehicle tax relief, civil service preference, to obtain housing entitlements, free or reduced state park annual memberships, or any other program or entitlement in which verification of VA benefits is required. It appears his character of service is under honorable conditions related to his 10 percent service connected disability. 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 24 April 2020, 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 AR20180006007 1