1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 5 March 2018 b. Date Received: 16 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, is applying for a federal job as a police officer and the Human Resources office will not accept the current character of service status, which is uncharacterized. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 15 May 2019, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined that the characterization of service was inequitable based on the applicant's length of service and the circumstances surrounding the discharge. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade to the characterization of service to honorable. The Board determined the narrative reason, SPD code and RE code were proper and equitable and voted not to change them. (Board member names available upon request) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason / Authority / Codes / Characterization: Release From Active Duty Training / AR 635-200 / Chapter 4 / MBK / NA / Uncharacterized b. Date of Discharge: 15 May 2009 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: NA (2) Basis for Separation: NA (3) Recommended Characterization: NA (4) Legal Consultation Date: NA (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: NA 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 13 January 2009 / 21 weeks (IADT) b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 28 / NIF / NIF c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-3 / 88M10, Motor Transport Operator / 7 months d. Prior Service / Characterizations: ARNG, 16 October 2008 - 12 January 2009 / NA e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: NDSM, ASR g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: Orders 005-03, dated 5 January 2009, reflects the applicant, with consent of the Governor of Guam, was ordered to Initial Active Duty Training, Under 10 USC 672 (d), for a period of 21 weeks. Orders 106-226, dated 16 April 2009, reflects the applicant was awarded the primary MOS of 88M10, effective 15 May 2009 (completion of MOS training). Diploma, dated 15 May 2009, reflects the applicant was a graduate of the Motor Transport Operator Course NO. 19-09. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293. 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. 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. 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 "MBK" as the appropriate code to assign enlisted Army National Guard of the United States (ARNGUS) or United States Army Reserve (USAR) Soldiers who are REFRAD on completion of required active service or period for which ordered to active duty; and, are discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 4, completion of required active service. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of her uncharacterized 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 applicant completed the period of service under which she was ordered to active duty. At the time of the applicant's discharge, she had a total of 123 days of continuous active duty service, therefore the applicant was still in Entry Level status, which warrants a characterization of service of Uncharacterized. 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 her character of service to be rated as honorable or otherwise. The applicant provided no independent corroborating evidence demonstrating that the command's action was erroneous. The service record indicates that someone in the discharge process erroneously entered on the applicant's DD Form 214, block 27, reentry code as NA. Based on Army Regulation 635-5-1 and the SPD Code/RE Code Cross Reference Table, Soldiers separated with SPD code of MBK will be assigned an RE code of an RE code of 3. 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 15 May 2019, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined that the characterization of service was inequitable based on the applicant's length of service and the circumstances surrounding the discharge. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade to the characterization of service to honorable. The Board determined the narrative reason, SPD code and RE code were proper and equitable and voted not to change them. 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 AR20180006687 1