1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 10 April 2018 b. Date Received: 9 May 2018 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of uncharacterized discharge to general (under honorable conditions) and a narrative reason change. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, before entering the Army, was physically active and never had any issues with asthma. Once the applicant joined and went to basic combat training, the applicant began to have breathing problems and was told the applicant had asthma. Before enlisting, MEPS never told the applicant about having asthma and has never had an issue with asthma. The applicant got asthma while on active duty and this should be reflected on the discharge. The applicant never took a physical training test, but the discharge currently reflects failing medical/physical standards. The applicant states, as a child participation in sports and later worked, been active in the community and never had a problem with asthma. The applicant never had any breathing problems or was unable to do anything active without assistant from a pump until becoming active. The applicant provides the Board medical records, which span the period of from birth until present day, which do not reflect ever having asthma. The applicant also provides the Board with a letter from a ROTC coach and pictures from when the applicant cheered that show never having an issue with asthma growing up. The applicant states the discharge should be changed because the Army could not prove the applicant had asthma before joining. The applicant never have asthma and under the provisions EPTS, the condition would have had to have existed prior to service. Based on this, the applicant states the discharge is not honorable and is not correct and to discharge someone with EPTS, the Army would have to be able to prove there was a condition that existed prior to entrance in the Army, which does not exist. Per the Board's Medical Officer, a voting member, based on the information available for review at the time in the service record, the Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application (AHLTA), and Joint Legacy Viewer (JLV), notes indicate the applicant initially presented to the TMC in Jan 2018 during her first week in basic training, but received no BH diagnosis. In summary, the applicant did not have a BH diagnosis and therefore the current discharge is appropriate. In a personal appearance hearing conducted at Arlington, VA on 28 January 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: Failed Medical/Physical/Procurement Standards / AR 635-200, Paragraph 5-11 / JFW / RE-3 / Uncharacterized b. Date of Discharge: 8 February 2018 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date Entrance Physical Standards Board (EPSBD) convened: 23 January 2018 (2) EPSBD Findings: The findings of the evaluating physicians indicate the applicant was medically unfit for appointment or enlistment in accordance with current medical fitness standards and in the opinion of the evaluating physicians the condition existed prior to service. The applicant was diagnosed with: Mild intermittent asthma, uncomplicated. (3) Date Applicant Reviewed and Concurred with the Findings, and Requested Discharge without Delay: 30 January 2018. (4) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 31 January 2018 / Uncharacterized 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 2 January 2018 / 10 weeks (IADT) b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 20 / Some College / 90 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-2 / None / 5 months, 11 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: ARNG, 28 August 2017 - 8 February 2018 / UNC (Concurrent service) e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: None g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: EPSBD findings as described in previous paragraph 3c. IMT Sick Slip (BCT), dated 23 January 2018, reflects the applicant had the medical condition of Asthma. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DA Form 268; DA Form 2808; DA Form 4707; two DA Forms 4856; DD Form 293; DD Form 2807-1; Enlisted Record Brief; Orders 037-1302; email; VA Form 21-0960C-8; Instructions for use of AIMOVIG; two letters of support; and, medical treatment summary. 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 5-11 specifically provides that Soldiers who were not medically qualified under procurement medical fitness standards, when accepted for enlistment, or who became medically disqualified under these standards prior to entry on active duty or active duty training or initial entry training will be separated. A medical proceeding, regardless of the date completed, must establish that a medical condition was identified by appropriate medical authority within six months of the Soldier's initial entrance on active duty, that the condition would have permanently or temporarily disqualified the Soldier for entry into the military service had it been detected at that time, and the medical condition does not disqualify the Soldier from retention in the service under the provisions of AR 40-501, Chapter 3. The characterization of service for Soldiers separated under this provision of the regulation will normally be honorable. However for Soldiers in entry-level status, it will be uncharacterized. AR 635-200 states that a Soldier is in an entry-level status if the Soldier has not completed more than 180 days of creditable continuous active duty prior to the initiation of separation action. 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 "JFW" as the appropriate code to assign enlisted Soldiers who are discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 5-11, Failed Medical/Physical/Procurement Standards. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of his uncharacterized discharge to general (under honorable conditions) and a narrative reason change. The applicant's record of service, the issues and documents submitted with her application were carefully reviewed. The proceedings of the EPSB revealed the applicant had a medical condition which was disqualifying for enlistment and existed prior to entry on active duty. These findings were approved by competent medical authority and the applicant agreed with the findings and proposed action for administrative separation from the Army. 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 applicant contends that the Army did not have any evidence that she had a medical condition that existed prior to her entrance into the Army. The applicant provided two letters of support and a copy of her medical treatment summary. However, the record does not contain any indication or evidence of arbitrary or capricious actions by the command and all requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process. The character of the applicant's discharge is commensurate with her overall service record. The applicant contends the narrative reason for the discharge should be changed because she did not have asthma. However, the applicant was separated under the provisions of Chapter 5-11, AR 635-200, with a under other than honorable conditions discharge. The narrative reason specified by Army Regulations for a discharge under this paragraph is "Failed Medical/Physical/Procurement Standards," and the separation code is "JFW." Army Regulation 635-5, Separation Documents, governs preparation of the DD Form 214 and dictates that entry of the narrative reason for separation, entered in block 28 and separation code, entered in block 26 of the form, will be exactly as listed in tables 2-2 or 2-3 of AR 635-5-1, Separation Program Designator (SPD) Codes. The regulation further stipulates that no deviation is authorized. There is no provision for any other reason to be entered under this regulation. 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. DOCUMENTS / TESTIMONY PRESENTED DURING PERSONAL APPEARANCE: In addition to the evidence in the record, the Board carefully considered the additional document(s) and testimony presented by the applicant at the personal appearance hearing. a. The applicant submitted the following additional document(s): None b. The applicant presented the following additional contention(s): None c. Witness(es) / Observer(s): 10. BOARD DETERMINATION: In a personal appearance hearing conducted at Arlington, VA on 28 January 2019, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board denied the request upon finding the separation was both proper and equitable. 11. 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 AR20180006919 4