1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 20 April 2018 b. Date Received: 30 April 2018 c. Counsel: 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of the characterization of service from general (under honorable conditions) to honorable. The applicant through counsel seeks relief contending, in effect, she was prescribed medication (anti- depressant) by a mental health physician; it gave her insomnia, once she fell asleep it hard for her to wake and get to morning formations on time. She was improperly out processed, unaware of process until she received paperwork. 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 no records. The applicant is 10% service-connected from the VA. Based on the lack of medical information dating back to her military career, there is insufficient evidence at this time to make a determination about medical mitigation. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 26 August 2020, and by a 4-1 vote, the Board determined that the characterization of service was improper. The record indicates the applicant was not notified of any specific factors which would warrant a general (under honorable conditions) characterization of service. Therefore, the characterization not being proper and equitable, the Board granted relief in the form of an upgrade of the applicant's 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: Pregnancy or Childbirth / AR 635-200, Chapter 8 / KDF / RE-3 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 16 May 2003 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: NIF (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: NIF 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 25 May 2000 / 4 years b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 18 years / HS Graduate / 96 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-4 / 56M10, Chaplain Assistant / 4 years, 4 months, 3 days / block 12a on the applicant's DD Form 214 dated entered active duty is incorrect, should read as annotated in the Case Report and Directive. See current enlistment contract. Block12e on the applicant's DD Form 214 total prior inactive service is incorrect, should read 1 year, 4 months, 11 days to account for Reserve Service. d. Prior Service / Characterizations: USAR, 14 January 1999 to 3 August 1999 / NA IADT, 4 August 1999 to 11 December 1999 / UNC USAR, 12 December 1999 to 24 May 2000 / NA e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: Specific dates and location not in the file. 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 293 (two pages); and a DD form 149 (two pages). 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the requirements and procedures for administrative discharge of enlisted personnel. Chapter 8 provides for the voluntary separation of enlisted woman because of pregnancy. Service of enlisted women separated under the provisions of Chapter 8 will be characterized as honorable or general, under honorable conditions unless the Soldier is in an entry level status. A general, under honorable conditions discharge is normally inappropriate for individuals separated under the provisions of Chapter 8, unless properly notified of the specific factors in her service record that warrant such characterization. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of the characterization of service from general (under honorable conditions) to honorable. The applicant's available record of service and the issues submitted with her application were carefully reviewed. The applicant's record is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events which led to her discharge from the Army. 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 8, by reason of pregnancy, with a characterization of service of general (under honorable conditions). 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 MDF (i.e., pregnancy) with a reentry eligibility (RE) code of 3. The applicant through counsel seeks relief contending, she was prescribed medication (anti- depressant) by a mental health physician; it gave her insomnia, once she fell asleep it hard for her to wake and get to morning formations on time; and she was improperly out processed, unaware of process until she received paperwork. The merit of these contentions cannot be substantiated because the specific facts and circumstances that led to her discharge are not contained in the available record. If the applicant desires a personal appearance hearing, it is her 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 discharge was consistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of the regulation, was within the discretion of the separation authority and that the applicant was provided full administrative due process. 9. BOARD DETERMINATION: In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 26 August 2020, and by a 4-1 vote, the Board determined that the characterization of service was improper. The record indicates the applicant was not notified of any specific factors which would warrant a general (under honorable conditions) characterization of service. Therefore, the characterization not being proper and equitable, the Board granted relief in the form of an upgrade of the applicant's 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 AR20180009174 1