1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 30 May 2018 b. Date Received: 4 June 2018 c. Counsel: 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 during basic training the applicant suffered an injury resulting in surgery. The applicant contends that after surgery, the applicant was wheelchair bound for three weeks and then issued a set of crutches. The applicant was using crutches for the remainder of service. The Army did not offer a medical discharge; they stated that the only options were to sit and wait for the Army to decide on the discharge or separate under the provisions of AR 635-200, Chapter 11, under section 28, which states entry level performance and conduct. The applicant feels one should not be punished for an injury suffered during training. The applicant is now 10 percent service connected for this injury. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 13 December 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: Entry Level Performance and Conduct / AR 635-200 / Chapter 11 / JGA / RE-3 / Uncharacterized b. Date of Discharge: 27 June 2017 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 13 June 2017 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was informed of the following reasons: for having underwent hip surgery from her medical provider as a result from an injury during her time in BCT. She was told that her recovery period was over, and she would have to undergo rehabilitation to fully heal so that she could finish training and she requested to be chaptered instead. Her provider informed her that she could undergo an MEB so that she could receive benefits and she requested to interrupt that process and be separated immediately. It was noted that she had not been able to adjust to the rules and regulation of the Army and because of this she had requested to be separated continuously. By not completing training she would not meet the guidelines to graduated basic combat training (BCT). Therefore, the TMC and the commander recommended her for a Chapter 11 discharge. (3) Recommended Characterization: Uncharacterized (4) Legal Consultation Date: 13 June 2017 (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 13 June 2017 / Uncharacterized 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 21 February 2017 / 5 years, 30 weeks b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 22 / HS Graduate / 132 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-3 / None / 4 months, 7 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: Declination of Military Medical Examination in Conjunction with Administrative Separation under AR 635-200, dated 13 June 2017, which indicates the applicant decided not to undergo a new medical examination in conjunction with separation actions, thereby voluntarily waiving her medical examination. Counseling statements reference negative duty performance. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: NIF 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293; medical documents from Comanche County Memorial Hospital; and DD Form 214 for the period of service under review. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation (AR) 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Paragraph 3-9 contains guidance on entry level separations. It states a separation will be described as entry-level with service uncharacterized if, at the time separation action is initiated, the Soldier has less than 180 days of continuous active duty service. Chapter 11 of AR 635-200 provides for the separation of personnel due to unsatisfactory performance, conduct, or both, while in an entry level status (ELS). An uncharacterized service description is normally granted to Soldiers separating under this chapter. 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. 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 applicant seeks relief contending that during basic training she suffered an injury resulting in surgery. She contends that after surgery, she was wheelchair bound for three weeks and then issued a set of crutches. She was using crutches for the remainder of her service. The Army did not offer her a medical discharge, they stated that her only options were to sit and wait for the Army to decide on her discharge or separate under the provisions of AR 635-200, Chapter 11, under section 28, which states entry level performance and conduct. The applicant feels she should not be punished for an injury suffered during training. She is now 10 percent service connected for this injury. The evidence of record confirms the applicant's separation processing was accomplished in accordance with the applicable regulation. All requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process. The separation authority approved the applicant's discharge as entry-level status with the description of service as uncharacterized. Army Regulation 635-200 provides in pertinent part, that a Soldier is in entry-level status for the first 180 days of continuous active duty. The purpose of the entry-level status is to provide the Soldier a probationary period. Soldiers who are found to lack the necessary motivation, adaptability, self-discipline, ability, or attitude to become productive Soldiers may be expeditiously separated while in entry-level status. The Regulation also provides, except in cases of serious misconduct, that a Soldier's service will be uncharacterized when the separation is initiated while the Soldier is in entry-level status. At the time the separation action was initiated, the applicant had 113 days of active duty service; which reflects she was in an entry-level status. A general discharge (GD) under honorable conditions 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. 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 character of service to be rated as honorable or otherwise. It should be noted although the applicant claims the Army did not offer her a medical discharge and that her only options were to sit and wait for the Army to decide on her discharge or separate under the provisions of AR 635-200. The record indicates that the applicant had hip surgery. She successfully completed her recovery period and needed to remain in basic combat training to undergo rehabilitation and physical therapy to fully heal. It was noted that the time line would trigger a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) due to the fact the applicant would reach beyond 180 days on active federal service. Troop Medical Clinic and PhD recommended that the applicant be retained and undergo MEB process and to separate from the US Army under the provisions of AR 635-200, Chapter 11. The applicant requested to interrupt MEB process and be separated. She acknowledged and was fully aware of benefits to be loss when opting to interrupt MEB process and separation from service, equally important the applicant understood and acknowledge that she was acting against medical advice. The applicant was counseled by her chain of command on this matter and the second and third order effects opting to interrupt MEB process and separation from the service early. She had not been able to adjust to the rules and regulation of the United States Army and the stressors at BCT, the applicant continuously request to be separated via chain of command. Due to the applicant having declined medical care, she was recommended for separation IAW Chapter 11, AR 635- 200. 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 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 13 December 2019, 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 AR20180011027 1