1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 20 August 2018 b. Date Received: 24 August 2018 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of his general (under honorable conditions) discharge to honorable. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, he wants to join the Air Force Reserve and serve the country, but he is unable to join with a general discharge. 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 BH diagnoses. The applicant is 10% service connected for a non-behavioral health conditions. The VA has also diagnosed the applicant with PTSD, both military and childhood; Unspecified Mood Disorder; and concern for a thought disorder. Due to the basis of separation not being in file, there is insufficient evidence to determine if the applicant had a BH diagnosis that is mitigating for the misconduct which led to separation from the Army. In summary, the separation was proper and equitable. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 14 October 2020, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined the discharge is inequitable based on the applicant's length and quality of service, the circumstances surrounding the discharge (OBH and PTSD diagnosis), and prior period of honorable service. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade of the characterization of service to honorable and changed the separation authority to AR 135-178, Chapter 13. (Board member names available upon request) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason / Authority / Codes / Characterization: Unsatisfactory Participation / AR 135- 178 / Chapter 13 / NIF / NIF / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 6 February 2018 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: The applicant's commander mailed him the notification via certified mail, dated 20 September 2016, with a suspense of 45 days from receipt to acknowledge the notice and his rights. (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was informed of the following reasons: his unexcused absence from 9 or more UTAs or his absence from Extended Combat Training as defined by AR 135-91, chapter 4. (3) Recommended Characterization: Honorable (4) Legal Consultation Date: NIF (5) Administrative Separation Board: NIF (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: NIF 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 4 March 2014 / Indefinite b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 42 / HS Graduate / NIF c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-6 / 42A30, Human Resources Specialist / 19 years, 6 months, 21 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: USMC, 12 February 1991 - 11 February 1995 / HD USMCR, 12 February 1995 - 28 September 2001 / The applicant's service record is void of the exact dates of his USMCR service. e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: Japan / None f. Awards and Decorations: AAM, AGCM, USMCGCM, NDSM-BSS, NCOPDR-2, ASR, AFRMM, SSDR g. Performance Ratings: 2 November 2013 - 1 November 2014 / Fully Capable 1 July 2014 - 30 June 2015 / Fully Capable h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: Commander's Report as described in previous paragraph 3c. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: As described in previous paragraph 4h. j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: NIF 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293; Notification of Separation Proceedings. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application.. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation (AR) 135-178 governs procedures covering enlisted personnel management of the Army Reserve. Chapter 13 provides in pertinent part, that individuals can be separated for being an unsatisfactory participant. AR 135-91 states that a member is an unsatisfactory participant when nine or more unexcused absences from scheduled drills accrue during a one-year period and attempts to have the Soldier respond or comply with orders or correspondence have resulted in- the Soldier's refusal to comply with orders or correspondence; or a notice sent by certified mail was refused, unclaimed, or otherwise undeliverable; or verification that the Soldier has failed to notify the command of a change of address and reasonable attempts to contact the Soldier have failed. Discharge action may be taken when the Soldier cannot be located or is absent in the hands of civil authorities in accordance with the provisions of AR 135-91, paragraph 2-18, and Chapter 3, section IV, of AR 135-178. Army policy states possible characterizations of service include an honorable, general, under honorable conditions, under other than honorable conditions, or uncharacterized if the Soldier is in entry-level status. However, the permissible range of characterization varies based on the reason for separation. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of his general (under honorable conditions) discharge to honorable. The applicant's available record of service, the issues and documents submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. However, the service record is void of the specific facts and circumstances concerning the events which led to his discharge from the Army Reserve. However, the applicant's record does contain a properly constituted discharge Orders 18-030-00020, dated 30 January 2018. Barring evidence to the contrary, it appears all requirements of law and regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected throughout the separation process. The applicant provided no independent corroborating evidence demonstrating that either the command's action was erroneous or that his service mitigated the type of discharge he received from the U.S. Army Reserve. The orders indicate the applicant was discharged under the provisions of AR 135-178, with a characterization of service of general (under honorable conditions). The applicant desires to join the Air Force Reserve. However, if reenlistment is desired, the applicant should contact a local recruiter to determine eligibility to reenlist. Recruiters can best advise a former service member as to the needs of the military at the time, and are required to process waivers, if appropriate. If the applicant desires a personal appearance hearing, it will be his responsibility to meet the burden of proof and provide the appropriate documents (i.e., the complete 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 14 October 2020, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined the discharge is inequitable based on the applicant's length and quality of service, the circumstances surrounding the discharge (OBH and PTSD diagnosis), and prior period of honorable service. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade of the characterization of service to honorable and changed the separation authority to AR 135-178, Chapter 13. 10. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a Separation Order: Yes b. Change Characterization to: Honorable c. Change Authority to: AR 135-178, Chapter 13 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 AR20180011630 4