1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 9 July 2018 b. Date Received: 13 July 2018 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of her uncharacterized discharge to honorable. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, that she is not able to get a Veterans Tag from the DMV because her DD Form 214 says uncharacterized. 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 VA has also diagnosed the applicant with PTSD. The applicant is 30% service-connected from the VA. As the basis for separation is not known, no decision regarding medical mitigation can be made. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 2 December 2020, and by a 5-0 vote, after carefully examining the applicant's record of service during the period of enlistment under review and all other evidence presented, the Board determined that relief is warranted based on quality of service and board judgement. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief by upgrading the applicant's characterization of service to honorable. (Board member names available upon request) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason / Authority / Codes / Characterization: Completion of Required Active Service / AR 635-200, Chapter 4 / MBK / NA / Uncharacterized b. Date of Discharge: 27 February 1998 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: NIF (2) Basis for Separation: Completion of Required Active Service (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: ADT, 29 September 1997 / NIF b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 18 / HS Graduate / 98 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-1 / 92Y10, Unit Supply Specialist / 4 months, 29 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: ARNG, 28 August 1997 to 28 September 1997 / NA (Concurrent Service) e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: None f. Awards and Decorations: ASR g. Performance Ratings: None 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; discharge orders dated 28 August 28 August 2003; discharge certificate from the Army National Guard, dated 27 August 2003; and DD Form 214 for the period of service under review. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: The applicant provided a certificate for Honorable Discharge from the Army National Guard, dated 27 August 2003. 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. Paragraph 4-5, states, a Soldier being separated upon expiration of enlistment or fulfillment of service obligation will be awarded a character of service of honorable, unless the Soldier is in entry-level status and service is uncharacterized. Paragraph 3-9a, states, a separation will be described as entry-level with service uncharacterized if processing is initiated while a Soldier is in entry-level status, except when the Soldier has less than 181 days of continuous active military service, has completed Initial Entry Training, has been awarded an MOS, and has reported for duty at a follow-on-unit of assignment. 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 Soldiers who are discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 4, for completion of required active service, who are eligible to reenlist or with a DCSS in force and who are REFRAD on completion of enlistment or period for which ordered to active duty and transferred to the Reserve Components to complete Military Service obligation. The SPD Code/RE Code Cross Reference Table shows that a Soldier assigned an SPD Code of "MBK" will be assigned an RE Code of 1, when not separated for cause. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of her uncharacterized discharge to honorable. The applicant's available record of service, the issues and documents submitted with her application were carefully reviewed. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, that she is not able to get a Veterans Tag from the DMV because her DD Form 214 says uncharacterized. 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. The DD Form 214 indicates the applicant was discharged under the provisions of AR 635-200, Chapter 4, by reason of Completion of Required Active Service, with a characterization of service of Uncharacterized. Barring evidence to the contrary, it appears that all requirements of law and regulation were not met and the rights of the applicant have been protected throughout the separation process. The service record confirms the applicant had completed the period for which she was ordered to Active Duty. The evidence of the record reflects that the applicant entered Active Duty on 29 September 1997, for completion of IADT. At the time of the applicant's discharge, the applicant had served 4 months and 29 days on Active Duty. The applicant's official service record reflects no acts of misconduct or derogatory information. Upon the applicant's separation from Active Duty, she was transferred to her Army National Guard unit of assignment to serve her remaining service obligation until 27 August 2005. The evidence of records shows that the applicant had less than 181 days of continuous active military service, however, she completed her Initial Entry Training, was awarded an MOS of 92Y10, and was scheduled to report for duty at a follow-on-unit of assignment. Therefore, it appears because the applicant was being separated upon expiration of enlistment or fulfillment of service obligation she should have been awarded a character of service of honorable, because she was no longer considered at being in an entry-level status. Also it should be noted; based on the service record, it appears that someone in the discharge process erroneously entered on the applicant's DD Form 214, block 27, reentry code as NA. The service record confirms the applicant had completed the period for which she was ordered to Active Duty and then assigned to her Army National Guard unit. Soldiers processed for separation under this provision will be assigned a Narrative Reason for Separation of Completion of Required Active Service. Further, the Soldier will be assigned an SPD Code of MBK and an RE Code of 1. Based on available record, the discharge appears it was not consistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of the regulation, was not within the discretion of the separation authority and that the applicant was not provided full administrative due process. 9. BOARD DETERMINATION: In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 2 December 2020, and by a 5-0 vote, after carefully examining the applicant's record of service during the period of enlistment under review and all other evidence presented, the Board determined that relief is warranted based on quality of service and board judgement. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief by upgrading the applicant's characterization of service to honorable. 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 AR20180012567 1