1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 4 October 2018 b. Date Received: 22 October 2018 c. Counsel: None 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 seeks relief contending, in effect, was discharged for failing to meet weight requirement with tape. However, the applicant was able to pass the standard PT test. The applicant was a good Soldier who loved serving in God's greatest Army. The applicant desires to continue an education using the GI Bill. 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 while on active duty. The applicant is 70% service-connected for PTSD due to MST from the VA. The applicant has also been diagnosed with Depressive Disorder and Insomnia. In summary, the applicant has a BH diagnosis that is mitigating for the misconduct which led to separation from the Army. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 11 March 2020, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined the discharge is inequitable based on the applicant's length and quality of service, and the circumstances surrounding the discharge (i.e. post-service diagnosis of PTSD and MST). Therefore, 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 635-200, paragraph 5-3, and the narrative reason for separation to Secretarial Authority, with a corresponding separation code to JFF, and a change to the reentry eligibility (RE) code to 1. (Board member names available upon request) 3. DISCHARGE DETAILS: a. Reason / Authority / Codes / Characterization: Weight Control Failure / AR 635-200, Chap 18 / JCR / RE-3 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 6 September 2011 c. Separation Facts: Yes (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 9 August 2011 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was informed of the following reasons for his discharge; on 28 April 2011, he was enrolled in the Army weight control program; and he failed to make satisfactory progress two consecutive months. (3) Recommended Characterization: The unit commander recommended an Honorable discharge. (4) Legal Consultation Date: 12 August 2011, applicant waived legal counsel. (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 29 August 2011 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 8 July 2009 / 4 years b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 22 / 1 year college / 104 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-2 / 13P10, MLRS Fire Direction Specialist / 2 years, 1 month, 29 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: f. Awards and Decorations: AAM, NDSM, ASR g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: Report of Mental Status Evaluation, dated 7 July 2011, reflects the applicant was screened for PTSD and MTBI, both screens were negative. He was psychologically cleared to participate in administrative proceedings. The applicant received numerous negative counseling statements for unsatisfactory progress in the weight control program. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293 (two pages); and letter, The National Personnel Records Center. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 635-200 provides the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Chapter 18 stipulates that Soldiers who fail to meet the body fat standards set forth in Army Regulation 600-9 shall be separated under this provision when it is the sole basis for separation. The regulation provides that the Soldier must be given a reasonable opportunity to comply with and meet the body fat standards. The regulation also provides that if no medical condition exists and if the individual fails to make satisfactory progress in the program after a period of six months, then initiation of separation or imposition of a bar to reenlistment is required. The service of Soldiers separated under Chapter 18 will be characterized as honorable. 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 "JCR" as the appropriate code to assign enlisted Soldiers who are discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 18, weight control failure. 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 record of service, the issues and documents submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. After carefully reviewing the applicant's military records for the period of enlistment under review, it appears that the characterization of service was improper. AR 635-200, Chapter 18, paragraph 18-2e, states the service those separated per this chapter will be characterized as honorable, unless an uncharacterized description of service is required for Soldiers in entry- level status. The discharge was not consistent with the procedural and substantive requirements of the regulation, was not within the discretion of the separation authority, and the applicant was not provided full administrative due process. 9. BOARD DETERMINATION: In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 11 March 2020, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined the discharge is inequitable based on the applicant's length and quality of service, and the circumstances surrounding the discharge (i.e. post-service diagnosis of PTSD and MST). Therefore, 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 635-200, paragraph 5-3, and the narrative reason for separation to Secretarial Authority, with a corresponding separation code to JFF, and a change to the reentry eligibility (RE) code to 1. 10. BOARD ACTION DIRECTED: a. Issue a New DD-214: Yes b. Change Characterization to: Honorable c. Change Reason to: Secretarial Authority d. Change Authority to: AR 635-200, paragraph 5-3 e. Change SPD / RE Code to: JFF / RE-1 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 AR20180014587 1