1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 21 August 2018 b. Date Received: 21 November 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, the discharge was unfairly characterized solely based on the commanding officer's policy to not grant an honorable discharge to any Soldier unless they completed their service term regardless of the mitigating circumstances. In a records review conducted at Arlington, VA on 27 March 2020, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined that the characterization of service was too harsh based on the the circumstances surrounding the discharge and as a result it is inequitable. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade to the 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: Parenthood / AR 635-200 / Chapter 5, Paragraph 5-8 / JDG / RE-3 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 20 October 2005 c. Separation Facts: Yes (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 1 September 2005 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was informed of the following reasons for his discharge; failure to have a valid Family Care Plan, and parenthood conflicts. He was unable to perform his prescribed duties due to parenthood. (3) Recommended Characterization: The unit and intermediate commanders recommended an Honorable discharge. (4) Legal Consultation Date: 8 September 2005 (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: NIF / General (Under Honorable Conditions) 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 24 January 2002 / 6 years / 8 February 2005, 3 months extension b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 25 years / GED Certificate / 115 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-4 / 15U10, CH-47 Helicopter Repairer / 3 years, 8 months, 27 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: Korea f. Awards and Decorations: AGCM, NDSM, GWOTSM, KDSM, ASR, OSR g. Performance Ratings: NA h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: Applicant received several negative counseling statement regarding no having a valid family care plan. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293 (two pages), dated 21 August 2018; and three DD Forms 214; DD Form 293 (two pages), dated 8 July 2019; honorable discharge certificate; DD Form 214; discharge Orders 348-011; and two certificates of appreciation. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: The applicant states in his current application he served honorably in the Connecticut Army National Guard and currently in the process of obtaining a reenlistment waiver. He contributed greatly to the war on terrorism as a Defense Contractor in numerous positions with several companies in Afghanistan, Iraq, Qatar, Djibouti and Kuwait. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 635-200 provides the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Paragraph 5-8 provides that a Soldier may be separated when parental obligations interfere with fulfillment of military responsibilities. Specific reasons for separation because of parenthood include inability to perform prescribed duties satisfactorily, repeated absenteeism, late for work, inability to participate in field training exercises or perform special duties such as CQ and Staff Duty NCO, and non-availability for worldwide assignment or deployment according to the needs of the Army. Unless the reason for separation requires a specific characterization, a Soldier being separated for the convenience of the government will be awarded a character of service of honorable, general under honorable conditions or an uncharacterized description of service if in entry-level status. No Soldier will be awarded a characterization of service under honorable conditions under this Chapter unless the Soldier is notified, using the notification procedure, of the specific factors in his/her service record that warrant such a 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 record of service, the issues and documents submitted with his applications were carefully reviewed. Army Regulation 635-200, Chapter 5, paragraph 5-1b, states no Soldier will be awarded a characterization of service of general, under honorable conditions under this Chapter unless the Soldier is notified of the specific factors in the service record which warrants such a characterization, using the notification procedure. The record confirms the applicant was not properly notified as to these factors. 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 27 March 2020, and by a 5-0 vote, the Board determined that the characterization of service was too harsh based on the the circumstances surrounding the discharge and as a result it is inequitable. Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade to the 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 AR20180015541 1