1. Applicant's Name: a. Application Date: 6 November 2018 b. Date Received: 13 November 2018 c. Counsel: None 2. REQUEST, ISSUES, BOARD TYPE, AND DECISION: The applicant requests an upgrade of her general (under honorable conditions) discharge to honorable. The applicant seeks relief contending, in effect, that with her current characterization of service she will never be able to reenlist in the military. The applicant contends she did a lot of bad things while she was in the military the first time around. She lost her drive to be in the military and get promoted. She had been passed over so many times for promotions and coins, just simple recognitions. She let that stop her from remembering her goal there in the first place, she wanted to work for the FBI and the military was her best shot. She wanted to become a Warrant Officer, and work with CID. She believes she should not have let herself get side tracked by everyone else and their lives, because now she is out of the Army and the only place she wants to be is back in the Army. If she is allowed reentry in to the military she will not take it for granted; she will be the best Soldier that she can possibly be and will not be discharged on bad terms, she will succeed. The applicant contends that she knows based off the paperwork she seemed like a terrible Soldier. There aren't really any good things in her files, but the Army really did change her, especially once she was discharged. She realized that she was made a certain way, she was made for certain things and she believes that the Army was meant to be a part of her life. She joined the Army at 17 after graduating from high school a year early. She grew up in the Army, found her family in the Army, and her forever home. She will never stop being a Soldier, but can always be a better one. She no longer believes that you have to drink and party and fit in with the rest of the young Soldiers to get recommendations for promotions. She should be studying for boards and trying to get a better PT score, maybe shadowing an NCO and trying to learn the way they do things. She is asking for one more chance, not as a child but as a Soldier to show that she is a Soldier worth saving and that she is someone you would want watch your back and standing by your side in the fight for life. 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 diagnoses of Adjustment Disorder with anxiety; Alcohol Abuse; Alcohol Dependence; Suicidal ideations. The applicant is not service- connected from the VA. The VA has also diagnosed the applicant with depression; PTSD from MST. 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 7 October 2020, and by a 4-1 vote, the Board determined the discharge is inequitable based on the applicant's length of service, and the circumstances surrounding the discharge (service-connected MST PTSD diagnosis). 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: Pattern of Misconduct / AR 635-200, Paragraph 14-12b / JKA / RE-3 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) b. Date of Discharge: 15 March 2018 c. Separation Facts: (1) Date of Notification of Intent to Separate: 24 January 2018 (2) Basis for Separation: The applicant was informed of the following reasons: for receiving a Field Grade Article 15 on 11 May 2017, for assaulting PFC S.A.D. and underage drinking on or about 3 April 2017 and 13 July 2017 which she received a second Field Grade Article 15 for underage drinking on or about 13 June 2017. (3) Recommended Characterization: General (Under Honorable Conditions) (4) Legal Consultation Date: 25 January 2018 (5) Administrative Separation Board: NA (6) Separation Decision Date / Characterization: 1 March 2018 / General (Under Honorable Conditions) 4. SERVICE DETAILS: a. Date / Period of Enlistment: 24 August 2015 / 5 years, 38 weeks b. Age at Enlistment / Education / GT Score: 17 / HS Graduate / 97 c. Highest Grade Achieved / MOS / Total Service: E-3 / 25B10, Information Technology Specialist / 2 years, 6 months, 22 days d. Prior Service / Characterizations: None e. Overseas Service / Combat Service: Korea / None f. Awards and Decorations: NDSM, GWOTSM, KDSM, ASR g. Performance Ratings: None h. Disciplinary Action(s) / Evidentiary Record: FG Article 15, dated 11 May 2017, for assaulting PFC S.A.D. by striking him in the face with her fist on 3 April 2017, wrongfully consuming alcohol while under the age of 21 on 3 April 2017, and being drunk and disorderly on 3 April 2017. The punishment FG Article 15, dated 13 July 2017, for wrongfully possessing alcoholic beverage while under the age of 21 on 13 June 2017 and making during an Equal Opportunity sensing session, and official statement, to wit: "I was assaulted and needed to fight off my attacker and run away in order to escape. It happened around two weeks ago," or words to that effect, which statement was totally false, and was then known by her to be so false on 31 May 2017. The punishment consisted of for feature of $799.00 pay per month for two months, extra duty and restriction for 45 days, and oral reprimand. Report of Mental Status Evaluation, dated 6 September 2017, indicates the applicant could understand and participate in administrative proceedings and appreciate the difference between right and wrong. It was noted that the applicant had reported that military sexual trauma SHARP was currently involved with open investigation. The applicant was not cleared at that time due to the open SHARP investigation. 15-6 Investigation Information/Report of comments made by the applicant in a sensing session referencing an assault against her in the barracks. Which was concluded that the applicant was making a false statement during the sensing session. The applicant's personal request for retention, dated 1 February 2018. The applicant's request for retention, dated 6 February 2018, from her Defense Counsel. Memorandum for Record, dated 10 January 2018, conduct action timeline reference the applicant. Several negative counseling statements for various acts of misconduct and duty performance. i. Lost Time / Mode of Return: None j. Diagnosed PTSD / TBI / Behavioral Health: None 5. APPLICANT-PROVIDED EVIDENCE: DD Form 293 and several character / reference letters. 6. POST SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: None submitted with the application. 7. REGULATORY CITATION(S): Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Chapter 14 establishes policy and prescribes procedures for separating members for misconduct. Specific categories include minor disciplinary infractions, a pattern of misconduct, and commission of a serious offense, to include abuse of illegal drugs, convictions by civil authorities and desertion or being absent without leave. Action will be taken to separate a member for misconduct when it is clearly established that rehabilitation is impractical or unlikely to succeed. Army policy states that an under other than honorable conditions discharge is normally considered appropriate; however, a general, under honorable conditions or an honorable discharge may be granted. Paragraph 14-12b addresses a pattern of misconduct consisting of either discreditable involvement with civilian or military authorities or discreditable conduct and conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline including conduct violating the accepted standards of personal conduct found in the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Army Regulations, the civilian law and time-honored customs and traditions of the Army. 8. DISCUSSION OF FACT(S): The applicant requests an upgrade of her general (under honorable conditions) discharge to honorable. The applicant's record of service, the issues and documents submitted with his application were carefully reviewed. The record confirms the applicant's discharge was appropriate because the quality of her service was not consistent with the Army's standards for acceptable personal conduct and performance of duty by military personnel. It brought discredit on the Army, and was prejudicial to good order and discipline. The applicant provided no independent corroborating evidence demonstrating that either the command's action was erroneous or that the applicant's service mitigated the misconduct or poor duty performance, such that she should have been retained on Active duty. The applicant seeks relief contending that she did a lot of bad things while she was in the military the first time around. She lost her drive to be in the military and get promoted. She had been passed over so many times for promotions and coins, just simple recognitions. She let that stop her from remembering her goal there in the first place, she wanted to work for the FBI and the military was her best shot. She wanted to become a Warrant Officer, and work with CID. She believes she should not have let herself get side tracked by everyone else and their lives, because now she is out of the Army and the only place she wants to be is back in the Army. If she is allowed reentry in to the military she will not take it for granted; she will be the best Soldier that she can possibly be and will not be discharged on bad terms, she will succeed. The applicant contends that she knows based off the paperwork she seemed like a terrible Soldier. There aren't really any good things in her files, but the Army really did change her, especially once she was discharged. She realized that she was made a certain way, she was made for certain things and she believes that the Army was meant to be a part of her life. She joined the Army at 17 after graduating from high school a year early. She grew up in the Army, found her family in the Army, and her forever home. She will never stop being a Soldier, but can always be a better one. She no longer believes that you have to drink and party and fit in with the rest of the young Soldiers to get recommendations for promotions. She should be studying for boards and trying to get a better PT score, maybe shadowing an NCO and trying to learn the way they do things. She is asking for one more chance, not as a child but as a Soldier to show that she is a Soldier worth saving and that she is someone you would want watch your back and standing by your side in the fight for life. The applicant's contentions were note; however, the service record indicates the applicant committed many discrediting offenses, which constituted a departure from the standards of conduct expected of Soldiers in the Army. The applicant's numerous incidents of misconduct adversely affected the quality of her service, brought discredit on the Army, and were prejudicial to good order and discipline. 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 applicant expressed a desire for an upgrade of her discharge for the purpose of being able to reenlist. However, Soldiers being processed for separation are assigned reentry codes based on their service records or the reason for discharge. Based on Army Regulation 635-5-1 and the SPD Code/RE Code Cross Reference Table, the applicant was appropriately assigned an RE code of 3. There are no basis upon which to grant a change to the reason or to the RE code. An RE Code of 3 indicates the applicant requires a waiver prior to being allowed to reenlist. 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 Army at the time, and are required to process waivers of reentry eligibility (RE) codes if appropriate. 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 7 October 2020, and by a 4-1 vote, the Board determined the discharge is inequitable based on the applicant's length of service, and the circumstances surrounding the discharge (service-connected MST PTSD diagnosis). 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 AR20190000146 1