IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 1 July 2010 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20090021934 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests reconsideration of his earlier request for an upgrade of his general discharge to honorable. 2. The applicant states that he was young, dumb, and going through some civilian problems. 3. The applicant provides no additional documentation in support of his application. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) in Docket Number AR20090006845, on 10 September 2009. 2. The applicant has provided an additional argument that requires Board consideration. 3. The original Record of Proceedings shows the applicant entered the Army in 1987. He attained the rank of sergeant, pay grade E-5. In 1991 he accepted nonjudicial punishment for wrongful use of cocaine twice. Subsequently, he was separated under the provisions of chapter 14, Army Regulation 635-200 for misconduct. The Board determined the applicant's separation processing was accomplished in accordance with applicable regulations and that his rights had been fully protected. The Board denied his request. 4. The applicant's service records show that: a. he was born on 27 October 1962; b. he graduated from high school in 1983; c. he entered the U.S. Army on 31 December 1987 at 25 years of age; and d. he completed an 18-week advanced individual training course; a 6-week additional skill identifier course, a German language orientation course, the Primary Leadership Development Course, and the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course while on active duty. 5. 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, commission of a serious offense that could result in a punitive discharge, convictions by civil authorities, desertion or absence without leave. Action will be taken to separate a member for misconduct when it is clearly established that rehabilitation is impracticable or is unlikely to succeed. 6. Army Regulation 635-200, paragraph 3-7a, provides that an honorable discharge is a separation with honor and entitles the recipient to benefits provided by law. The honorable characterization is appropriate when the quality of the member’s service generally has met the standards of acceptable conduct and performance of duty for Army personnel (emphasis added), or is otherwise so meritorious that any other characterization would be clearly inappropriate. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant contends that his discharge should be upgraded because he was young, dumb, and was going through some civilian problems at the time. 2. The applicant’s administrative separation was accomplished in compliance with applicable regulations with no indication of procedural errors which would tend to jeopardize his rights. 3. The type of discharge directed and the reasons therefore were appropriate considering all of the facts of the case. 4. The evidence of record clearly shows the applicant had graduated from high school and he was 25 years of age when he enlisted in the Army. He had completed several military schools, and had advanced to the rank of sergeant, pay grade E-5. These accomplishments do not support his contention that he was young and dumb. 5. The applicant has not provided any documentary evidence supporting his contention that he was going through civilian problems at the time, or that any such problems were not of his own making. 6. Based on his record of indiscipline, the applicant's service does not meet the standards of acceptable conduct and performance of duty for Army personnel. This misconduct renders his service unsatisfactory. Therefore, he is not entitled to an honorable discharge. 7. In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear that the record is in error or unjust. The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy this requirement. 8. In view of the above, the applicant's request should be denied. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ____x____ ___x_____ ____x____ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis to amend the decision of the ABCMR set forth in Docket Number AR20090006845, dated 10 September 2009. _______ _ _x______ ___ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20090021934 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20090021934 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1