IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 1 March 2011 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20100020797 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 his general discharge be upgraded to an honorable discharge. 2. The applicant states his commander denied his requests to see a doctor for pain in his bones and joints. The pain was in his foot, lower back and neck. When he was denied medical treatment, he self medicated with large amounts of alcohol and became depressed. 3. He continues that many of the charges against him are false. He was imprisoned in the stockade for an unknown offense and, when he was released, he was instructed to sign discharge papers in a certain manner. 4. The applicant believes that his commander was racist and says the commander was dishonorably discharged after the applicant's discharge. 5. The applicant doesn't provide any additional documents. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant’s failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to timely file. In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing. 2. The applicant’s military records show that he enlisted in the Regular Army on 5 December 1985, was awarded the military occupational specialty of materiel storage and handling specialist, and was promoted to pay grade E-3. 3. Between 16 January 1986 and 20 February 1987, the applicant was formally counseled for being absent from physical training formation, missing formation and failure to repair, and failure to report to his designated place of duty. 4. He accepted nonjudicial punishment (NJP) under Article 15, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), three times for failure to go at the time prescribed to his appointed place of duty (ten instances); being absent without leave (AWOL); breaking restriction; and, with the intent to defraud, falsely make the signature of another individual as an endorsement to a check. 5. The applicant was given a separation physical examination. The applicant stated on the Standard Form (SF) 93 (Report of Medical History) that his present health was "Good." The physician conducting the examination did not note any significant medical defect. 6. On 30 March 1987, the applicant was notified by his commander of his commander's intent to recommend his discharge due to misconduct and of his rights in conjunction with that recommendation. The applicant waived a board of officers on the condition he be issued no less than a general discharge. He did not submit a statement in his own behalf. 7. The applicant's commander then submitted a recommendation to discharge the applicant due to misconduct, that recommendation was approved by the appropriate authority, and the applicant was given a general discharge on 9 April 1987. 8. Army Regulation 635-200 (Enlisted Separations) sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. Paragraph 14-12c applies to the separation of individuals who committed a serious military or civil offense, if the specific circumstance of the offense warrant separation and a punitive discharge would be authorized for the same or a closely related offense under the manual for courts-martial. An absentee returned to military control from an AWOL or desertion status may be separated for commission of a serious offense. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant accepted NJP for 13 violations of the UCMJ. He never contested any of the allegations made against him either at the time he was offered NJP or when he was given the opportunity to make a statement in his own behalf when he was being processed for discharge. Therefore, it must be presumed that he committed the offenses for which he was punished and which subsequently resulted in his discharge. 2. While the applicant states he had several serious medical conditions which led to his elevated consumption of alcohol and depression, he stated he was in good health on his separation physical examination and the examining physician did not note any significant medical defect. 3. There is no creditable evidence to support the applicant's contention that any action was taken against him due to his race or color. 4. In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant’s request. 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 for correction of the records of the individual concerned. _______ _ _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) AR20100020797 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20100020797 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1