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AF | BCMR | CY2013 | BC 2013 02617
Original file (BC 2013 02617.txt) Auto-classification: Denied
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

IN THE MATTER OF:	DOCKET NUMBER:  BC-2013-02617
			COUNSEL:  NONE
    			HEARING DESIRED: NO 

________________________________________________________________
 
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:

His Bad Conduct Discharge (BCD) be upgraded. 

________________________________________________________________
 
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:

He was court-martialed for writing bad checks but even Congress 
writes bad checks.  According to the Constitution, no law can be 
passed unless it is equally enforced.
 
The applicant’s complete submission is at Exhibit A.

________________________________________________________________
 

STATEMENT OF FACTS:

On 22 Jan 1980, the applicant entered active duty.

On 9 Mar 1981, he was convicted by General Court-Martial for 
writing bad checks (30 specifications), disobeying a lawful 
order and writing bad checks with intent to defraud (four 
specifications) in violation of Articles 91, 123a and         
134, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).  He was sentenced 
to 20 months confinement at hard labor, forfeiture of $300 per 
month for 20 months and to be discharged from the service with a 
BCD.

On 11 Dec 1981, the convening authority approved only so much of 
the sentence as provided for a BCD, confinement at hard labor 
for 16 months and forfeiture of $300 per month for 16 months.

On 5 Mar 1982, the applicant was discharged with a BCD and a 
narrative reason for separation of “Conviction by Court-Martial, 
Other than Desertion.”

On 23 Jan 2014, the BCMR staff provided the applicant an 
opportunity to provide information pertaining to his activities 
since leaving the service.  As of this date, this office has not 
received a response.  

________________________________________________________________
 

AIR FORCE EVALUATION:

AFLOA/JAJM recommends denial of the applicant’s request.  JAJM 
states under Title 10, United States Code (USC) Section 1552(f), 
which amended the basic corrections board legislation, the 
Board’s ability to correct records related to courts-martial, is 
limited.  Specifically, section 1552(f) (1) permits the 
correction of a record to reflect actions taken by a reviewing 
authority under the UCMJ.  Additionally, section 1552(f)       
(2) permits the correction of records related to action on the 
sentence of courts-martial for the purpose of clemency.  Apart 
from these two limited exceptions, the effect of section 1552(f) 
is that the Board is without authority to reverse, set aside, or 
otherwise expunge a court-martial conviction that occurred on or 
after 5 May 1950 (the effective date of the UCMJ).

The applicant argues that Congress writes bad checks and under 
the Constitution, laws should be applied equally.  Article 123a, 
UCMJ has not been found unconstitutional and remains legally 
valid; therefore, there appears to be no legal merit to the 
applicant’s argument.  The applicant alleges no error in the 
processing of the court-martial conviction against him.  There 
are no apparent errors or injustice that would warrant upgrading 
the applicant’s BCD.

The rule for courts-martial states that a BCD is designed as 
punishment for bad-conduct.  It also indicates that a BCD is 
more than merely a service characterization; it is a punishment 
for the crimes the applicant committed while a member of the 
armed forces.  The applicant’s sentence to a BCD was within 
legal limits.  

The complete JAJM evaluation is at Exhibit C.

________________________________________________________________
 

APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
 
On 6 Sep 2013, a copy of the Air Force evaluation was forwarded 
to the applicant for review and comment within 30 days (Exhibit 
D).  As of this date, this office has not received a response. 

________________________________________________________________
 
THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:

1.  The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by 
existing law or regulations.

2.  The application was not timely filed; however it is in the 
interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file.  

3.  Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to 
demonstrate the existence of error or injustice.  We note that 
this Board is without authority to reverse, set aside, or 
otherwise expunge a court-martial conviction.  Rather, in 
accordance with Title 10, United States Code, Section 1552(f), 
our actions are limited to corrections to the record to reflect 
actions taken by the reviewing officials and action on the 
sentence of the court-martial for the purpose of clemency.  We 
find no evidence which indicates the applicant’s service 
characterization, which had its basis in his court-martial and 
was a part of the sentence of the military court, was improper 
or that it exceeded the limitations set forth in the Uniform 
Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).  We considered upgrading the 
discharge on the basis of clemency; however, after considering 
the applicant’s overall quality of service, the court-martial 
conviction which precipitated the discharge and the lack of post 
service information, we cannot conclude that clemency is 
warranted.  In view of the above, we cannot recommend approval 
based on the current evidence of record.  

________________________________________________________________ 

THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:

The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not 
demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; that 
the application was denied without a personal appearance; and 
that the application will only be reconsidered upon the 
submission of newly discovered relevant evidence not considered 
with this application.

________________________________________________________________ 

The following members of the Board considered Docket Number BC-
2013-02617 in Executive Session on 25 Mar 2014, under the 
provisions of AFI 36-2603:

	 , Panel Chair
	 , Member
	 , Member

The following documentary evidence was considered:

    	  Exhibit A.  DD Form 149, dated 28 May 2013. 
   	  Exhibit B.  Applicant’s Master Personnel Records. 
   	  Exhibit C.  Letter, AFLOA/JAJM, dated 19 Aug 2013.  
	  Exhibit D.  Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 6 Sep 2013.
	  Exhibit E.  Letter, BCMR, dated 23 Jan 2014, w/atch. 




                                    
                                   Panel Chair 
 

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