| Mr. | Loren G. Harrell | Director | |
| Mr. | Jessie B. Strickland | Analyst |
| Mr. | James E. Vick | Chairperson | |
| Mr. | John N. Slone | Member | |
| Mr. | Raymond V. O’Connor, Jr. | Member |
APPLICANT REQUESTS: In effect, that his undesirable discharge be upgraded to honorable.
APPLICANT STATES: That he was a platoon leader in basic training and that he received awards of the National Defense Service Medal and the Marksman Rifle Badge for his efforts. He goes on to state that he enjoyed the Army while in basic training but that his youth and immaturity impaired his ability to serve. He also goes on to state that he enlisted after only two years of high school and in retrospect wishes that he had waited until he was older, because he wanted to serve and tried to, but just could not. He continues by stating that he has been a good citizen since his discharge and he has worked for the government at the VA Medical Center. He has also been married for 25 years and has four children, two which have graduated from college and two who are in high school.
EVIDENCE OF RECORD: The applicant's military records show:
The applicant enlisted with parental consent on 11 December 1970 for a period of 2 years. He successfully completed his basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington and was transferred to Fort Ord, California for his advanced individual training (AIT).
On 27 April 1971, while in AIT, the applicant overdosed on Valium and was admitted to the hospital. The applicant admitted that he knowingly overdosed on the drug because he was feeling depressed and wanted to go home. A line of duty investigation was conducted that found the drug overdose was not in line of duty due to his own misconduct. The applicant was recycled to another AIT.
On 12 May 1971, while still in AIT, the applicant was convicted by a summary court-martial of failure to obey a lawful command from a superior NCO and failure to go to his place of duty. He was sentenced to a forfeiture of pay and 14 days restriction.
The facts and circumstances pertaining to the applicant’s administrative discharge are not present in the available records. However, his records do show that he was discharged under other than honorable conditions on 13 July 1971 under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-212 for unfitness - involvement in frequent incidents of a discreditable nature with civil or military authorities. He had served 7 months and 3 days of total active service and was still in a trainee status.
Army Regulation 635-212, in effect at the time, set forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel. It provided, in pertinent part, that members involved in frequent incidents of a discreditable nature with civil or military authorities were subject to separation for unfitness. An undesirable discharge was normally considered appropriate.
The applicant applied to the Army Discharge Review Board for an upgrade of his discharge. However, because he failed to apply to that board within its 15-year statute of limitations, the Board accepted his application in lieu of a DD Form 149.
DISCUSSION: Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:
1. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, it must be presumed that the applicant’s administrative separation was accomplished in accordance with applicable regulations with no procedural errors that would tend to jeopardize his rights.
2. Accordingly, it must also be presumed that the type of discharge and the reasons were therefore were appropriate considering the facts of the case.
3. The applicant has failed to convince the Board through the evidence submitted or the evidence of record that his discharge was unjust and should be upgraded.
4. Careful consideration has been given to the applicant’s contentions. However, his record of undistinguished service and disciplinary record, does not warrant further relief.
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