IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE: 	        16 July 2009

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20090003686 


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, in effect, that his 1982 under other than honorable conditions discharge be upgraded to honorable. 

2.  The applicant states that he received a general discharge after serving         26 months.  

3.  The applicant provides no additional evidence in support of his request.

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.  Records available to the Board indicate the applicant entered active duty as a Regular Army enlisted Soldier on 20 September 1979.  In February 1980, following completion of training, he was assigned to a field artillery unit in Germany as a cook.  By September 1980 he had been advanced to pay grade 
E-3.

3.  Between January and June 1981 the applicant was punished on three separate occasions under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) for possession of a trace amount of marijuana, being absent without leave (AWOL) 1 day, disobeying a lawful order, and multiple counts of failing to go to his appointed place of duty.  As a result of the UCMJ actions the applicant was reduced first to pay grade E-2 and by June 1981 to pay grade E-1.  In June 1981 he was also barred from reenlisting.

4.  On 10 August 1981, a DD Form 458 (Charge Sheet) was prepared charging the applicant with one specification of failing to go to his appointed place of duty, one specification of being AWOL from 8 August to 8 October 1981 with the intent to avoid field exercises, one specification of missing movement, one specification of disobeying a lawful order, and one specification of theft from a local department store.

5.  On 2 November 1981, after consulting with counsel, the applicant voluntarily requested discharge for the good of the service, under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200 (Personnel Separations – Enlisted Personnel), chapter 10 (in lieu of trial by court-martial).  In doing so, he acknowledged that he could be discharged under other than honorable conditions and furnished an Under Other Than Honorable Conditions Discharge Certificate, and as a result of the issuance of such a discharge, he could be deprived of many or all Army benefits, and that he could be ineligible for many or all benefits administered by the Veteran Administration.  He elected not to submit a statement in his own behalf.

6.  On 7 January 1982, the appropriate authority approved the applicant's request for discharge for the good of the service in lieu of trial by court-martial and directed that an Under Other Than Honorable Conditions Discharge Certificate be issued. 

7.  The applicant was discharged on 29 January 1982, under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, chapter 10, with his service characterized as under other than honorable conditions.  He was credited with completing 2 years, 
2 months, and 10 days of total active service.  He had approximately 60 days of lost time due to being AWOL.  

8.  Army Regulation 635-200, in effect at the time, set forth the basic authority for separation of enlisted personnel.  Chapter 10 of that regulation provided in pertinent part that a member who has committed an offense or offenses for which the authorized punishment includes a punitive discharge may, at any time after the charges have been preferred, submit a request for discharge for the good of the service, in lieu of trial by court-martial.  At that time, an under other than honorable conditions discharge was normally considered appropriate.

9.  Army Regulation 635-200, paragraph 3-7a, provides that an honorable discharge is a separation with honor.  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, or is otherwise so meritorious that any other characterization would be inappropriate.

10.  Army Regulation 635-200, paragraph 3-7b, provides that a general discharge is a separation from the Army under honorable conditions.  When authorized, it is issued to a Soldier whose military record is satisfactory but not sufficiently meritorious to warrant an honorable discharge.  A characterization of under honorable conditions may be issued only when the reason for the Soldier’s separation specifically allows such characterization.

11.  There is no indication that the applicant applied to the Army Discharge Review Board for an upgrade of his discharge within its 15-year statute of limitations.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  In view of the circumstances in this case, the applicant is not entitled to an upgrade of his discharge.  He has not shown error, injustice, or inequity for the relief he now requests.  

2.  The applicant’s argument that he served for approximately 26 months before being discharged has been considered.  However, the applicant’s records indicate that within approximately 15 months of entering active duty he commenced a series of actions which resulted in multiple UCMJ actions and his reduction from pay grade E-3 to pay grade E-1.  It was also considered that during the applicant’s initial
15 months of service he successfully completed training and had been advanced to pay grade E-3.  Such service is evidence that the applicant was capable of honorable service and his subsequent misconduct diminished the quality of his service below that meriting a fully honorable or a general discharge.  

3.  The applicant's military service records show that he voluntarily requested discharge for the good of the service in lieu of trial by court-martial and acknowledged guilt of the charges against him.  There is no evidence to indicate 


the applicant's administrative separation was not accomplished in compliance with applicable regulatory guidance and no indication of procedural errors that would jeopardize his rights.

4.  In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, 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.

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)                                         AR20090003686



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20090003686



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