IN THE CASE OF:	  

		BOARD DATE: 6 July 2010	  

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20100000722 


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 that his discharge be upgraded from general to an honorable discharge.

2.  The applicant states he was discharged for the good of the service due to an injury and rather than to allow him to cross-train, he was allowed to leave the service.  He states he was young and with all that was going on he may have done a few things or acted out, but his life as it is now should be considered for an upgrade of his discharge.

3.  The applicant provides no additional documents with his application.

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 was born on 5 August 1964 and he enlisted in the Regular Army in Chicago, Illinois, on 14 October 1987 for a period of 4 years and training under the airborne infantry training option.  He completed his one-station unit training and airborne training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was transferred to Panama on 26 May 1988.

3.  The applicant went on ordinary leave and on 18 August 1988, he was reported as being absent without leave (AWOL).  He remained absent until he was returned to military control at Fort Benning on 19 September 1988 and was transferred to Fort Knox, Kentucky, where charges were preferred against him for the AWOL offense.

4.  After consulting with counsel, the applicant submitted a request for discharge for the good of the service under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200 (Personnel Separations), chapter 10, in lieu of a trial by court-martial.  In his request he indicated that he was making the request of his own free will without coercion from anyone and that he was aware of the implications attached to his request.  He also admitted that he was guilty of the charges against him or of lesser included offenses which authorized the imposition of a bad conduct or dishonorable discharge.  He acknowledged he understood that he could receive a discharge under other than honorable conditions and that he might be deprived of all benefits as a result of such a discharge.  He also elected not to submit a statement in his own behalf and he declined a separation medical examination.

5.  The appropriate authority approved his request and directed that he be discharged under other than honorable conditions.

6.  Accordingly, on 6 December 1988 while on excess leave status, he was discharged under other than honorable conditions under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, chapter 10, in lieu of a trial by court-martial.  He had served 1 year and 22 days of total active service and had 32 days of lost time due to AWOL.

7.  There is no indication in the available records to show he ever applied to the Army Discharge review Board for an upgrade of his discharge within that board's 15-year statute of limitations.

8.  Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.  Chapter 10 provides that a member who has committed an offense or offenses for which the authorized punishment includes a punitive discharge may submit a request for discharge for the good of the service in lieu of trial by court-martial at any time after charges have been preferred.  A condition of submitting such a request is that the individual concerned must admit guilt to the charges against him or her or of a lesser included offense which authorizes the imposition of a bad conduct or dishonorable discharge and he or she must indicate that he or she has been briefed and understands the consequences of such a request as well as the discharge he or she might receive.  A discharge under other than honorable conditions is normally considered appropriate.

9.  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 or is otherwise so meritorious that any other characterization would be clearly 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.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant's voluntary request for separation under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, chapter 10, for the good of the service to avoid trial by courts-martial was administratively correct and in conformance with applicable regulations.

2.  Accordingly, the type of discharge directed (a discharge under other than honorable conditions, not a general discharge) and the reasons were therefore appropriate under the circumstances.

3.  After being afforded the opportunity to assert his innocence before a trial by court-martial, he voluntarily requested a discharge for the good of the service in hopes of avoiding a punitive discharge and having a felony conviction on his record.

4.  The applicant's contentions have been noted; however, they are not sufficiently mitigating to warrant an upgrade of his discharge when considering the length of his absence during such a short period of service and his overall undistinguished record of service.  His service simply does not rise to the level of a discharge under honorable conditions or an honorable discharge.

5.  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)                                         AR20100000722



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ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)                                         AR20100000722



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