BOARD DATE:	  20 October 2010

		DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20100012644 


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 upgrade of his under other than honorable conditions discharge to an honorable discharge.

2.  The applicant states he was 17 years of age when he entered the military and was not aware of the long-term consequences of his actions.  He continues to state that 28 years after being discharged with an under other than honorable conditions discharge he feels he has learned a valuable lesson and would like the Board to review his request and rule that his discharge be upgraded.

3.  The applicant did not provide documents in support of 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 24 February 1962 and enlisted in the Regular Army (RA) on 6 May 1980 at the age of 18 years, 2 months, and 12 days.

3.  He received non-judicial punishment (NJP) under Article 15, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) for the following offenses:

* 26 August 1981 - failing to go at the time prescribed to his appointed place of duty 
* 14 September 1981 - stealing a necklace from a department store and disobeyed a lawful order by failing to report for an appointment
* 4 November 1981 - failing to go to at the time prescribed to his appointed place of duty

4.  The applicant’s record contains a copy of Headquarters, 34th Support Battalion, Summary Court-Martial (SCM) Order Number 7, dated 14 December 1981, which documents the following charges, pleas, and findings:

	a.  Charge I, Article 121, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ):  
	
		Specification:  Wrongfully appropriate a motorcycle valued at $1,181.00 on or about 14 September 1981.  Plea:  Not Guilty.  Finding:  Not Guilty.  
		
	b.  Charge II, Article 92, UCMJ:  

		Specification:  possession of a pair of numchucks on or about 
1 November 1981.  Plea:  Not Guilty.  Finding:  Not Guilty.

	c.  Charge III, Article 134, UCMJ:  

		Specification:  breaking restriction on or about 30 November 1981.  Plea:  Not Guilty.  Finding:  Not Guilty.

      d.  Charge IV, Article 86, UCMJ with three specifications:

   Specification 1:  On or about 1 December 1981, failure to go to 
Appointed place of duty.  Plea:  Guilty.  Finding:  Guilty

   Specification II:  On or about 3 December 1981, failure to go to his appointed place of duty.  Plea:  Guilty.  Finding:  Guilty.

   Specification III:  On or about 4 December 1981, failure to go to his appointed place of duty.  Plea:  Guilty.  Finding:  Guilty.

5.  On 10 December 1981, sentence was adjudged.  

6.  On 19 November 1981, the applicant was notified by his unit commander that separation action was being initiated against him under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200 (Personnel Separations - Enlisted Personnel), for misconduct based on frequent incidents of a discreditable nature.  

7.  On 20 December 1981, the applicant acknowledged receipt of the proposed action against him and consulted with legal counsel.  He was advised of the basis for the contemplated separation action, the effects of such a separation, the rights available to him, and the effect of any action taken by him in waiving his rights.  Subsequent to receiving this counseling, the applicant completed his election of rights by waiving his right to have his case considered by an administrative separation board and he declined to submit statements in his own behalf.

8.  On 4 January 1982, the applicant was issued a bar to reenlistment certificate.

9.  On 5 February 1982, the appropriate separation authority approved the discharge and directed that the applicant receive an Under Other Than Honorable Conditions Discharge Certificate.

10.  On 3 March 1982, the applicant was discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, paragraph 14-33b(1), by reason of a pattern of misconduct - frequent incidents of a discreditable nature with civil or military authorities, with an under other than honorable conditions discharge.  His DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) also shows the applicant was discharged in the rank/grade of PV1/E-1 and that he completed a total of 1 year, 9 months, and 28 days of total creditable active service.

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

12.  Army Regulation 635-200, in effect at the time, set forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.  Chapter 14 established policy and prescribed procedures for separating members for misconduct.  Specific categories include minor disciplinary infractions, a pattern of misconduct, commission of a serious offense, and convictions by civil authorities.  Action would be taken to separate a member for misconduct when it was clearly established that rehabilitation was impracticable or was unlikely to succeed.  A discharge under other than honorable conditions was normally appropriate for a 

Soldier discharged under this chapter.  However, the separation authority may direct a general discharge if such is merited by the Soldier’s overall record.  Only a general court-martial convening authority may approve an honorable discharge or delegate approval authority for an honorable discharge under this provision of regulation.

13.  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 evidence of record shows that the applicant was discharged with an under other than honorable conditions discharge for a pattern of misconduct - frequent incidents of discreditable nature with civil or military authorities.  Based on this record of indiscipline, the applicant's service clearly does not meet the standards of acceptable conduct and performance of duty for Army personnel.  Therefore, he is not entitled to a general, under honorable conditions or an honorable discharge.

2.  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)                                         AR20100012644



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ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


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