Applicant Name:  ?????

Application Receipt Date: 2010/11/18	Prior Review:     Prior Review Date: NA     

I.  Applicant Request:  Upgrade     Reason Change     RE Code Change    

Issues: The applicant states, "I was told that my discharge could be overturned/upgraded after 2 years."

II.  Were Proper Discharge and Separation Authority procedures followed?	     
Tender Offer:   NA

See Attachments:  Legal     Medical     Minority Opinion     Exhibits 

III.  Discharge Under Review
Unit CDR Recommended Discharge: 	   Date: 980930
Discharge Received: 			   Date: 980106   Chapter:  3, Sec IV    AR: 635-200
Reason: Court-Martial, Other	   RE:     SPD: JJD   Unit/Location: B Company, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, NY 

Time Lost: Military confinement for a total of 72 days, (961001 - 961212).

Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None

Courts-Martial (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None

Counseling Records Available: Yes    No 

IV.  Soldier’s Overall Record
Age at current enlistment:  18
Current ENL Date: 940818    Current ENL Term: 4 Years  ?????
Current ENL Service: 	  6   Yrs, 2 Mos, 6 Days ?????
Total Service:  		  6   Yrs, 2 Mos, 6 Days ?????
Previous Discharges: 	None
Highest Grade: E-4		Performance Ratings Available: Yes    No 
MOS: 11B10 Infantryman   GT: 103   EDU: HS Grad   Overseas: None   Combat: None
Decorations/Awards: NDSM, ASR

V.  Post-Discharge Activity
City, State:  Steelton, PA
Post Service Accomplishments: None

VI.  Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation

       a.  Facts and Circumstances:
       The evidence of record shows that on 30 September 1996, the applicant was found guilty of stealing $2,200.00, making a false sworn statement 2 specifications, and assaulting SPC W, by a special court-martial and sentenced to be discharged with a Bad Conduct Discharge, confinement for three months, and forfeiture of $400.00 pay per month for three months.  
       
       On 24 January 1997 the sentence was approved.  The record of trial was forwarded to The Judge Advocate General of The Army for review by the Court of Military Review.  The United States Army Court of Military Review affirmed the approved findings of guilty and the sentence.  
       
       On  25 September 1997, the sentence having been affirmed pursuant to Article 71c having been complied with, the sentence was ordered to be executed.

       b.  Legal Basis for Separation:  
       Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.  Chapter 3, Section IV,  establishes policy and procedures for separating members with a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge; and provides that a Soldier will be given a bad conduct discharge pursuant only to an approved sentence of a general or special court-martial; and that the appellate review must be completed and the affirmed sentence ordered duly executed.
       
       Issues Concerning Bad-Conduct Discharges (BCD): Because relevant and material facts stated in a court-martial specification are presumed by the ADRB to be established facts, issues relating to the applicant’s innocence of charges for which he was found guilty cannot form a basis for relief.  
       
       With respect to a discharge adjudged by a special court-martial, the action of the ADRB is restricted to upgrades based on clemency.  Clemency is an act of leniency that reduces the severity of the punishment imposed.  The ADRB does not have the jurisdictional authority to review a discharge or dismissal resulting from a general court-martial.

       c.  Response to Issues, Recommendation and Rationale:  
       After a careful review of all the applicant’s military records, the issue and documents submitted with the application, the analyst found no mitigating factors that would warrant clemency.  
       
       There was a full consideration of all faithful and honorable service as well as the incidents of misconduct.  The evidence of record indicates the applicant was adjudged guilty by a court-martial and that the sentence was approved by the convening authority.  Court-martial convictions stand as adjudged or modified by appeal through the judicial process.  
       
       The analyst is empowered to recommend a change to the discharge only if clemency is determined to be appropriate.  Clemency is an act of mercy, or instance of leniency, to moderate the severity of the punishment imposed.  
       
       The analyst noted the applicant’s issue about his request for an automatic upgrade.  However, the U.S. Army does not have, nor has it ever had, a policy to automatically upgrade discharges.  Each case is decided on its own merits when an applicant submits a DD Form 293 requesting a change in discharge.  Changes may be warranted if the Board determines that the characterization of service or the reason for discharge or both were improper or inequitable.  Additionally, the applicant has provided no evidence that he should not be held responsible for his misconduct.
       
       After a thorough review of the applicant’s records, the issue and documents submitted with the application, the analyst found no cause for clemency and therefore recommends to the Board to deny clemency.  

VII.  Summary of Army Discharge Review Board Hearing

Type of Hearing: 		Date: 22 July 2011         Location: Washington, D. C.

Did the Applicant Testify?  Yes     No  

Counsel: None

Witnesses/Observers: None 

Exhibits Submitted: DD Form 293 





VIII.  Board Discussion, Determination, and Recommendation
After carefully examining the applicant’s record of service during the period of enlistment under review and considering the analyst’s recommendation and rationale, the Board determined that the discharge was both proper and equitable and voted to deny relief.  
        
IX.  Board Decision						
	XI.  Certification Signature
Board Vote:  							          Approval Authority:	
Character - Change 0    No change 5
Reason -     Change NA    No change NA
(Board member names available upon request)
								         EDGAR J. YANGER			 
								         Colonel, U.S. Army
X.  Board Action Directed					         President, Army Discharge Review Board
Issue a new DD Form 214  					
Change Characterization to: 			         
Change Reason to: No Change
Other: NA										
RE Code: 
Grade Restoration:   No   Yes   Grade: NA




























Legend:
AWOL    	Absent Without Leave		GCM   General Court Martial	NA   Not applicable			SCM	Summary Court Martial
BCD   	Bad Conduct Discharge	GD      General Discharge	NIF   Not in the file			SPCM	Special Court Martial
CG 	Company Grade Article 15	HD      Honorable Discharge	OAD   Ordered to Active Duty		UNC	Uncharacterized Discharge  
DD 	Dishonorable Discharge	HS       High School Graduate	OMPF   Official Military Personnel File	UOTH  	Under Other Than Honorable 
FG	Field Grade Article 15		IADT   Initial Active Duty Training	RE     Reentry Code				Conditions 

ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD - CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE

Case Number AR20100028041
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