PART II - APPLICATION DATA

(Note: Part I deleted under the Privacy Act on Reading Room copy)

1.  Character of Discharge:  Under Other Than Honorable Conditions

2.  Date of discharge (or REFRAD):  000607

3.  Authority for separation:

	a.  Regulation:  Chapter 10, AR 635-200

	b.  Reason:  For the Good of the Service-In Lieu of Trial by Court-Martial

4.  Prior review(s):  NONE



PART III - SERVICE HISTORY

SECTION A - Period of Service Under Review

1.	Service data:                              2.  Awards and decorations:
			                          AAM                       
a.  Period entered for:  4  Years              GCMDL
b.  Entry date:  980511                        ASR
c.  Age:  33  Years   DOB:  641110             C/Ach                     
d.  Educational level:  HS Grad                                          
e.  Aptitude area score:
	    GT:  97                                3.  Highest grade achieved:
    f.  Length of Service:                         E4
          1  Year(s)  4  Month(s)  17  Day(s)                                
                                                           
                                               4.  Performance evaluations:  
                                                   NONE
                                                 

PART III - SERVICE HISTORY
SECTION A - Period of Service Under Review - Continued

5.  Periods of unauthorized absence:  
                                                                    
    Status       Inclusive dates                       
	AWOL         980605-990209;                                        

	Mil conf     0                                                     

	Civil conf   0                                                     

	Other        0                                                     


6.  Nonjudicial punishment:  NONE

	Date 	Offense(s)
	


7.  Court-Martial data:  NONE

	a.  SCM:  
		Date   Offense(s)
                     
	
	b.  SPCM:  
		Date   Offense(s)


	c.  GCM:	 
		Date   Offense(s)


8.	Remarks:  NONE


SECTION B - Prior Service Data


Other discharge(s):

	Service	From	To	Type Discharge
	RA	830913	860712	Honorable
	USARCG	860713	930912	Honorable
	ARNGUS	960427	980510	Honorable





PART IV - PREHEARING REVIEW

SECTION A-ANALYST’S ASSESSMENT
l.  Facts and Circumstances:

	a.  The evidence of record shows that on 18 February 1999, the applicant was charged with AWOL (980605-990210).  On 18 February 1999, the applicant consulted with legal counsel and voluntarily requested, in writing, discharge under the provisions of Chapter l0, AR 635-200 in lieu of trial by court-martial.  In this request, the applicant admitted guilt to the offense, or a lesser included offense.  Further, the applicant indicated that he understood that he could receive an under other than honorable conditions discharge and that the discharge would have a significant effect on eligibility for veteran’s benefits.  The applicant submitted a statement in his own behalf.  On 26 August 1999, the separation authority approved the discharge with an under other than honorable conditions discharge.  The applicant was to be reduced to the lowest enlisted rank.  

	b.  On 7 June 2000, the applicant was discharged.  At the time of discharge, the applicant had completed 1 year, 4 months, and 7 days of active military service and accrued 250 days of lost time in the period under review and had a total of 10 years, 7 months and 1 day of active military service.

2.  Legal/Regulatory Basis for Separation Action:  Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.  Chapter l0 of that regulation provides, in pertinent part, that a member who has committed an offense or offenses for which the authorized punishment includes a punitive discharge may submit a request for a discharge for the good of the service in lieu of trial by court-martial.  The requests may be submitted at any time after charges have been preferred and must include the individual’s admission of guilt.  Army policy states that although an honorable or general discharge is authorized, a discharge UOHC is normally considered appropriate.


SECTION B-APPLICANT’S SUBMISSIONS


1.  Issue(s) of propriety and/or equity submitted by applicant or counsel.
    As stated on applicant’s DD Form 293.

2.  Exhibit(s) submitted:

	A-1:  DD Form 293, dated 020823.
	A-2:  Counsel Issues:  NONE
	B-l:  Other Documents: NONE



PART IV - PREHEARING REVIEW (CONTINUED)

SECTION C - Medical and/or Legal Advisory Opinion


Referred to ( ) Medical Advisor      ( ) Legal Advisor



      a.  Medical prehearing comments (if applicable):


      b.  Legal prehearing comments (if applicable):











PART V - SUMMARY OF HEARING

SECTION A-Attendees and exhibits

1.  Review/hearing information:


	a. Type requested:
	   ( X ) Records review             (   ) Hearing

	b. Type Held:
	   ( X )Records review              (   ) Hearing
	                                    (   ) Tender Offer

	c. Review/hearing location and date:  Washington, DC on 15 January 2003.

	d. Appearance by:
	   Applicant                 (   ) Yes   ( X ) No
	   Counsel                   (   ) Yes   ( X ) No

	e.  Applicant testified:     (   ) Yes   ( X ) No
	
	f.  Counsel presentation:    (   ) Yes   ( X ) No
	
	g.  Witness(es) testified:   (   ) Yes   ( X ) No
	                                                
2.  Exhibit(s) submitted at hearing:  

PART VI - ISSUES AND FINDINGS

1.  a.  Applicant's issue(s) of propriety and/or equity:

	    ( X )	Same as those listed on DD Form 293 and Part IV, Section A of this case report and directive.
	    (   )	Revised issue(s) furnished in writing by applicant as follows:
	    ( X )	Additional issue(s) identified during review/hearing as follows:

        Board Issue:  (3)  The characterization of service was too harsh.

	b.  Request:  ( X ) Recharacterization     (   ) Change of Reason

2.  Finding(s), conclusion(s), and reason(s) for the Board's decision(s) on issues of propriety and/or equity:

	a.  Propriety:	The applicant has not submitted an issue of propriety and the ADRB has not otherwise relied upon an issue of propriety to change the discharge.

	b.  Equity:	The parenthetical number(s) below correspond(s) to the issue number(s) on the DD Form 293, or in Part VI, Paragraph 1, above.

        (3)  The issue is accepted. The Board carefully examined the applicant’s record of service during the period of enlistment under review.  There was a full consideration of all faithful and honorable service as well as the infraction of discipline, the extent thereof, and the seriousness of the offense.  While the Board does not condone the applicant’s misconduct, it determined that he presented extenuating circumstances that led to his misconduct and subsequent separation from the service.  The Board also determined that the discrediting entry in the applicant's record was outweighed by prior service of sufficient merit to warrant a partial upgrade of the discharge being reviewed.  In view of the foregoing, the Board determined that the characterization of service was inequitable.  Accordingly, the Board voted to grant partial relief in the form of an upgrade of characterization of service to general, under honorable condition.  The Board determined that the reason for discharge was proper and equitable and voted not to change it.  

Applicant’s Issue:

        (2)  The issue is rejected.  The Board determined that the applicant’s misconduct diminished the quality of his service below that meriting a fully honorable discharge.

Counsel’s Issue:

        (3)  The issue is rejected.  See responses to issues (1) and (2), above.

3.  Response(s) to item(s) not addressed as decisional issue(s):  NONE


PART VII - BOARD ACTION
SECTION A - Conclusions/Decisions/Vote

1.	Board conclusion(s):

	The discharge was:

	( X )	Proper.
	(   )	Improper as to characterization.  Change characterization to                                     .
	(   )	Improper as to reason.  Change reason to                         under                      .

	(   )	Equitable.
	( X )	Inequitable as to characterization.  Change characterization to General, Under Honorable Conditions.
	(   )	Inequitable as to reason.  Change reason to                       
		under                                 .
	(   )	Both proper and equitable, but characterization/reason for separation cited was an administrative/clerical error and should be changed to                      under                         .

2.  Voting record:      Change   No Change
	            Reason       0         5  
    Characterization       5         0   

	  The names and votes of the members of the Board are recorded in Part IX of this document and can be obtained by writing to the address below.  The request must contain the CASE NO. located in the upper right corner of this document.

                  Department of the Army Review Boards Agency
                  ATTN:  Promulgation Team
                  1941 Jefferson Davis Highway, 2nd Floor
                  Arlington, VA  22202-4508



3.  Minority views:  NONE  

PART VII - BOARD ACTION
SECTION B - Verification and Authentication

Case report reviewed and verified	

                          	
Ms. McKim-Spilker                                                       
Case Reviewing Official	

PART VIII - DIRECTIVE/CERTIFICATION
SECTION A - DIRECTIVE

TO: ARBA Support Division-St Louis      Date:  17 January 2003        

     The Army Discharge Review Board, established under the provisions of Section 30, Public Law 346, 78th Congress, 22 June 1944 and codified as Title 10, United States Code, Section 1553, in the case of the applicant named in Part I directs that the ARBA Support Division-St Louis issue a new DD Form 2l4 to the applicant which reflects the following directed change(s):

           ( X )	Change characterization of discharge to General, Under Honorable Conditions.
           ( X )	Other (see remarks below).

Remarks:  Restore grade to specialist four/E-4.


SECTION B - CERTIFICATION

Approval Authority:


SPURGEON A. MOORE
Colonel, U.S. Army
President, Army Discharge
   Review Board

Official:




JOHN F. LONG    
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
Chief, Secretary Recorder

EXHIBITS:
A - Application for review of discharge              	C - Other 
B - Material submitted by applicant

INDEX RECORD:

AR Number:  2002078144                    INDEX NUMBERS:  A9218
Date of Review:  030115                                   A9324
Character of Service:  UD                                 A0100
Date of Discharge:  000607                                
Authority:  AR 635-200 C10                         
Reason:  A7100                                            
Results of Board Action/                                  
Vote/Affirmation:  GD 5-0 A                               





PART IX - VOTING RECORD

    Name                                   Reason          Characterization
                                           CHANGE   NC     HON  UHC   NC  UNCHAR

    1. 	Mbr          X            X            

    2. 	Mbr          X            X            

    3. 	Mbr          X            X            

    4. 	Mbr          X            X            

    5. 	Mbr          X            X