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):  960222

3.  Authority for separation:

      a.  Regulation:  Chapter 10, AR 635-200

      b.  Reason:  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:
                                           NIF
    a.  Period entered for:  3 Years
    b.  Entry date:  930629
    c.  Age:  25 Years   DOB:  680223
    d.  Educational level:  HS Grad
    e.  Aptitude area score:
          GT:  NIF                               3.  Highest grade
achieved:
    f.  Length of Service:                         E4
          2 Years  0 Months  20 Days

                                               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         950506-951208

      Mil conf

      Civil conf

      Other


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    880610     910904     Honorable
      ARNGUS     911201      930527     NA
      RA (DEP)   930528      930628     NA




                         PART IV - PREHEARING REVIEW

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

      a.  The evidence of record shows that on 12 December 1995, the
applicant was charged with AWOL from 6 May – 8 December 1995.  On 12
December 1995, 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
did not submit a statement in his own behalf and declined the opportunity
to have a separation medical examination.  The applicant also requested he
be placed on indefinite excess leave pending completion of his
administrative discharge proceeding under Chapter 10, AR 635-200.  His
request was approved and he was placed on excess leave status, effective 12
December 1995.  On 22 January 1996, the unit commander recommended approval
of an under other than honorable conditions discharge.  On 25 January 1996,
the proper legal authorities reviewed the discharge action with no legal
objections for further processing.  On 26 January 1996, the separation
authority approved the discharge with an under other than honorable
conditions discharge and reduction to Private E1.

      b.  On 22 February 1996, the applicant was discharged.  At the time
of discharge, the applicant had completed 2 years and 20 days of active
military service (which included 73 days of excess leave), and accrued 217
days of lost time in the period under review.  He had a total of 4 years, 2
months, and 19 days of total military service.

      c.  According to the applicant’s current DD Form 214 (Certificate of
Release or Discharge From Active Duty) he was separated from service on
temporary records and his affidavit.  Block 12a, date entered AD this
period, reads “19940125”.  However, based on the applicant’s DD Form 4/1
(Enlistment/Reenlistment Document) his date of enlistment/reenlistment was
“930629.”

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
under other than honorable conditions 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 030720, with no enclosures.
      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 14 April
2004.

      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:
          (   )  Additional issue(s) identified during review/hearing as
              follows:

      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.

        (1)  The issue is rejected.  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.  The evidence of record does not support the
applicant’s contention and the applicant has provided no independent
corroborating evidence in support of his contention that his misconduct was
due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  Further, the available
records indicate that, at the time of separation, the applicant declined
the opportunity to undergo a separation medical examination.  The evidence
of record shows the applicant was charged with the commission of an offense
punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) with a
punitive discharge.  The Board noted, after consulting with defense
counsel, the applicant voluntarily, and in writing, requested separation
from the Army in lieu of trial by court-martial.  In doing so, the
applicant admitted guilt to the stipulated or lesser-included offenses
under the UCMJ.  The Board was satisfied that all requirements of law and
regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected
throughout the separation process.  It also noted that the characterization
of service for this type of discharge is normally under other than
honorable conditions and that the applicant was aware of that prior to
requesting discharge.  The Board, being convinced that the reason for
discharge and the characterization of service were both proper and
equitable, voted to deny relief.

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                      .

      ( X ) Equitable.
      (   ) Inequitable as to characterization.  Change characterization to
                                         .
      (   ) 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       0         5

        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

                          
MR. RIVERA
Case Reviewing Official

                     PART VIII - DIRECTIVE/CERTIFICATION
                            SECTION A - DIRECTIVE

                                    NONE

                          SECTION B - CERTIFICATION

Approval Authority:


ROBERT L. HOUSE
Colonel, U.S. Army
President, Army Discharge
   Review Board

Official:




MARY E. SHAW
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:  2003095532                    INDEX NUMBERS:  A9235
Date of Review:  040414                                   A9413
Character of Service:  UD                                 A0113
Date of Discharge:  960222
Authority:  AR 635-200 C10
Reason:  A7100
Results of Board Action/
Vote/Affirmation:  NC 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.      PO           X                 X