PART II - APPLICATION DATA

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

1.  Character of Discharge:  General, Under Honorable Conditions

2.  Date of discharge (or REFRAD):  970923

3.  Authority for separation:

      a.  Regulation:  Chapter 14, AR 635-200

      b.  Reason:  Misconduct

4.  Prior review(s):  Records Review/990616



                         PART III - SERVICE HISTORY

                 SECTION A - Period of Service Under Review

1.    Service data:                              2.  Awards and
    decorations:
                                           AAM (2)
    a.  Period entered for:  4 Years               GCMDL
    b.  Entry date:  931001                        NDSM
    c.  Age:  18 Years   DOB:  750509              ASR
    d.  Educational level:  HS Grad                OSR
    e.  Aptitude area score:
          GT:  118                               3.  Highest grade
achieved:
    f.  Length of Service:                         E4
          3 Years  11 Months  11 Days

                                               4.  Performance evaluations:

                                                   NONE

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

5.  Periods of unauthorized absence:  NONE

    Status       Inclusive dates
      AWOL         0

      Mil conf     970808-970819 ; (As a result of SCM)

      Civil conf   0

      Other        0


6.  Nonjudicial punishment:

      Date  Offense(s)
      970627     Breaking restriction (970527)(Field Grade)
      970522     Without authority, failed to go at the time prescribed to
             his appointed place of duty, corrective training at the Bn Aid
             Station (970501)(Company Grade)


7.  Court-Martial data:

      a.  SCM:
            Date       Offense(s)
            970808     Without authority, failed to go at the time
prescribed to his
                  appointed place of duty, extra duty (970627 and 970629);
Failed
                  to obey a lawful order by a SGT by not reporting to an
SFC as
                  instructed (970628); and breaking restriction (970628)

      b.  SPCM:
            Date       Offense(s)


      c.  GCM:
            Date       Offense(s)


8.    Remarks:  NONE


                       SECTION B - Prior Service Data
                                    NONE

Other discharge(s):

      Service    From  To    Type Discharge





                         PART IV - PREHEARING REVIEW

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

      a.  Evidence of record shows that on 3 September 1997, the unit
commander notified the applicant of initiation of separation action under
the provisions of Chapter l4, AR 635-200, by reason of misconduct—pattern
of misconduct, with a general, under honorable conditions discharge.  The
reasons for the proposed action were he received a Company Grade Article 15
in May 1997, a Field Grade Article in Jun 97, and found guilty in a Summary
Court Martial in August 1997.  He was advised of his rights.  On 4
September 1997, the applicant consulted with legal counsel, was advised of
the impact of the discharge action, and submitted a statement in his own
behalf.  The unit commander subsequently recommended separation from the
service and waiver of further rehabilitative efforts.  On 4 September 1997,
the intermediate commander reviewed the proposed discharge action and
recommended approval of the separation action with a general discharge.  On
8 September 1997, the separation authority waived further rehabilitative
efforts and directed that the applicant be discharged with a
characterization of service of general, under honorable conditions.

      b.  On 23 September 1997, the applicant was discharged.  At the time
of discharge, the applicant had completed 3 years, 11 months, and 11 days
of active military service in the period under review, which included 12
days of military confinement as a result of a Summary Court-Martial.

2.  Legal/Regulatory Basis for Separation Action:  Army Regulation 635-200
sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.
Chapter l4 establishes policy and prescribes procedures for separating
members for misconduct.  Specific categories include minor disciplinary
infractions, a pattern of misconduct, commission of a serious offense, to
include abuse of illegal drugs, convictions by civil authorities and
desertion or absence without leave.  Action will be taken to separate a
member for misconduct when it is clearly established that rehabilitation is
impractical or unlikely to succeed.  Army policy states that an under other
than honorable conditions discharge is normally considered appropriate, but
a general discharge under honorable conditions or an honorable discharge
may be granted.


                      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 040419, 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:
         (   ) Records review             ( X ) Hearing

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

      c. Review/hearing location and date:  Washington, DC on 10 January
2005.

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

      e.  Applicant testified:     ( X ) Yes   (   ) No

      f.  Counsel presentation:    (   ) Yes   ( X ) No

      g.  Witness(es) testified:   (   ) Yes   ( X ) No

2.  Exhibit(s) submitted at hearing:  three (3) documents.
                        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:  (2)  The discharge is inequitable.

      b.  Request:  ( X ) Recharacterization     ( X ) 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.

        (1-4)  See  Paragraph 3, below.

        (2)  The issue is accepted.  The Board carefully examined the
applicant’s record of service during the period of enlistment under review
and heard his testimony.  There was a full consideration of all faithful
and honorable service as well as the infractions of discipline, the extent
thereof, and the seriousness of the offenses.  While the Board does not
condone the applicant’s misconduct, it determined that the discharge is now
inequitable.  The Board found that the applicant’s misconduct was mitigated
by the circumstances resulting in said misconduct; the overall length and
quality of his service; his post-service accomplishments; and the time that
has elapsed since his discharge.  Accordingly, the Board voted to grant
relief in the form of an upgrade of characterization of service to fully
honorable and a change to the narrative reason for separation to
Secretarial Authority.  This action does not entail a change to the RE
code.

3.  Response(s) to item(s) not addressed as decisional issue(s):

    Inasmuch as the Board voted to grant the full relief requested,
response to the remaining issues are neither required nor rendered.
                           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
           Honorable.
      ( X ) Inequitable as to reason.  Change reason to Secretarial
           Authority
            under Chapter 5, AR 635-200.
      (   ) 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       3         2
    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
                  1901 South Bell Street, 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. RON WILLIAMS
Case Reviewing Official

                     PART VIII - DIRECTIVE/CERTIFICATION
                            SECTION A - DIRECTIVE

TO: ARBA Support Division-St Louis      Date:  14 January 2005

     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 the characterization of discharge to Honorable.
           ( X ) Change reason and authority for discharge to Secretarial
                 Authority, under Chapter 5, AR 635-200.
           ( X ) Other (see remarks below).

Remarks:   This action does not entail a change to the reentry eligibility
          (RE) code.


                          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:  20040000220                   INDEX NUMBERS:  A9218
Date of Review:  050110                                   A9222
Character of Service:  GD                                 A1200
Date of Discharge:  970923
Authority:  AR 635-200 C14
Reason:  A6750
Results of Board Action/
Vote/Affirmation:  HD 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