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):  971114

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:
                                           NDSM
    a.  Period entered for:  3 Years               ASR
    b.  Entry date:  950418
    c.  Age:  21 Years   DOB:  730723
    d.  Educational level:  NIF
    e.  Aptitude area score:
          GT:  NIF                               3.  Highest grade
achieved:
    f.  Length of Service:                         E2
          2 Years  4 Months  29 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         961014-961015
                 970214-970219
                 970331-970429

      Mil conf

      Civil conf   970430-970521

      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
                                    NONE

Other discharge(s):

      Service    From  To    Type Discharge





                         PART IV - PREHEARING REVIEW

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

      a.  The evidence of record shows that on 31 March 1997, the applicant
was released to surrender to the civilian authorities on civil charges.  He
failed to show and as a result he was DFR’d on the same day.  On 29 April
1997, he surrendered to the military authorities at Fort Stewart, GA.  On
30 April 1997, he surrendered to the civilian authorities and placed in the
Liberty County Jail, Hinesville, GA, pending disposition of charges of bad
checks.  On 20 May 1997, he appeared in court and was given credit for time
served.  He was then held pending extradition to Statesboro, GA for similar
charges.  He was transported to Statesboro, GA and ordered to pay a fine.
On 21 May 1997, he returned to military control at Statesboro, GA.  On 27
May 1997, he was transferred to the Personnel Control Facility at Fort
Knox, KY for further processing.  On 29 May 1997, court-martial charges
were preferred against the applicant for his AWOL from 31 March – 21 May
1997.  On 29 May 1997, 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.  The applicant was
placed on indefinite excess leave, effective 29 May 1997, pending
completion of his administrative discharge proceeding under Chapter 10, AR
635-200.  On 1 October 1997, the unit commander recommended approval of an
under other than honorable conditions discharge.  On 14 October 1997, the
separation authority approved the applicant’s request and directed he be
discharged with an under other than honorable conditions discharge.

      b.  On 14 November 1997, the applicant was discharged.  At the time
of discharge, the applicant had completed 2 years, 4 months, and 29 days of
active military service (which included 169 days of excess leave), and
accrued 59 days of lost time in the period under review.

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 040428, 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 1 November
2004.

      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:  one (1) supporting document.
                        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 characterization of service is 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.

        (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 characterization
of service was inequitable.  The Board found that the applicant’s
misconduct was mitigated by circumstances surrounding his AWOL and his post
service accomplishments.  Accordingly, the Board voted to grant partial
relief in the form of an upgrade of characterization of service too
general, under honorable conditions.  The Board determined that the reason
for discharge was both proper and equitable and voted not to change it.

        (1)  The issue is rejected.  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.  By his misconduct,
the applicant diminished the quality of his service below that meriting a
fully honorable discharge.  See response to issue 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
                  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:  1 November 2004

     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 “General,
                 Under Honorable Conditions.”
           ( X ) Other (see remarks below).

Remarks:   This action does not entail a restoration of the applicant’s
          grade.


                          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:  20040000538                   INDEX NUMBERS:  A9406
Date of Review:  041101                                   A9222
Character of Service:  UD                                 A0100
Date of Discharge:  971114
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.      PO           X            X