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):  970606

3.  Authority for separation:

      a.  Regulation:  Chapter 5, Para 5-8, AR 635-200

      b.  Reason:  Parenthood

4.  Prior review(s):  NONE



                         PART III - SERVICE HISTORY

                 SECTION A - Period of Service Under Review

1.    Service data:                              2.  Awards and
    decorations:
                                           ASR
    a.  Period entered for:  3 Years
    b.  Entry date:  950328
    c.  Age:  23 Years   DOB:  711127
    d.  Educational level:  HS Grad
    e.  Aptitude area score:
          GT:  94                                3.  Highest grade
achieved:
    f.  Length of Service:                         E3
          1 Year  2 Months  9 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

      Mil conf

      Civil conf

      Other


6.  Nonjudicial punishment:

      Date  Offense(s)
      970213     Derelict in the performance of her duties by negligently
             failing to produce a working family care plan (970105);
             Missing movement (970105)(Company Grade)


7.  Court-Martial data:  NONE

      a.  SCM:
            Date   Offense(s)


      b.  SPCM:
            Date   Offense(s)


      c.  GCM:
            Date   Offense(s)


8.    Remarks:  Locally imposed Bar to Reenlistment approved on 970227
based on one Article 15 and negative counseling records for failure to pay
just debts, failures to report, failure to return borrowed items from ACS,
and failure to make proper arrangements for family members.  The applicant
acknowledged the approved Bar on 970227 and elected not to appeal the
action.


                       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 24 February 1997, the applicant
received the required Family Care Plan counseling from the unit commander.
In this counseling she acknowledged that she must submit the completed
family care plan, with all attendant documents, within 30 days from the
date of counseling.  She also acknowledged that the unit commander could
grant a one-time extension of 30 days based on extenuating circumstances.
On 14 May 1997, the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of
separation action under the provisions of Chapter 5, paragraph 5-8, AR 635-
200, due to parenthood, with a general, under honorable conditions
discharge.  The reason for the proposed action was her failure to provide
an adequate family care plan as required.  She was advised of her rights.
On 14 May 1997, the applicant consulted with legal counsel, was advised of
the impact of the separation action, and did not submit a statement in her
own behalf.  On 15 May 1997, the unit commander subsequently recommended
separation from the service and waiver of further rehabilitative efforts.
On 15 May 1997, the intermediate commander reviewed the proposed action and
recommended approval with a general discharge.  On 27 May 1997, the
separation authority waived further rehabilitative efforts and directed
that the applicant be separated with a characterization of service of
general, under honorable conditions.

      b.  On 6 June 1997, the applicant was released from active duty and
transferred to the USAR Control Group (Annual Training), St Louis, MO to
complete her remaining Reserve service obligation.  At the time of release,
the applicant had completed 1 year, 2 months, and 9 days of active military
service in the period under review.

2.  Legal/Regulatory Basis for Separation Action:  Army Regulation 635-200
provides the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.
Paragraph 5-8 provides that a soldier may be separated when parental
obligations interfere with fulfillment of military responsibilities.
Specific reasons for separation because of parenthood include inability to
perform prescribed duties satisfactorily, repeated absenteeism, late for
work, inability to participate in field training exercises or perform
special duties such as CQ and Staff Duty NCO, and non-availability for
worldwide assignment or deployment according to the needs of the Army.
Unless reason for separation requires a specific characterization, a
soldier being separated for the convenience of the government will be
awarded a character of service of honorable, under honorable conditions or
an uncharacterized description of service if in entry-level status.


                      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 031226, 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 8 September
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:
          ( 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.
 There was a full consideration of all faithful and honorable service as
well as the circumstances that led to her release from active duty due to
parenthood.  Notwithstanding the propriety of the separation action, the
Board determined that the characterization of service was and is
inequitable.  The Board found that the applicant's ability to serve was
impaired by her concern for the care of her two daughters and her inability
to reestablish a workable family care plan.  Accordingly, the Board voted
to grant relief in the form of an upgrade of characterization of service to
fully honorable.  The Board determined that the reason for discharge was
proper and equitable and voted not to change it

        (1)  See Paragraph 3, below.

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 issue is 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.
      (   ) 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. RIVERA
Case Reviewing Official

                     PART VIII - DIRECTIVE/CERTIFICATION
                            SECTION A - DIRECTIVE

TO: ARBA Support Division-St Louis      Date:  10 September 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 characterization of discharge to
                  Honorable.

                          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:  2004100990                    INDEX NUMBERS:  A9406
Date of Review:  040908                                   A9308
Character of Service:  GD                                 A0113
Date of Discharge:  970606
Authority:  AR 635-200 C5
Reason:  A1500
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