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):  020212

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:
                                           NONE
    a.  Period entered for:  NIF
    b.  Entry date:  010308
    c.  Age:  19 Years   DOB:  810712


    d.  Educational level:  GED


    e.  Aptitude area score:
          GT:  114                               3.  Highest grade
achieved:
    f.  Length of Service:                         E1
          0 Year(s) 8 Month(s)  29 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         010810-011014;

      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
                                    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 10 August 2001, the applicant
departed from convalescent leave status to AWOL.  On 9 September 2001, he
was dropped from the rolls as a deserter.  On 15 October 2001, he
surrendered to military authorities at Fort Benning, GA, and was
transferred to the Personnel Control Facility at Fort Knox, KY.  On 22
October 2001, the applicant was charged with AWOL (010810-011014).  On 22
October 2001, 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 unit commander
recommended approval of an under other than honorable conditions discharge.
 On 23 October 2001, the applicant was placed on involuntary excess leave
pending approval of his request for discharge.  On 4 February 2002, 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 12 February 2002, the applicant was discharged.  At the time
of discharge, the applicant had completed 8 months and 29 days of active
military service (to include 113 days excess leave) and accrued 66 days of
lost time due to AWOL 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
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 031016.
      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, D.C. 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:
          (   )  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 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 Board noted the applicant’s contentions;
however, the official record shows that the applicant departed in AWOL
status from convalescent leave and remained absent for 66 days.  Upon his
return from AWOL, 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 that, 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.  Further, the Board noted that the applicant was in
entry-level status (i.e., less than 180 days of continuous active service)
at the time he departed AWOL.  However, under the provisions of Chapter 10,
an individual is only entitled to an uncharacterized discharge while in
entry-level status absent misconduct or commission of a serious offense.
The applicant’s 66-day period of AWOL was considered to be a serious
offense that warranted characterization of his service as under other than
honorable conditions.  The Board, being convinced that the reason for
discharge and the characterization of service were both proper and
equitable, voted to deny relief.

      b.  Equity:      The applicant has not submitted an issue of equity
                   and the ADRB has not otherwise relied upon an issue of
                   equity to change the discharge.  The major factors upon
                   which the discharge was based are set forth in Parts III
                   and IV of this decisional document.

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       1         4

        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

                          
Ms. McKim-Spilker
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:  2004101154                    INDEX NUMBERS:  A9217
Date of Review:  040908                                   A9321
Character of Service:  UD                                 A0100
Date of Discharge:  020212
Authority:  AR 635-200 C10
Reason:  A7100
Results of Board Action/
Vote/Affirmation:  NC 4-1 A













                           PART IX - VOTING RECORD

    Name                                   Reason          Characterization
                                           CHANGE   NC     HON  UHC   NC
UNCHAR

    1.      Mbr          X                       X 

    2.      Mbr          X                 X       

    3. COL ANDRASCHKO, STEVEN L.  Mbr          X                 X       

    4.      Mbr          X                 X       

    5.      PO           X                 X