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):  020221

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:  8 Years
    b.  Entry date:  991013
    c.  Age:  27 Years   DOB:  711126
    d.  Educational level:  HS Grad
    e.  Aptitude area score:
          GT:  101                               3.  Highest grade
achieved:
    f.  Length of Service:                         E1
          2 Years  0 Months  10 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         000111-000509

      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
      USMC  910701     910822     Uncharacterized
      ARNGUS     990928      991012     NA
      IADT  991013     000209     Uncharacterized
      USAR       Concurrent Service



                         PART IV - PREHEARING REVIEW

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

      a.  The evidence of record shows that the applicant was reported AWOL
effective 11 January 2000.  He was DFR’d on 10 February 2000.  On 9 May
2000, the applicant was apprehended by the civilian authorities at Hanson
AFB, MA and transferred to the Personnel Control Facility, Fort Knox, KY.
On 15 May 2000, the applicant was charged with AWOL from 11 January – 9 May
2000.  On 15 May 2000, 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.  On 16 May 2000,
the applicant was placed on excess leave pending completion of his
administrative discharge proceeding under Chapter 10, AR 635-200.  On 4
February 2002, the unit commander recommended approval of an under other
than honorable conditions discharge.  The separation authority approved the
discharge with an under other than honorable conditions discharge.

      b.  On 21 February 2002, the applicant was discharged.  At the time
of discharge, the applicant had completed 2 years and 10 days of active
military service (which included 647 days of excess leave), and accrued 220
days of lost time in the period under review.  He had a total of 2 years, 2
months, and 28 days of total military service.

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 040309, with six (6) 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 13 September
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 statement on applicant’s behalf.
                        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     ( 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.

        (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 infraction of discipline, the extent
thereof, and the seriousness of the offense.  The Board does not condone
the applicant’s misconduct; however, determined that the characterization
of service is now inequitable.  Notwithstanding the propriety of the
applicant’s discharge, the Board noted that because the applicant was in an
entry-level status, the approving authority had two options as to
characterization of service.  One option was to characterize the
applicant’s service as under other than honorable conditions and the other
was not to characterize the applicant’s service.  In view of the
applicant’s post-service accomplishments; the circumstances surrounding his
reason for going AWOL; and the fact that he was in an entry-level status at
time of initiation of his separation, the Board determined that it would be
more equitable to uncharacterize the applicant’s service.  Accordingly, the
Board voted to grant partial relief by changing the characterization of
service to uncharacterized.

        (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.  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.  The Board found that the reason for discharge was both proper and
equitable and voted not to change it.  Further, a change to the applicant’s
reentry eligibility (RE) code does not fall within the purview of this
Board.  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
           Uncharacterized.
      (   ) 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       3         2

        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:  17 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 Uncharacterized.

                          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:  2004105604                    INDEX NUMBERS:  A9406
Date of Review:  040913                                   A9445
Character of Service:  UD                                 A9222
Date of Discharge:  020221                                A0113
Authority:  AR 635-200 C10
Reason:  A7100
Results of Board Action/
Vote/Affirmation:  EL 3-2 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