MEMORANDUM OF CONSIDERATION

	IN THE CASE OF:   

	BOARD DATE:           6 July 2000
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000037129

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the record of consideration of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun
Mr. David H. Keller		Director
Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Calvin M. Fowler		Chairperson	
	Mr. Ernest M. Willcher		Member	
	Mr. John P. Infante		Member	

	The Board, established pursuant to authority contained in 10 U.S.C. 1552, convened at the call of the Chairperson on the above date.  In accordance with Army Regulation 15-185, the application and the available military records pertinent to the corrective action requested were reviewed to determine whether to authorize a formal hearing, recommend that the records be corrected without a formal hearing, or to deny the application without a formal hearing if it is determined that insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

	The applicant requests correction of military records as stated in the application to the Board and as restated herein.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

APPLICANT REQUESTS:  That his undesirable discharge be upgraded to general under honorable conditions.

APPLICANT STATES:  That he was 17 years old when he joined the Army and was far too young for Vietnam; his record began well and deteriorated due to conditions causing him to use drugs.  He adds that he has gone through much and has become a good person.

EVIDENCE OF RECORD:  The applicant's military records show:

He enlisted on 13 March 1970 at the age of 17 and, after training, was assigned to Vietnam.  The record shows that the applicant was 18 years of age by the time he reported to his assigned unit in Vietnam.

On 17 August 1970, while undergoing advanced individual training, the applicant was administered nonjudicial punishment (NJP) under Article 15, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), for being absent without leave (AWOL) from 6 July 1970 to 11 August 1970.

On 14 December 1970, the applicant was administered NJP for failure to report to his appointed place of duty.

On 5 May 1971, the applicant was tried by a special court-martial and found guilty of failure to obey a lawful order; stealing a radio of a value of $35.00, the property of another soldier; and three specifications of AWOL:  from 14 February to 15 February 1971, from 17 February to 6 March 1971, and from 6 March to 
18 March 1971.  He was sentenced to 4 months confinement at hard labor (of which confinement in excess of 2 months was suspended for 6 months), forfeiture of $90.00 per month for 6 months, and reduction in rank to the lowest enlisted grade.

On 4 September 1971, the applicant was formally charged with  wrongful possession of 12.5 grams of heroin.  He consulted with counsel and voluntarily requested discharge for the good of the service under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, chapter 10, in lieu of trial by court-martial.  He stated that he acknowledged he was guilty of the charge against him which authorized the imposition of a bad conduct or dishonorable discharge, and that he did not desire further rehabilitation, nor had any desire for further military service.  He stated that he understood the nature and consequences of the undesirable discharge that he might receive.  He declined to submit a statement in his own behalf.

On 26 October 1971, the separation authority, a brigadier general, approved the request and directed the applicant be issued an Undesirable Discharge Certificate.

The applicant was discharged on 7 December 1971 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.  He had 1 year, 3 months and 6 days of creditable service and 
170 days of time lost.

Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.  Chapter 10 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 at any time after the charges have been preferred, submit a request for discharge for the good of the service in lieu of trial by court-martial.  A discharge under other than honorable conditions is normally considered appropriate.  However, at the time of the applicant’s separation the regulation provided for the issuance of an undesirable discharge.

On 27 March 1979, the Army Discharge Review Board, in a unanimous decision, denied the applicant’s request for upgrade of his discharge.

DISCUSSION:  Considering all the evidence, allegations, and information presented by the applicant, together with the evidence of record, applicable law and regulations, it is concluded:

1.  The applicant's voluntary request for separation under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-200, chapter 10, for the good of the service, to avoid trial by court-martial, was administratively correct and in conformance with applicable regulations.  There is no indication that the request was made under coercion or duress.

2.  The applicant's request for a chapter 10 discharge, even after appropriate and proper consultation with a military lawyer, tends to show he wished to avoid the court-martial and the punitive discharge that he might have received.

3.  The applicant's contention that he was young and immature at the time is not sufficiently mitigating to warrant relief.

4.  In order to justify correction of a military record the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Board, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.  The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy this requirement.

5.  In view of the foregoing, there is no basis for granting the applicant's request.

DETERMINATION:  The applicant has failed to submit sufficient relevant evidence to demonstrate the existence of probable error or injustice.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__cmf___  __emw__  __jpi____  DENY APPLICATION

    Carl W. S. Chun
    Director, Army Board for Correction
    of Military Records

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000037129	
SUFFIX		
RECON		
DATE BOARDED	20000706	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	UD	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	19711207	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR635-200 CH10	
DISCHARGE REASON	A74.00	
BOARD DECISION	DENY	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	110.00	
2.	142.00	
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.