PART II - APPLICATION DATA

(Note: Part I deleted under the Privacy Act on Reading Room copy)

1.  Character of Discharge:  BCD

2.  Date of discharge (or REFRAD):  980515

3.  Authority for separation:

	a.  Regulation:  Chapter 3, AR 635-200

	b.  Reason:  Court-Martial, Other

4.  Prior review(s):  NONE

PART III - SERVICE HISTORY

SECTION A - Period of Service Under Review

1.	Service data:                              2.  Awards and decorations:
			                          AAM                        
a.  Period entered for:  3 Years               
b.  Entry date:  950713                        
c.  Age:  22 Years   DOB:  730108                                          
d.  Educational level:  HS Grad                                                 
e.  Aptitude area score:
	    GT:  NIF                               3.  Highest grade achieved:
    f.  Length of Service:                         E4
        2 Years  6 Months  25 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                                                

	Mil conf      970115-970422                         

	Civil conf                                          

	Other                                               

6.  Nonjudicial punishment:  NONE

	Date 	Offense(s)

7.  Court-Martial data: 

	a.  SCM:  
		Date   Offense(s)

	b.  SPCM:  
		Date      Offense(s)
		970115    Article 132-Make a false claim against the US government 
                  (960612); and Article 134-Bigamy (960525)

	c.  GCM:	 
		Date   Offense(s)

8.	Remarks:  NONE

SECTION B - Prior Service Data

Other discharge(s):

	Service	From	To	Type Discharge
	RA            930312    950712        HD

PART IV - PREHEARING REVIEW

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

	a.  The evidence of record shows that on 15 January 1997, the applicant was found guilty by a special court-martial of making a false claim against the US government on 12 June 1996; and of bigamy on 25 May 1996.  He was sentenced to receive a bad conduct discharge; to be confined six (6) months; to forfeit $830.00 per month for six (6) months; and to be reduced to the rank of private/
E-1.  On 10 April 1997, the sentence was approved, with modifications.  On 
16 March 1998, the sentence having been affirmed pursuant to Article 71(c) having been complied with, the sentence was ordered to be executed.

	b.  On 15 May 1998, the applicant was discharged with a bad conduct discharge, under the provisions of Chapter 3, AR 635-200, by reason of court-martial, other.  At the time of his discharge he had completed 2 years, 6 months, and 25 days of his current enlistment, a total of 4 years, 10 months and 
26 days of military service, and had accrued 98 days of time lost due to military confinement.  

	c.  The applicant’s record shows that he completed almost 5 years of service; attained the rank of specialist/E-4; and earned an Army Achievement Medal.  The evidence of record shows that the applicant was convicted of violations of Article 132 and 134 of the UCMJ, and that he was sentenced to a bad conduct discharge.  The sentence was upheld on appeal and the applicant was discharged accordingly upon completion of the confinement portion of his sentence.

2.  Legal/Regulatory Basis for Separation Action:  Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.  Chapter 3, Section IV,  establishes policy and procedures for separating members with a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge; and provides that a soldier will be given a bad conduct discharge pursuant only to an approved sentence of a general or special court-martial; and that the appellate review must be completed and the affirmed sentence ordered duly executed.

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 990312, with three (3) enclosure(s).
	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 19 July 1999.

	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:  Four (4) additional documents and five (5)
			new issues.

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     ( 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.

        (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5).  The issues are rejected.  The Board carefully examined the applicant's record of service during the period of enlistment under review.  There was a full consideration of his testimony before the Board; all faithful and honorable service; as well as infractions of discipline, the extent thereof, and the seriousness of the offenses.  The Board noted the applicant’s contentions and his written statement to the Board wherein he states, in effect, that clemency is warranted in his case because he has been a good citizen subsequent to his discharge; and that he would like a waiver to join the National Guard. The evidence of record clearly shows that the applicant was adjudged guilty by court-martial and that the sentence was approved by the convening authority.  Court-martial convictions stand as adjudged or modified by appeal through the judicial process.  The Board is empowered to change the discharge only if clemency is determined to be appropriate.  Clemency is an act of mercy, or instance of leniency, to moderate the severity of the punishment imposed.  While the Board congratulates the applicant on his post service good citizenship, this alone does not provide a basis for clemency. After a thorough review of the applicant’s record and any issues submitted, the Board found no cause for clemency and therefore voted to deny relief.

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
                  1941 Jefferson Davis Highway, 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. ADRIANCE                           
Case Reviewing Official	

PART VIII - DIRECTIVE/CERTIFICATION
SECTION A - DIRECTIVE

NONE

SECTION B - CERTIFICATION

Approval Authority:

THOMAS J. ALLEN
Colonel, U.S. Army
President, Army Discharge
   Review Board

Official:

SUZANNE WALKER    
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:  1998012106                    INDEX NUMBERS:  A9105
Date of Review:  990719                                   A9217
Character of Service:  BD                                 A9221
Date of Discharge:  980515                                A0100
Authority:  AR 635-200 C3                                 
Reason:  A6800                                            
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. 	Mbr          X            X             

    4. 	Mbr          X                  X       

    5. 	PO           X                  X