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):  880519

3.  Authority for separation:

	a.  Regulation:  Chapter 14, AR 635-200

	b.  Reason:  Misconduct-Pattern of Misconduct

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:  4 Years               
b.  Entry date:  861030                        
c.  Age:  19 Years   DOB:  661212                                          
d.  Educational level:  HS Grad                                                 
e.  Aptitude area score:
	    GT:  107                               3.  Highest grade achieved:
    f.  Length of Service:                         E3
          1 Year(s)  6 Month(s)  14 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         880215-880222                                        

	Mil conf                                                           

	Civil conf                                                         

	Other                                                              

6.  Nonjudicial punishment: 

	Date 	Offense(s)
	880128    Soldier knowingly skipped scheduled work (undated)
	880225    AWOL (880215-880222)
	880330    FTR (undated)
	880413    Drunk and disorderly conduct and breaking restriction

7.  Court-Martial data:  NONE

	a.  SCM:  
		Date   Offense(s)

	b.  SPCM:  
		Date   Offense(s)

	c.  GCM:	 
		Date   Offense(s)

8.	Remarks:  Bar to Reenlistment (880226)
  	          Vacation of suspension  (880222) - AWOL (880215-880222)

SECTION B - Prior Service Data

Other discharge(s):

	Service	From	To	Type Discharge
	USAR          860908    861029        NA

PART IV - PREHEARING REVIEW

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

	a.  Evidence of record shows that on 13 April 1988, the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of separation action under the provisions of Chapter l4, AR 635-200, by reason of misconduct—patterns of misconduct, with a general discharge.  He was advised of his rights.  The applicant acknowledged notification, consulted with legal counsel, was advised of the impact of the discharge action, and did not submit a statement in his own behalf.  The unit commander subsequently recommended waiver of further rehabilitative efforts.  The intermediate commander reviewed the proposed discharge action and recommended approval of the separation action with a general discharge.  On 29 April 1988, the separation authority waived further rehabilitative efforts and directed that the applicant be discharged with a general discharge.  

	b.  On 14 June 1988, the applicant was discharged.  At the time of discharge, the applicant had 1 year, 6 months, and 14 days service on his current enlistment.

	c.  The unit commander recommended the applicant be separated from the Army because he displayed a pattern of misconduct and misbehavior as evidenced by his numerous counseling statements and multiple Article 15’s.  The unit commander further stated that he had determined that the applicant would not progress or develop sufficiently to become a satisfactory soldier, and that it was likely that his poor duty performance would continue.  It is also noted that the applicant received a field grade Article 15 for being drunk and disorderly and breaking restriction while awaiting final disposition of his chapter proceeding.

2.  Legal/Regulatory Basis for Separation Action:  Army Regulation 635-200 sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.  Chapter l4 establishes policy and prescribes procedures for separating members for misconduct.  Specific categories include minor disciplinary infractions, a pattern of misconduct, commission of a serious offense, to include abuse of illegal drugs, convictions by civil authorities and desertion or absence without leave.  Action will be taken to separate a member for misconduct when it is clearly established that rehabilitation is impractical or unlikely to succeed.  Army policy states that an under other than honorable conditions discharge is normally considered appropriate, but a general discharge under honorable conditions or an honorable discharge may be granted.

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 000811, 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:
	   ( X ) Records review             (   ) Hearing

	b. Type Held:
	   ( X )Records review              (   ) Hearing
	                                    (   ) Tender Offer

	c. Review/hearing location and date:  Washington, DC on 13 September 2000.

	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:  (4)  The narrative reason for discharge is inequitable.

	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:

        (4)  The issue is accepted.  Regulations currently in effect list the reason for the applicant’s discharge as misconduct.  Accordingly, the Board voted to change the narrative reason on the DD Form 214 to misconduct.

        (1)  The issue is rejected.  The Board carefully examined the applicant’s record of service during the period of enlistment under review and the documents submitted with his application.  There was a full consideration of all faithful and honorable service as well as infractions of discipline, the extent thereof, and the seriousness of the offenses.  The Board determined that the applicant's discharge was appropriate because the quality of service was not consistent with the Army's standards for acceptable personal conduct and performance of duty by military personnel.  The applicant provided no independent corroborating evidence demonstrating that either the command's action was erroneous or that the applicant’s service mitigated the misconduct or poor duty performance.  Furthermore, clemency is an act of mercy, or instance of leniency, to moderate the severity of the punishment imposed.  However, in review of the applicant’s entire service record and post service accomplishments, the Board found that these accomplishments did not overcome the reason for discharge and characterization of service granted.  Therefore, the Board concluded that the applicant’s service was not sufficiently meritorious to warrant an upgrade to the characterization of service.  The Board, being convinced that the characterization of service was both proper and equitable, voted to deny relief.  

        (2)  The issue is rejected.  The Board noted that the applicant met entrance qualification standards to include age.  The Board further found no evidence that the applicant was any less mature than other soldiers of the same age who successfully completed military service.

        (3)  The issue is rejected.  The Board congratulates the applicant on his completion of an Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program.  However, the applicant, by violating the Army's policy not to abuse alcohol compromised the special trust and confidence placed in him.  The applicant, as a soldier, had the duty to support and abide by the Army's alcohol abuse policies.  By abusing alcohol, the applicant knowingly risked a military career, and this misconduct diminished the quality of his service below that meriting a fully honorable discharge. 

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.
	(   )	Inequitable as to characterization.  Change characterization to                               .
	( X )	Inequitable as to reason.  Change reason to Misconduct
		under Chapter 14, AR 635-200.
	(   )	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       5         0  
    Characterization       0         5   

	  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	

MS. WADE
Case Reviewing Official	

PART VIII - DIRECTIVE/CERTIFICATION
SECTION A - DIRECTIVE

TO: ARBA Support Division-St Louis      Date:  15 September 2000

     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 reason and authority for discharge to Misconduct, under Chapter 14, AR 635-200.

SECTION B - CERTIFICATION

Approval Authority:

WILSON A. SHATZER
Colonel, U.S. Army
President, Army Discharge
   Review Board

Official:

EARNEST C. SMITH, JR.    
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:  2000045797                    INDEX NUMBERS:  A9442
Date of Review:  000913                                   A0100
Character of Service:  GD                                 A9301
Date of Discharge:  880519                                A9319
Authority:  AR 635-200 C14                                A9105
Reason:  A6750                                            
Results of Board Action/                                  
Vote/Affirmation:  MD 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