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):  930426

3.  Authority for separation:

	a.  Regulation:  Chapter 10, AR 635-200

	b.  Reason:  For The Good of The Service-In Lieu of Court-Martial

4.  Prior review(s):  Records/960304 

PART III - SERVICE HISTORY

SECTION A - Period of Service Under Review

1.	Service data:                              2.  Awards and decorations:
			                          GCMDL (5thAwd)                       
a.  Period entered for: 6 Years                SWASMDLw/2BSS
b.  Entry date: 900427                         KLMDL      
c.  Age: 35  Years   DOB: 540602                                                 
d.  Educational level:  16 Years                                                 
e.  Aptitude area score:
	    GT: 103                                3.  Highest grade achieved:
    f.  Length of Service:                         E7
         2 Year(s)  10 Month(s)  28 Day(s)                                  
                                                           
                                               4.  Performance evaluations:  
                                                   See OMPF 

PART III - SERVICE HISTORY
SECTION A - Period of Service Under Review - Continued

5.  Periods of unauthorized absence:  
                                                                    
    Status       Inclusive dates                       
	AWOL         921207-930108;                                                      

	Mil conf     0                                                      

	Civil conf   0                                                      

	Other        0                                                      

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:  The applicant has a notification of an Article 32 Investigation in file, dated (921118).  

SECTION B - Prior Service Data

Other discharge(s):

	Service	From	To	Type Discharge
	USAR	731003	731008	NA
	RA	731009	761008	Honorable
	USARCG	761009	780327	NA
	RA	780328	841026	Honorable
	RA	841027	900426	Honorable

PART IV - PREHEARING REVIEW

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

	a.  The evidence of record shows that the applicant was charged with disobeying orders from senior noncommissioned officers, dereliction of duty, use of cocaine on two occasions, and being absent without leave for 32 days.  The Board noted that after consulting with legal counsel, the applicant voluntarily, and writing, requested separation under the provisions of Chapter 10, AR 635-200, in lieu of trial by court-martial.  On 9 April 1993, the separation authority approved the request for discharge and issuance of an under other than honorable conditions (UOHC) discharge.  The applicant was to be reduced to the lowest enlisted rank.  On 19 April 1993, DA, HQ, 573D Personnel Company, Fort Bragg, NC, Orders 71-39 discharged the applicant from the regular Army, effective date: 26 April 1993. 

	b.  On 26 April 1993, the applicant was discharged.  At the time of discharge, the applicant had 2 years, 10 months, and 28 days on his current enlistment under review and 14 years, 11 months and 26 days, total time in service and 32 days lost time.

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 001028.
	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:  Atlanta, GA on 27 February 2001

	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:  Applicant submitted one (1) new issue.

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 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.

        (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 service including the infractions of discipline, the extent thereof, and the seriousness of the offenses.  The Board determined that the characterization of service was inequitable based the applicant’s overall length and quality of service and his post service accomplishments.  The applicant's misconduct was mitigated by service of sufficient merit to warrant an upgrade of the discharge being reviewed.  Accordingly, the Board voted to grant partial relief in the form of an upgrade of characterization of service to general, under honorable conditions.  The applicant’s misconduct clearly diminished the quality of his service below that meriting a fully honorable discharge.  Further, changes to reentry eligibility (also known as the reenlistment) (RE) codes does not fall within the purview of this Board.  The Board determined that the reason for discharge was proper and equitable and voted not to change it.

        (1)  The issue is rejected.  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 General, Under Honorable Conditions.
	(   )	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
                  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. RIVERA                      
Case Reviewing Official	

PART VIII - DIRECTIVE/CERTIFICATION
SECTION A - DIRECTIVE

TO: ARBA Support Division-St Louis      Date:  9 March 2001           

     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 General, Under Honorable Conditions.
           ( X )	Other (see remarks below).

Remarks:  Restore grade to Sergeant First Class/E-7.

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:  2000049240                    INDEX NUMBERS:  A9406
Date of Review:  010226                                   A9218
Character of Service:  UD                                 A9222
Date of Discharge:  930426                                A0100
Authority:  AR 635-200 C10                                
Reason:  A7000                                            
Results of Board Action/                                  
Vote/Affirmation:  GD 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