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):  971213

3.  Authority for separation:

	a.  Regulation:  Chapter 13, AR 635-200

	b.  Reason:  Unsatisfactory Performance

4.  Prior review(s):  NONE

PART III - SERVICE HISTORY

SECTION A - Period of Service Under Review

1.	Service data:                              2.  Awards and decorations:
			                          NDSM                       
a.  Period entered for:  3  Years              ARCAM
b.  Entry date:  951107                        ASR
c.  Age:  22  Years   DOB:  750510             OSR                        
d.  Educational level:  HS Grad                                           
e.  Aptitude area score:
	    GT:  121                               3.  Highest grade achieved:
    f.  Length of Service:                         E4
          2  Year(s)  1  Month(s)  7  Day(s)                                  
                                                           
                                               4.  Performance evaluations:  
                                                   NONE

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

5.  Periods of unauthorized absence:  NONE
                                                                    
    Status       Inclusive dates                       
	AWOL                                                               

	Mil conf                                                           

	Civil conf                                                         

	Other                                                              

6.  Nonjudicial punishment:  

	Date 	Offense(s)
	970415	Derelict in the performance of your duties in that you negligently failed to secure your assigned individual weapon, as it was your duty to do (970312).

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
	USAR	920518	920614	Honorable
	ADT	920615	920803	NA
	USAR	920804	930623	NA
	ADT	930624	930813	Honorable
	USAR	930814	930902	NA
	ARNGUS	930903	951106	Honorable

PART IV - PREHEARING REVIEW

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

	a.  Evidence of record shows that on 30 October 1997, the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of separation action under the provisions of Chapter l3, AR 635-200, by reason of unsatisfactory performance, with a general, under honorable conditions discharge.  He was advised of his rights.  The applicant 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 separation from the service and waiver of further rehabilitative efforts.  On 21 November 1997, the separation authority waived further rehabilitative efforts and directed that the applicant be transferred to the individual ready reserve with a characterization of service of general, under honorable conditions.  

	b.  On 13 December 1997, the applicant was released from active duty.  At the time of release, the applicant had completed 2 years, 1 month, and 7 days of active military service in the period under review and had a total of 5 years, 6 months and 27 days of active 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 13 contains the policy and outlines the procedures for separating individuals for unsatisfactory performance, and provides, in pertinent part, that commanders will separate a member under this chapter when, in the commander's judgment, the member will not develop sufficiently to participate satisfactorily in further training and/or become a satisfactory soldier.  Army policy states that a general discharge, under honorable conditions is normally considered appropriate, but an honorable discharge may be granted in meritorious cases.

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 021202, with six (6) 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 9 July 2003.

	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:  (2)  The characterization of service was too harsh.
                      (3)  The narrative reason for discharge was 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.  Although the applicant accepted nonjudicial on one occasion for failing to secure his weapon, the Board noted that the applicant was released from active duty for the sole reason of a failure to meet the minimum standards of the Army Physical Fitness Test.  Based on these factors, the Board determined that the characterization of service was inequitable and that relief is warranted based upon consideration of the applicant's otherwise honorable record of service.  Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief by changing the characterization of service to fully honorable.  

        (3)  The issue is accepted.  Regulations currently in effect list the reason for the applicant’s separation as “Physical Standards.”  Accordingly, the Board voted to grant partial relief in the form of a change to the narrative reason for discharge to “Physical Standards” and a corresponding change to the separation code to “LFT.”  

        (1)  The issue is rejected.  This Board is not empowered to change the applicant’s narrative reason for separation to medical.  The applicant should address this issue to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR).  A DD Form 149 (application to the ABCMR) is enclosed for the applicant’s use.  When the applicant makes application to the ABCMR, he should submit all of his medical evidence, to include evidence of any treatment from civilian physicians and/or the Department of Veteran Affairs, with his application.

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 Honorable.
	( X )	Inequitable as to reason.  Change reason to Physical Standards
		under Chapter 13, 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       5         0   

	  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. McKim-Spilker                                                        
Case Reviewing Official	

PART VIII - DIRECTIVE/CERTIFICATION
SECTION A - DIRECTIVE

TO: ARBA Support Division-St Louis      Date:  11 July 2003           

     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 Honorable.
           ( X )	Change reason and authority for discharge to
       	Physical Standards, under Chapter 13, AR 635-200.
           ( X )	Other (see remarks below).

Remarks:  Change SPD to “LFT.”

SECTION B - CERTIFICATION

Approval Authority:

SPURGEON A. MOORE
Colonel, U.S. Army
President, Army Discharge
   Review Board

Official:

JOHN F. LONG    
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:  2003084473                    INDEX NUMBERS:  A9406
Date of Review:  030709                                   A9218
Character of Service:  GD                                 A9442
Date of Discharge:  971213                                A9445
Authority:  AR 635-200 C13                                A0113
Reason:  A4900                                            
Results of Board Action/                                  
Vote/Affirmation:  HD 5-0 A                               

PART IX - VOTING RECORD

    Name                                   Reason          Characterization
                                           CHANGE   NC     HON  UHC   NC  UNCHAR

    1. 	Mbr    X             X                 

    2. COL HOUSE, ROBERT L.	Mbr    X             X                 

    3. 	Mbr    X             X                 

    4. 	Mbr    X             X                 

    5. 	PO     X             X