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):  990803

3.  Authority for separation:

	a.  Regulation:  Chapter 14, AR 635-200

	b.  Reason:  Misconduct

4.  Prior review(s):  NONE

PART III - SERVICE HISTORY

SECTION A - Period of Service Under Review

1.	Service data:                              2.  Awards and decorations:
			                          MSM (2nd Awd)      NCOPDR (3)                 
a.  Period entered for: 5 Years                ARCOM (8th Awd)    ASR
b.  Entry date:  950726                        AAM (4th Awd)      OSR (4)  
c.  Age: 35 Years   DOB: 591104                GCMDL 6th Awd)                                   
d.  Educational level:  HS Grad                NDSM                                  
e.  Aptitude area score:                       SWASMDLw/2BSS
	    GT: 109                                3.  Highest grade achieved:
    f.  Length of Service:                         E7
         4 Year(s)  0 Month(s)  8 Day(s)                                  
                                                           
                                               4.  Performance evaluations:  
                                                   See OMPF 

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)
	971126	Failing to go to his appointed place of duty; seven specifications; (961209); (971219); (970411); (970418); (970826); (971117); (970419).

	_______________________________________
	
	970505	Letter of reprimand-for being absent from his appointed place of duty.
	970827	Letter of reprimand-for being absent from his appointed place of duty.
	971112	Letter of reprimand-for uttering bad checks (Administrative).

7.  Court-Martial data:  

	a.  SCM:  
		Date   Offense(s)
        980420 Wrongfully using cocaine between (980228-980302).             

	b.  SPCM:  
		Date   Offense(s)

	c.  GCM:	 
		Date   Offense(s)

8.	Remarks:  The applicant has a Military Police Report in file dated (980504) and a Civilian Charge Booking Sheet, dated (980202).  

SECTION B - Prior Service Data

Other discharge(s):

	Service	From	To	Type Discharge
	USAR	771014	780626	NA
	RA	780627	811227	Honorable
	RA	811228	870608	Honorable
	RA	870609	920107	Honorable
	RA	920108	950725	Honorable

PART IV - PREHEARING REVIEW

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

	a.  Evidence of record shows that on 18 May 1998, the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of separation action under the provisions of Chapter l4, AR 635-200, by reason of misconduct—pattern of misconduct, with an under other than honorable conditions discharge.  He was advised of his rights.  The applicant consulted with legal counsel, was advised of the impact of the discharge action, requested consideration of his case by an administrative separation board and submitted a statement in his own behalf.  The unit commander subsequently recommended separation from the service and waiver of further rehabilitative efforts.  The intermediate commanders reviewed the proposed discharge action and recommended approval of the separation action with an under other than honorable conditions discharge.  The applicant was notified to appear before an administrative separation board.  Board met; applicant appeared with counsel.  The administrative separation board recommended discharge with a characterization of service of under other than honorable conditions.  On 11 June 1999, the separation authority waived further rehabilitative efforts and directed that the applicant be discharged with a characterization of service of under other than honorable conditions.  

	b.  On 3 August 1999, the applicant was discharged.  At the time of discharge, the applicant had completed 4 years, and 8 days of active military service in the period under review and had a total of 21 years, 1 month and 5 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 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 030915.
	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 9 February 2004.  

	d. Appearance by:
	   Applicant                 ( X ) Yes   (   ) No
	   Counsel                   ( X ) Yes   (   ) No

	e.  Applicant testified:     ( X ) Yes   (   ) No
	
	f.  Counsel presentation:    ( X ) Yes   (   ) No
	
	g.  Witness(es) testified:   (   ) Yes   ( X ) No
	                                                
2.  Exhibit(s) submitted at hearing:  letters of character references and xerox copies of documents from his Official Military Personnel Files. 

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:  (5)  The characterization of service is too harsh.

	b.  Request:  ( X ) Recharacterization     (   ) 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.

        (5)  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 faithful and honorable service as well as the infractions of discipline, the extent thereof, and the seriousness of the offenses.  While the board does not condone the applicant’s misconduct, it determined that the characterization of service was inequitable.  The Board found that the applicant’s overall length and quality of service, to include his post service conduct, mitigated the discrediting entries in his service record.  Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade of characterization of service to fully honorable.  However, the Board found that the reason for separation was fully supported by the record and voted not to change it.  This action also entails a restoration of the applicant’s grade to SSG/E6. 

        (1-4)  See Paragraph 3, below.

3.  Response(s) to item(s) not addressed as decisional issue(s):  

    Inasmuch as the Board voted to grant the full relief requested, response to the remaining issues are neither required nor rendered.

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.
	(   )	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       2         3  
    Characterization       4         1   

	  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. RON WILLIAMS                                      
Case Reviewing Official	

PART VIII - DIRECTIVE/CERTIFICATION
SECTION A - DIRECTIVE

TO: ARBA Support Division-St Louis      Date:  13 February 2004  

     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 the characterization of discharge to “Honorable.”
           ( X )	Other (see remarks below).

Remarks:   This action also entails a restoration of the applicant’s grade to “SSG/E6.”

SECTION B - CERTIFICATION

Approval Authority:

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

Official:

MARY E. SHAW    
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:  2003096531                    INDEX NUMBERS:  A9406
Date of Review:  040209                                   A9218
Character of Service:  UD                                 A9222
Date of Discharge:  990803                                
Authority:  AR 635-200 C14                                
Reason:  A6700                                            
Results of Board Action/                                  
Vote/Affirmation:  HD 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