RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:	  


	BOARD DATE:	  01 April 2008
	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20070018018 


	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.


Ms. Catherine C. Mitrano

Director

Mr. Dean L. Turnbull

Analyst


The following members, a quorum, were present:


Mr. Lester Echols

Chairperson

Mr. Joe R. Schroeder

Member

Mr. Larry W. Racster

Member

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military records.

	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including advisory opinion, if any).


THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE:

1.  The applicant requests reconsideration to upgrade his undesirable discharge to a general or an honorable discharge.

2.  The applicant states, in effect, he wishes to appeal the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) decision, because the first time the Board had his serial number wrong, the Board never considered his state of mind before being absent without leave (AWOL), and the Board never considered his age and immaturity at the time of his offense.  He also did not received credit for being a good Soldier with five security clearances.  He did what he had to do for his mother and dad.  He adds that his dad was crippled.

3.  The applicant provides a personal statement.

CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE:

1.  Incorporated herein by reference are military records which were summarized in the previous consideration of the applicant's case by the ABCMR in Docket Number AR20060009201, on 21 December 2006.

2.  In the original decision the ABCMR found that the applicant was discharged under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-208 (Personnel Separations) for unfitness due to frequent involvement in incidents of a discreditable nature with civil or military authorities.  The applicant had time 359 days lost due to AWOL and confinement.  There was no evidence that the applicant sought assistance from his chain of command or chaplain to assist in resolving his problems within established regulatory procedures prior to going AWOL.

3.  On 11 November 1974, the applicant applied to the Army Discharge Review Board (ADRB) for an upgrade of his discharge; however, the ADRB denied his request for a discharge upgrade.

4.  The applicant provided new arguments which require that his case be reconsidered by the ABCMR.

5.  In the statement that the applicant provided, he repeated that he wishes to appeal the ABCMR decision, because the first time the Board had his serial 

number wrong, the Board never considered his state of mind before being 
AWOL, and never considered his age and immaturity at the time of his offense.  Also, he did not received credit for being a good Soldier with five security clearances.  He lived in the poorest county of the United States and no help was provided by the government.  He could not leave his family when they needed him, therefore, the Board should consider his age and inexperience.  He adds that he matured slower than most people, and his family needed him far more than the Army.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant requests reconsideration to upgrade his undesirable discharge to a general or an honorable discharge.

2.  The applicant was 20 years old when he was discharged, so his contentions concerning his age, immaturity, inexperience, and that he matured slower than most people is not accepted.  His personnel records do not contain any evidence of five security clearances and even if it did the clearances would not have a basis to grant a relief.  Also, there is no evidence his serial number was wrong in the first ABCMR's decision, or that he was not in his right mind prior to his AWOL.  

3.  There is no evidence or indication that the applicant's family was experiencing a hardship when the applicant went AWOL, or that he returned home to help his family.  The evidence shows he made a conscious decision not to return to duty.

4.  As such, he is not entitled to correction of his records to upgrade his undesirable discharge to a general or an honorable discharge.

5.  In order to justify correction of a military record, the applicant must show, or it must otherwise satisfactorily appear, that the record is in error or unjust.  The applicant has failed to submit evidence that would satisfy this requirement.

BOARD VOTE:

________  ________  ________  GRANT FULL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF 

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

__JRS__  __LE___  __LWR___   DENY APPLICATION

BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice.  Therefore, the Board determined that the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis to amend the decision of the ABCMR set forth in Docket Number AR20060009201, dated 21 December 2006.




___Lester Echols  ___
      CHAIRPERSON