IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 12 August 2008 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20080008802 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests, in effect, that his narrative reason for discharge be changed. 2. The applicant states that his records show he failed the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Officer Basic Course at Fort Bliss, Texas when he was unable to reschedule his final test due to dental extractions. He states that eleven African American students were “rifted” out of the school for whatever racial reason and there was a policy of expelling any African Americans. He also states that he is disabled due to this trauma in his life. He wants closure, disability, and a pension from the Army. 3. The applicant provides no additional documents in support of his application. CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. Title 10, U.S. Code, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within 3 years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant’s failure to timely file within the 3-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so. While it appears the applicant did not file within the time frame provided in the statute of limitations, the ABCMR has elected to conduct a substantive review of this case and, only to the extent relief, if any, is granted, has determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant’s failure to timely file. In all other respects, there are insufficient bases to waive the statute of limitations for timely filing. 2. The applicant was appointed as a Reserve second lieutenant on 27 May 1983 in the Air Defense Branch. 3. He was ordered to active duty on 30 May 1983 to attend the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Officer Basic Course. 4. The applicant was interviewed on 15 August 1983 by a U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery School Faculty Board. By unanimous vote, the Board voted to recommend that the applicant be relieved from the course for failure to maintain academic course standards required for graduation and discharged from his reserve commission under the provisions of Section II, Chapter 3, Army Regulation 635-100. 5. On 25 August 1983, the separation authority approved the Faculty Board recommendations that the applicant be relieved from the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Officer Basic Course for failure to maintain academic course standards required for graduation and discharged from his reserve commission under the provisions of Section II, Chapter 3, Army Regulation 635-100. 6. The applicant was honorably discharged on 12 September 1983 under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-100, chapter 3, section II by reason of failure to meet course standards. He was discharged with a Separation Program Designator (SPD) code of "JHF" (Failed to Meet Course Standards). 7. On 21 August 1996, the Army Discharge Review Board denied the applicant’s request for a change of the narrative reason of his discharge. 8. Army Regulation 635-100 (Officer Personnel), Chapter 3, Section II, subparagraph 3-20 stated that officers of the Army National Guard of the United States and the United States Army Reserve having less than 3 years commissioned service who failed to meet standards of service schools while attending Branch Orientation or Familiarization courses of their basic or detailed branch or a course to provide initial branch or specialty qualification, due to misconduct, moral or professional dereliction, or academic or leadership deficiencies would be relieved from active duty or active duty training and would be discharged from their Reserve commissions. 9. Army Regulation 635-5-1 (SPD Codes) prescribes the specific authorities (regulatory, statutory, or other directives), the reasons for the separation of members from active military service, and the separation program designators to be used for these stated reasons. The regulation shows that the separation program designator “JHF” as shown on the applicant’s DD Form 214 specifies the narrative reason for discharge as “Failed to Meet Course Standards” and that the authority for discharge under this separation program designator is “AR 635-100, chapter 3, section II." DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The applicant’s discharge proceedings under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-100, Chapter 3, Section II were administratively correct and in conformance with applicable regulations. 2. Considering the applicant's failure to maintain academic course standards required for graduation, it appears the chain of command determined that elimination under the provisions of Army Regulation 635-100, Chapter 3, Section II was appropriate. 3. The applicant’s DD Form 214 shows he was discharged with a separation code of “JHF” in accordance with the governing regulation. 4. The applicant’s contentions are noted. However, there is no evidence of record to substantiate his claims. 5. The applicant has failed to show through the evidence submitted or the evidence of record that the separation code issued to him was administratively incorrect, in error, or unjust. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ___xx___ __xx____ ___xx___ 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 for correction of the records of the individual concerned. _______ xxxx_______ ___ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20080008802 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20080008802 4 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1