ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:

	BOARD DATE:  24 June 2019

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20170011336


APPLICANT REQUESTS:  an upgrade of his under other than honorable conditions discharge.

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 
DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record).

FACTS:

1.  The applicant did not file within the three year time frame provided in Title 10, United States Code (USC), section 1552 (b); however, the Army Board for Correction of Military Records conducted a substantive review of this case and determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file. 

2.  The applicant states there was an error in the status of his discharge.  He was attending a funeral for his grandfather while on leave and did not get the proper extension in a timely manner.  He was misinformed and also wrote to the General as instructed.

3.  A review of the applicant’s service record shows:

a. He enlisted in the Regular Army on 12 February 1987.

   b.  He received nonjudicial punishment on 30 June 1987 for failing to go to his appointed place of duty.  His punishment included reduction to private/E-1.

	c.  Court-martial charges were preferred on the applicant on 27 October 1987 for one specification of being absent without leave from 8 July 1987 to 21 October 1987.
   
d.  After consulting with legal counsel on 27 October 1987, he requested a discharge for the good of the service under the provisions of chapter 10, Army Regulation (AR) 635-200 (Personnel Separations – Enlisted Personnel.  He acknowledged: 

* maximum punishment
* he is guilty of the charge against him or of a lesser included offense
* he did not desire further rehabilitation or further military service
* he understood that if his request for discharge was accepted he could be discharged under other than honorable conditions and furnished an Under Other than Honorable Discharge Certificate
* he would be deprived of many or all Army benefits administrated by the Veterans Administration
* he may be deprived of his rights and benefits of a veteran under both Federal and State laws
* he may expect to encounter substantial prejudice in civilian life because of an undesirable discharge

	e.  Consistent with the chain of command recommendations, on 18 December 1987, the separation approval authority approved the applicant’s request for discharge for the good of the service.  He would be discharged with an under other than honorable conditions discharge.

	f.  On 20 January 1988, he was discharged from active duty under the provisions of AR 635-200, chapter 10.  He completed 7 months and 24 days of active service with 105 days lost time.  It also shows he was awarded or authorized:

* Army Service Ribbon
* Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar

4.  By regulation, an individual who has committed an offense or offenses, the punishment for any of which includes a bad conduct discharge or dishonorable discharge, may submit a request for discharge for the good of the service.  An Under Other than Honorable Discharge Certificate normally is appropriate for a member who is discharged for the good of the service.

5.  In reaching its determination, the Board can consider the applicant’s petition and his service record in accordance with the published equity, injustice, or clemency determination guidance.


BOARD DISCUSSION:

After reviewing the application and all supporting documents, to include the DoD guidance on liberal consideration when reviewing discharge upgrade requests, the Board determined that relief was not warranted.  Based upon the short term of service and the lengthy AWOL offense which resulted in the applicant’s discharge, the Board concluded that the characterization of service received at the time of separation was appropriate.

BOARD VOTE:
Mbr 1	Mbr 2	Mbr 3

:	:	:	GRANT FULL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT FORMAL HEARING

X	X	X	DENY APPLICATION


BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice.  Therefore, the Board determined the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned.
	 
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.


REFERENCES:

1.  Title 10, USC, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within three 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 three-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so.
2.  Army Regulation 635-200 (Personnel Separations – Enlisted Personnel), in effect at the time, sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.

	a.  Paragraph 3-7a (Honorable Discharge) states an honorable discharge is a separation with honor.  The honorable characterization is appropriate when the quality of the member's service generally has met, the standards of acceptable conduct and performance of duty for Army personnel, or is otherwise so meritorious that any other characterization would be clearly inappropriate.

	b.  Paragraph 3-7b (General Discharge) states a general discharge is a separation from the Army under honorable conditions.  When authorized, it is issued to a member whose military record is satisfactory but not sufficiently meritorious to warrant an honorable discharge.

   c.  Chapter 10 of this regulation states an individual who has committed an offense or offenses, the punishment for any of which includes a bad conduct discharge or dishonorable discharge, may submit a request for discharge for the good of the service.  An Under Other than Honorable Discharge Certificate normally is appropriate for a member who is discharged for the good of the service.

3.  On 25 July 2018, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness issued guidance to Military Discharge Review Boards and Boards for Correction of Military/Naval Records regarding equity, injustice or clemency determinations.  Clemency generally refers to relief specifically granted from a criminal sentence and BCMRs may grant clemency regardless of the court-martial forum.  However, the guidance applies to more than clemency from a sentencing in a court-martial; it also applies to any other corrections, including changes in discharge, which may be warranted on equity or relief from injustice grounds.  The guidance does not mandate relief, but rather provides standards and principles to guide Boards in application of their equitable relief authority.  In determining whether to grant relief on the basis of equity, an injustice, or clemency grounds, BCMRs shall consider the twelve stated principles in the guidance as well as eighteen individual factors related to an applicant.  These factors include the severity of the misconduct and the length of time since the misconduct.


ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20170011336


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