ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:

	BOARD DATE:  11 July 2019 

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20170013542


APPLICANT REQUESTS:  an upgrade of his characterization of service from under other than honorable conditions to an honorable.

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 

* DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
* Self-authored Statement
* DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty)
* DD Form 4 (Enlistment/ Reenlistment Document)
* Chain of Commend Recommendation for Discharge
* Inmate Education Data Transcripts
* Application for Health Benefits

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 his discharge characterization needs to be changed to an honorable discharge.  He completed three and a half years of honorable service and based on one serious and extenuating life-threatening event, he was judged as an “other than honorable service” after serving with honor.

3.  The applicant provides:

	a.  A detailed self-authored statement which is attached describing the incident and actions that led to the end of his military career.

	b.  A copy of his DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty)

	c.  A copy of his DD Form 4 (Enlistment/ Reenlistment Document)

	d.  Chain of Commend Recommendation for Discharge recommending approval.

	e.  His inmate education data transcripts showing courses he has taken.

	f.   An application for health benefits as a Veteran.

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

	a.  He enlisted in the Regular Army on 1 August 1989.

	b.  According to his DD Form 458 (Charge Sheet), dated 16 April 1993, court-martial charges were preferred against him for one specification of AWOL from 11 December 1992 to 14 April 1993.

	c.  On 19 April 1993, he consulted with legal counsel who advised him of the contemplated trial by court-martial and the maximum permissible punishment authorized under UCMJ and the possible effects of a bad conduct or dishonorable discharge if the request is approved and of the procedures and rights available to him.

	d.  Following consultation with counsel, he requested discharge under the provisions of Army Regulation (AR) 635-200 (Personnel Separations – Enlisted Personnel), chapter 10, for the good of the service in lieu of trial by court-martial.  In his request for discharge, he indicated:

* he was making this request of his own free will and he had not been subjected to any coercion whatsoever by any person
* he understood that by requesting discharge he was admitting guilt to the charges against him or of a lesser-included offense that also authorized the imposition of a bad conduct discharge or a discharge under other honorable conditions
* he acknowledged he understood if his discharge request was approved he could be deprived of many or all Army benefits, he could be ineligible for many or all benefits administered by the Veterans Administration
* he acknowledged he understood he could be deprived of his rights and benefits as a veteran under both Federal and State laws
* he elected not to submit a statement on his own behalf

	e.  On 17 May 1993, his chain of command recommended he be discharged for the good of the service with an under other than honorable conditions discharge.  

	f.  Consistent with the chain of command's recommendation, on 24 May 1993, the separation authority approved his request for discharge under the provisions of AR 635-200, chapter 10, and directed the issuance of an under other than honorable conditions discharge and a reduction in rank to private/E-1.
	g.  His DD Form 214 shows he was discharged on 8 June 1993 for the good of the service in lieu of trial by court martial with a characterization of service of under other than honorable conditions.  He completed 3 years, 6 months and 4 days of net active service with lost time from 11 December 1992 to 14 April 1993.  His record also shows he was awarded or authorized the:

* Army Service Ribbon
* National Defense Service Medal
* Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-16)
* Sharpshooter Qualification Badge with Hand Grenade
* Air Assault Badge
* Army Good Conduct Medal

5.  By regulation, a soldier who has committed an offense or offenses, the punishment for which, under the UCMJ and the manual court-martial (MCM), 1984, includes a bad conduct or dishonorable discharge, may submit a request for discharge for the good of the service

6.  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 documetns, to include the DoD guidance on liberal consideration when reviewing discharge upgrade requests, the Board determined that partial relief was warranted.  Based upon the lengthy term of honorable service completed prior to an isolated AWOL offense, the Board concluded that granting clemency by upgrading the characterization of service to Under Honorable Conditions (General) was appropriate.

BOARD VOTE:
Mbr 1	Mbr 2	Mbr 3

:	:	:	GRANT FULL RELIEF

X	X	X	GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT FORMAL HEARING

:	:	:	DENY APPLICATION


BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

1.  The Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for partial relief.  As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by reissuing the applicant a DD Form 214 showing his characterization of service as Under Honorable Conditions (General).
2.  The Board further determined the evidence presented is insufficient to warrant a portion of the requested relief.  As a result, the Board recommends denial of so much of the application that pertains to upgrading the characterization of his discharge to Honorable.
	 
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 provides that an honorable discharge is a separation with honor. The honorable characterization is appropriate when the quality of the soldier'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 provides that a general discharge is a separation from the Army under honorable conditions. When authorized, it is issued to a soldier whose military record is satisfactory but not sufficiently meritorious to warrant an honorable discharge.
A characterization of under honorable conditions may be issued only when the reason for the soldier's separation specifically allows such characterization. It will not be issued to soldiers upon separation at expiration of their period of enlistment, military service obligation, or period for which called or ordered to active duty.

	c.  Chapter 10 of that regulation provides, in pertinent part, that a soldier who has committed an offense or offenses, the punishment for which, under the UCMJ and the manual court-martial (MCM), 1984, includes a bad conduct or dishonorable discharge, may submit a request for discharge for the good of the Service. The provisions of RCM 1003(d), MCM 1984, do not apply to requests for discharge per this chapter unless the case has been referred to a court-martial-authorized to adjudge a punitive discharge. The discharge request may be submitted after court-martial charges are preferred against the soldier, or, where required, after referral, until final action by the court-martial convening authority.

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 (BCM/NRs) regarding equity, injustice, or clemency determinations.  Clemency generally refers to relief specifically granted from a criminal sentence.  BCM/NRs may grant clemency regardless of the type of court-martial.  However, the guidance applies to more than clemency from a sentencing in a court-martial; it also applies to other corrections, including changes in a discharge, which may be warranted based on equity or relief from injustice.  This 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 based on equity, injustice, or clemency grounds, BCM/NRs shall consider the prospect for rehabilitation, external evidence, sworn testimony, policy changes, relative severity of misconduct, mental and behavioral health conditions, official governmental acknowledgement that a relevant error or injustice was committed, and uniformity of punishment.  Changes to the narrative reason for discharge and/or an upgraded character of service granted solely on equity, injustice, or clemency grounds normally should not result in separation pay, retroactive promotions, and payment of past medical expenses or similar benefits that might have been received if the original discharge had been for the revised reason or had the upgraded service characterization.


ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20170013542


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