ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:  9 August 2019

	DOCKET NUMBER:  AR20180005462


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

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD: 
DD Form 293 (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 he would like to change his discharge to erase the blemish on his military career.  Since his discharge, he worked for his city for 13 years and he started his own commercial cleaning business.  He also serves as a deacon at his church.

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

   a. He enlisted in the Regular Army on 2 October 1989.  After completing initial entry training he served in Hawaii and Fort Carson, CO.  He departed Fort Carson on 29 October 1995 en route to the Republic of Korea; however, he did not report.

   b. DD Form 458 (Charge Sheet), dated 16 January 1996, shows court-martial charges were preferred against the applicant for one specification of being absent without leave (AWOL) from on or about 31 January 1995 to 9 January 1996.

   c. On 16 January 1996, the applicant consulted with legal counsel.  He was advised of the basis for the contemplated trial by court-martial, the maximum permissible punishment authorized under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), the possible effects of an under other than honorable conditions discharge, and the procedures and rights that were available to him.  

   d. Subsequent to receiving legal counsel, he voluntarily requested discharge under the provision 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 acknowledged his understanding that:

* by requesting discharge, he was admitting guilt to the charge against him, or of a lesser included offense that also authorized the imposition of an undesirable discharge 
* he acknowledged he understood that if his discharge request was accepted he could be deprived of many or all Army benefits, he could be ineligible for many or all benefits administered by the Veterans Administration, and he could be deprived of his rights and benefits as a veteran under both Federal and State laws
* he was advised he could submit any statements he desired in his own behalf; he did not submit any statements

   e.  Consistent with the chain of command recommendations, on 8 February 1996, the separation authority approved the applicant’s request for discharge.  He directed he be reduced to the lowest enlisted grade and issued an Under Other Than Honorable Conditions Discharge Certificate.

   f.  The applicant was discharged on 26 March 1996, under the provisions of AR 635-200, Chapter 10 for the good of the service - in lieu of trial by court-martial with an under other than honorable character of service.  His DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) shows he completed 5 years, 6 months, and 17 days of net active service with lost time from 31 January 1995 to 8 January 1996.  

4.  There is no evidence the applicant has applied to the Army Discharge Review Board for review of his discharge within that board's 15-year statute of limitations. 

5.  By regulation, a member who has committed an offense for which the authorized punishment includes a punitive discharge may submit a request for discharge in lieu of trial by court-martial.  The request may be submitted at any time after charges have been preferred and must include the individual's admission of guilt.  A discharge under other than honorable conditions is normally considered appropriate.

6.  The Board should consider the applicant's submissions in accordance with the published equity, injustice, or clemency determination guidance.


BOARD DISCUSSION:

After review of the application and all evidence, the Board determined relief is not warranted.  The applicant’s contentions were carefully considered.  The Board applied Department of Defense standards of liberal consideration to the complete evidentiary record and did not find any evidence of error, injustice, or inequity.  He did not provide character witness statements or evidence of post-service achievements for the Board to consider.  One possible outcome was to grant relief as his record is absent evidence of misconduct until he received orders to report to Korea.  However, based upon the lengthy period of AWOL, as well as the failure to accept responsibility and show remorse for the events leading to his separation, the majority Board agreed that the applicant's discharge characterization was warranted as a result of the misconduct as Soldiers consistently follow permanent change of station orders.

BOARD VOTE:
Mbr 1	Mbr 2	Mbr 3

:	:	:	GRANT FULL RELIEF

:	X	:	GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF

:	:	:	GRANT FORMAL HEARING

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), 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 and entitles the recipient to benefits provided by law.  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 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.  

   c.  Chapter 10 of that regulation provides, in pertinent part, that a member who has committed an offense or offenses for which the authorized punishment includes a punitive discharge may, submit a request for discharge for the good of the service in lieu of trial by court-martial.  The request may be submitted at any time after charges have been preferred and must include the individual's admission of guilt.  Although an honorable or general discharge is authorized, a discharge under other than honorable conditions is normally considered appropriate.

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.

//NOTHING FOLLOWS//

ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont)	 AR20180005462


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