ex-CSSA, USN
ND07-00465

Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request

Application Received:  20070228 	Characterization Received:  
Narrative Reason:  MISCONDUCT (SERIOUS OFFENSE) 	Authority:  MILPERSMAN 1910-142

Applicant’s Request:	Characterization change to:  
			Narrative Reason change to: 
Applicant’s Issues:	1. Post service
			2. Chain of command caused him to go AWOL

By a vote of  the Characterization shall  .
By a vote of  the Narrative Reason shall  MISCONDUCT (SERIOUS OFFENSE)

Date:  20080117     		Location:  Washington D.C	 Representation:  

Discussion

Issue 1 (Equity).  The Applicant's representative contends that his discharge should be upgraded based on the Applicant’s 
“post service turnaround.”.  The Applicant is advised that there is no law or regulation which provides that an unfavorable discharge may be upgraded based solely on the passage of time or good conduct in civilian life subsequent to leaving the Navy.  However, the NDRB is authorized to consider post-service factors in the recharacterization of a discharge to the extent such matters provide a basis for a more thorough understanding of the Applicant’s performance and conduct during the period of service under review.  Examples of documentation that should be provided to the Board include proof of educational pursuits, verifiable employment records, documentation of community service, credible evidence of a substance-free lifestyle and certification of non-involvement with civil authorities.  As of this time, the Applicant has not provided any documentation of a post-service nature for the Board to consider.

Issue 2 (Propriety/Equity).  The Applicant’s representative also contends that his wife’s chain of command failed him in that they did not make her complete counseling that was necessary for them to resolve her domestic abuse of him, thereby causing him to go AWOL.  The Applicant has not submitted any documentation, nor is there any evidence contained in the record to support the allegation that his wife’s chain of command failed him and caused him to go UA.  The record reflects that he had two periods of unauthorized absences, totaling 86 days, and was awarded punishment at NJP on 20050923 for VUCMJ, Art (s) 86 and 87.  The Applicant was subsequently discharged for commission of a serious offense. After a thorough review of the records, testimony, supporting documents, facts, and circumstances unique to this case, the Board found that the discharge was proper and equitable.

In reviewing discharges, the Board presumes regularity in the conduct of Government affairs unless there is substantial credible evidence to rebut the presumption, to include evidence submitted by the Applicant.  After a thorough review of the available evidence, to include the Applicant’s Summary of Service, Medical and Service Record Entries, Discharge Process and evidence submitted by the Applicant, the Board found that 

Summary of Service

Prior Service:
Inactive: USNR (DEP)	20020622 - 20021022  		Active:   
Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Enlistment: 20021023	Years Contracted:  	12 mo ext	Date of Discharge:  20051208
Length of Service:  03  Yrs  01  Mths  16  Dys	Lost Time:  Days UA:    Days Confined:  
Education Level:  	Age at Enlistment:  	AFQT:  39	Highest Rank/Rate:  CSSN
Evaluation marks (# of occasions):	Performance:  3.0 (2)	Behavior:  2.5 (2)	 OTA:  2.93 (2) 
Awards and Decorations (per DD 214):  NDSM, GWOTSM, PISTOL (MM)
Medical/Service Record Entries Related to Characterization of Service or Basis for Discharge

20050504:	Days of Time Lost During This Enlistment:  20050405 to 20050504 (30 days).  Extracted from DD Form 214, Block 29.

20050915:	Days of Time Lost During This Enlistment:  20050722 to 20050915 (56 days).  Extracted from DD Form 214, Block 29.
20050923:	NJP -- Viol UCMJ Art. 86 - Unauthorized absence, Art. 87 - Missing ship’s movement.
	Awarded - Bread and water for 3 days.

Discharge Process

Date Notified:					NOT FOUND IN RECORD
Reason for Discharge:	
Least Favorable Characterization:	

Date Applicant Responded to Notification:		NOT FOUND IN RECORD
Rights Elected at Notification:
	Consult with Counsel			
	Obtain Copies of Documents		
	Submit Statement(s) (date)			
	Administrative Board			
	GCMCA review				

Administrative Board Date, if any:	NOT FOUND IN RECORD

Commanding Officer Recommendation (date):	
Separation Authority (date):	COMMANDER, CARRIER STRIKE GROUP TWELVE (20051117)
              Reason for discharge directed:	 - 
              Characterization directed:	
Date Applicant Discharged:	20051208

Types of Documents Submitted by Applicant and Considered By Board

Related to Military Service:	Service and/or Medical Record:  		Other Records:  

Related to Post-Service Period:  	
	Employment:  			Finances:  			Education: 		
	Health/Medical Records:  		Substance Abuse:			Criminal Records:  	
	Family/Personal Status: 		Community Service:  		References:  		
	
Additional Statements From Applicant:  	From Representative:    
Other Documentation (Describe) 

Pertinent Regulation/Law

A.  Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 11, effective 26 April 2005 until Present, Article 1910-142, SEPARATION BY REASON OF MISCONDUCT - COMMISSION OF A SERIOUS OFFENSE.

B.  Secretary of the Navy Instruction 5420.174D of 22 December 2004, Naval Discharge Review Board (NDRB) Procedures and Standards, Part II, Para 211, Regularity of Government Affairs, Part V, Para 502, Propriety and Para 503, Equity.

ADDENDUM:  Information for the Applicant

Complaint Procedures:  If you believe that the decision in your case is unclear, not responsive to the issues you raised, or does not otherwise comport with the decisional document requirements of DoD Instruction 1332.28, you may submit a complaint in accordance with Enclosure (5) of that Instruction to the Joint Service Review Activity, OUSD (P&R) PI-LP, The Pentagon, Washington, DC  20301-4000.  You should read Enclosure (5) of the Instruction before submitting such a complaint.  The complaint procedure does not permit a challenge of the merits of the decision; it is designed solely to ensure that the decisional documents meet applicable requirements for clarity and responsiveness.  You may view DoD Instruction 1332.28 and other Decisional Documents by going online at “http://Boards.law.af.mil.”

Additional Reviews:  Subsequent to a document review, former members are eligible for a personal appearance hearing, provided the application is received at the NDRB within 15 years from the date of discharge.  The Applicant can provide documentation to support any claims of post-service accomplishments or any additional evidence related to this discharge.  Representation at a personal appearance hearing is recommended but not required.  If a former member has been discharged for more than 15 years, has already been granted a personal appearance hearing or has otherwise exhausted his opportunities before the NDRB, the Applicant may petition the Board for Correction of Naval Records (BCNR), 2 Navy Annex, Washington, DC 20370-5100 for further review.

Service Benefits:  The Veterans Administration determines eligibility for post-service benefits, not the Naval Discharge Review Board.  There is no requirement or law that grants recharacterization solely on the issue of obtaining Veterans' benefits and this issue does not serve to provide a foundation upon which the Board can grant relief.

Employment/Educational Opportunities:  The Board has no authority to upgrade a discharge for the sole purpose of enhancing employment or educational opportunities.  Regulations limit the Board’s review to a determination of the propriety and equity of the discharge.  

Reenlistment/RE-code:  Since the NDRB has no jurisdiction over reenlistment, reentry, or reinstatement into the Navy, Marine Corps, or any other of the Armed Forces, the NDRB is not authorized to change a reenlistment code.  Only the Board for Correction of Naval Records (BCNR) can make changes to reenlistment codes.  Additionally, the Board has no authority to upgrade a discharge for the sole purpose of enhancing reenlistment opportunities.  An unfavorable “RE” code is, in itself, not a bar to reenlistment.  A request for a waiver can be submitted during the processing of a formal application for reenlistment through a recruiter.

Medical Conditions and Misconduct:  DoD disability regulations do not preclude a disciplinary separation.  Appropriate regulations stipulate that separations for misconduct take precedence over potential separations for other reasons.  Whenever a member is being processed through the Physical Evaluation Board, and subsequently is processed for an administrative involuntary separation for misconduct, the disability evaluation is suspended.  The Physical Evaluation Board case remains in suspense pending the outcome of the non-disability proceedings.  If the action includes either a punitive or administrative discharge for misconduct, the medical board report is filed in the member’s terminated health record.  Additionally, the NDRB does not have the authority to change a narrative reason for separation to one indicating a medical disability or “PTSD.”  Only the Board for Correction of Naval Records can grant this type of narrative reason change.  

Automatic Upgrades - There is no law or regulation, which provides that an unfavorable discharge may be upgraded based solely on the passage of time or good conduct in civilian life subsequent to leaving Naval service.  The NDRB is authorized to consider post-service factors in the recharacterization of a discharge to the extent such matters provide a basis for a more thorough understanding of the Applicant’s performance and conduct during the period of service under review.  Examples of documentation that may be provided to the Board include proof of educational pursuits, verifiable employment records, documentation of community service, credible evidence of a substance free lifestyle and certification of non-involvement with civil authorities.  

Issues Concerning Bad-Conduct Discharges (BCD) – Because relevant and material facts stated in a court-martial specification are presumed by the NDRB to be established facts, issues relating to the Applicant’s innocence of charges for which he was found guilty cannot form a basis for relief.  With respect to a discharge adjudged by a court-martial, the action of the NDRB is restricted to upgrades based on clemency.  Clemency is an act of leniency that reduces the severity of the punishment imposed.  

Board Membership:  The names and votes of the members of the Board are recorded on the original of this document and may be obtained from the service records by writing to:

Secretary of the Navy Council of Review Boards
Attn:  Naval Discharge Review Board
720 Kennon Street SE Rm 309
Washington Navy Yard DC  20374-5023