ex-, USMC

Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request

Application Received:  20081020
Characterization of Service Received:  
Narrative Reason for Discharge:  
Authority for Discharge:  MARCORSEPMAN 

Applicant’s Request:  Characterization change to:  
		       Narrative Reason change to:  CONVENIENCE OF GOVERNMENT

Summary of Service

Prior Service:
Inactive:	USMCR (DEP)	19990210 - 19990215  	Active:	

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Enlistment:  19990216	Age at Enlistment:  
Period of Enlistment:   Years   Months
Date of Discharge:  20010306	Highest Rank:  
Length of Service:    Year(s)    Month(s)  21  Day(s)
Education Level:  	AFQT:  75
MOS:  6017
Proficiency/Conduct Marks (# of occasions):   () /  ()	Fitness Reports:  

Awards and Decorations (per DD 214):	Rifle  

Period of CONF:  20010104-20010127 (24 DAYS)

NJP:  
- 19991029:	Article 91 (Insubordination)
	Article 92 (Disobedience of an order or regulation) 
	Awarded:      Suspended:  

- 19991209:	Article 92 (Disobedience of an order or regulation) 
	Awarded:     Suspended:  

- 20000913:	Article 92 (Disobedience of an order or regulation) 
	Awarded:     Suspended:  

SCM:  

- 20010104:	Article 92 (Disobedience of an order or regulation)
	Article 134 (Drunk and disorderly) 
	Sentence: 

SPCM:  	CC:  

Retention Warning Counseling:  
- 19991108:	For violation of Article 91, Insubordinate conduct; Article 92, Disobeying an order or regulation. 
- 20010207:	For further treatment for alcohol dependency. 

NDRB Documentary Review Conducted (date):	20050713
NDRB Documentary Review Docket Number:	MD05-00604
NDRB Documentary Review Findings:		Proper as issued and that no change is warranted.
Types of Documents Submitted/reviewed

Related to Military Service: 
              DD 214:  	                            Service/Medical Record:             Other Records:  

Related to Post-Service Period:	
	Employment:			Finances:			Education/Training:	
	Health/Medical Records:		Substance Abuse:			Criminal Records:	
	Family/Personal Status: 		Community Service:  		References:  		
              Additional Statements: 
                             From Applicant:  	From Representation:         	From Congress member:    

                    Other Documentation:  

A.  Paragraph 6210, MISCONDUCT, of the Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual, (MCO P1900.16E), effective 31 January 1997 until 31 August 2001.

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.

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
NAVAL DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD (NDRB)
DISCHARGE REVIEW DECISIONAL DOCUMENT

Applicant’s Issues
1.	To reenlist in either the Marine Corps or the Army.
2     Given an ultimatum by my parents to join the Marine Corps or live with my grandparents. 
3.    I have held steady employment and have also earned 56 college credits.
4.    Have remained alcohol-free since my discharge and currently attending AA meetings.

Decision

Date:  20091026		Location: Washington D.C.	 Representation: 

By a vote of  the Characterization shall  .
By a vote of  the Narrative Reason shall  MISCONDUCT.

Discussion

The NDRB, under its responsibility to examine the propriety and equity of an Applicant’s discharge, is authorized to change the character of service and the reason for discharge if such change is warranted.  In reviewing discharges, the Board presumes regularity in the conduct of governmental affairs unless there is substantial credible evidence to rebut the presumption, to include evidence submitted by the Applicant.  The Applicant’s record of service included  NAMVC 118 (page 11) counseling warnings;  nonjudicial punishments () for  of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ): Article 91 (Insubordination, wrongfully disrespecting a First Class Petty Officer by spitting on him) and Article 92 (Failure to obey order, regulation/underage drinking) 3 specifications; and  summary court-martial () for  of the UCMJ: Article 92 (Failure to obey order, regulation/underage drinking) and Article 134 (Drunk and disorderly).  Based on the offenses committed by the Applicant,  command administratively processed  for separation.  When processed for administrative separation, the Applicant waived his right to request an administrative discharge board, consult with a qualified counsel, and submit a written statement.

:  (Nondecisional) The Applicant requested a discharge upgrade to reenlist in either the Marine Corps or the Army.  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.  See the Addendum paragraph, Reenlistment/RE-code, for more information.

Issue 2:  (Nondecisional)   The Applicant contends that he was given an ultimatum by his parents to join the Marines Corps or live with his grandparents.  Regulations limit the Board’s review to determination of the propriety and equity of the discharge, not the reason for enlisting in the military.  The Board noted that the Applicant was 18 years old when he enlisted in the USMC and did not need parental consent to enlist.

Issue 3-4:  (Decisional) ()  .  The Applicant contends he has held steady employment, attended college by earning 56 credits, attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and has remained alcohol-free since his discharge.  The NDRB considers post-service conduct to determine if the misconduct committed during active duty was indicative of the Applicant's overall character or an aberration.  Although his efforts to improve his life are noteworthy, besides two character reference letters from his brothers and a copy of his college transcripts, he failed to provide any additional documentation and evidence on his behalf to support a post-service conduct review.  The Applicant could have provided documentation which could include but is not limited to:  verifiable employment record/letter of recommendation from his employers; proof of an alcohol-free life style (completion of rehab/proof he attended AA meetings); and certification of non-involvement with civil authorities, evidence of financial stability (home ownership/home rental history, credit card payments); documentation of community/church service and if married, a marriage certificate.  The Board determined the Applicant did not provide sufficient post-service documentary evidence to form a basis of relief.  The Applicant's statements alone, without sufficient documentary evidence, are not enough to form a basis of relief.  On page 4, Item 8, in the instructions for completion of DD Form 293, the Applicant is notified to submit evidence "which substantiates or relates directly to your issues in Item 6" (Issues: Why an upgrade or change is requested and justification for the request).  Additionally, upon receipt of the Applicant's DD Form 293, the NDRB mails an acceptance letter that includes Information Concerning Review Procedures, which discusses the submission of additional documents in paragraph 3, Submission of Evidence, and in the last section on page 4, Information Pertaining to a Review Based Upon Post-Service Conduct.
 
Summary:  After a thorough review of the available evidence, to include the Applicant’s summary of service,  record entries, and discharge process, the Board found   Therefore, the awarded characterization of service shall   and the narrative reason for separation shall remain .

ADDENDUM:  Information for the Applicant

Complaint Procedures:  If you believe 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:  After a document review has been conducted, former members are eligible for a personal appearance hearing, provided the application is received at the NDRB within 15 years of the Applicant’s 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.  There are veterans organizations such as the American Legion and the Association of Service Disable Veterans that are willing to provide guidance to former service members in their efforts to obtain a discharge upgrade.  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 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) determines eligibility for post-service benefits, not the NDRB.  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 NDRB has no authority to upgrade a discharge for the sole purpose of enhancing employment or educational opportunities.  Regulations limit the NDRB’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 BCNR can make changes to reenlistment codes.  Additionally, the NDRB 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 is processed subsequently for an administrative involuntary separation or is referred to a court martial for misconduct, the disability evaluation is suspended pending the outcome of the non-disability proceedings.  If the action includes either a punitive or administrative discharge for misconduct or for any basis wherein an Other Than Honorable discharge is authorized, 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 other medical related reasons.  Only the BCNR can grant this type of narrative reason change.

Automatic Upgrades - There is no law or regulation that provides for an unfavorable discharge to be upgraded based solely on the passage of time or good conduct subsequent to leaving naval service.  

Post-Service Conduct:  The NDRB is authorized to consider post-service factors in the recharacterization of a discharge.  Outstanding post-service conduct, 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, is considered during Board reviews.  Documentation to support a post-service conduct upgrade includes, but is not limited to: a verifiable continuous employment record; marriage and children’s birth certificates (if applicable); character witness statements; documentation of community or church service; certification of non-involvement with civil authorities; evidence of financial stability or letters of good standing from banks, credit card companies, or other financial institutions; attendance at or completion of higher education (official transcripts); and documentation of a drug-free lifestyle.   The Applicant is advised that completion of these items alone does not guarantee the upgrade of an unfavorable discharge, as each discharge is reviewed by the Board on a case-by-case basis to determine if post-service accomplishments help demonstrate  in-service misconduct was an aberration and not indicative of the member’s overall character.

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 special 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.  The NDRB does not have the jurisdictional authority to review a discharge or dismissal resulting from a general court-martial.

Board Membership:  The names and votes of the members of the NDRB 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