Title: DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
Author: CAP
Last saved by: janet.goode
Company: NCPB

Docket No. ND09-00202

ex-BU3, USN

Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request

Application Received:  20081106
Characterization of Service Received:  GENERAL (UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS)
Narrative Reason for Discharge: SECRETARIAL AUTHORITY
Authority for Discharge:  MILPERSMAN 1910-164 (SECRETARIAL AUTHORITY)

Applicant’s Request:  Characterization change to:  HONORABLE
		       Narrative Reason change to:  NONE REQUESTED

Summary of Service

Prior Service:
Inactive: USNR (DEP)	20000919 - 20001003  COG	Active:	NONE

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Enlistment:  20001004	Age at Enlistment:  18
Period of Enlistment:  4 Years  31 MONTHS Extension
Date of Discharge:  20060509	Highest Rank/Rate:  BU3
Length of Service:  05 Year(s)   07  Month(s)   06 Day(s)
Education Level:  12	AFQT:  35
Evaluation Marks:	Performance:  NFIR	Behavior:  NFIR	OTA:  NFIR

Awards and Decorations (per DD 214):	MUC NAVY "E" (4) NDSM SSDR (3) NUC GCM GWOTSM GWOTEM NMCAM MEM (2) AFEM

Periods of UA/CONF:  NONE    NJP:  NONE    SCM:  NONE    SPCM:  NONE    CC:  NONE

Retention Warning Counseling:  NONE

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:  ☐

Pertinent Regulation/Law

A.  The Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 11, effective 1 June 2005 until Present, Article 1910-164, SEPARATION BY REASON OF BEST INTEREST OF THE SERVICE (BIOTS).

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.  Seeking to use educational benefits.
2.  Processed for discharge without a hearing.

Decision

Date:  20090223	DOCUMENTARY REVIEW	Location:  Washington D.C.	Representation:  NONE

By a vote of 5-0 the Characterization shall remain GENERAL (UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS).
By a vote of 5-0 the Narrative Reason shall remain SECRETARIAL AUTHORITY.

Discussion

Issue 1:  The Applicant is seeking an upgrade in order to use the educational benefits he has earned during his five and a half years of service.  This is either an Issue which the Board cannot form the basis of relief for the Applicant, or one the Board does not have the authority to grant the relief for which the Applicant petitioned.  The Applicant is directed to the Addendum, specifically the paragraph concerning Employment/Educational Opportunities, for additional information regarding this Issue.

Issue 2:  (Propriety/Equity)  RELIEF NOT WARRANTED.  The Applicant is seeking an upgrade to “Honorable” contending he was processed with a “General (Under Honorable Conditions)” discharge without a hearing.  The Applicant’s record of service reflects he was discharged based on Secretarial authority with a “General (Under Honorable Conditions)” after serving 5 years and 7 months on active duty.  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.  In the absence of a complete discharge package, the Board presumed regularity of governmental affairs.  As such, the Board presumed the Applicants discharge met the requirements of Navy regulation for administrative processing.  

In regard to the Applicant’s contention he was not given a hearing prior to being discharged, pursuant to Navy regulation a service member is not entitled to an administrative hearing unless the least favorable characterization of discharge is “Under Other Than Honorable Conditions” or the service member has at least six years of active duty service.  Since the Applicant had less than 6 years of service at the time of discharge and was awarded a “General (Under Honorable Conditions), the Board determined he was not entitled to a hearing.  Additionally, there is no evidence in the record nor presented by the Applicant to support the allegations contained in his Article 138 Complaint of 31 March 2006 that he was wrongfully detained in the brig for 28 days, wrongfully processed for Family Advocacy Program Failure and denied an investigation.  

The Applicant has requested an upgrade in his discharge characterization to “Honorable”. When a Sailor’s service has been honest and faithful, it is appropriate to characterize that service under “Honorable” conditions.  Characterization of service as “General (Under Honorable Conditions)” is warranted when significant negative aspects of a member's conduct or performance of duty outweigh the positive aspects of the member's military record.  The Board found the Applicant’s awarded discharge characterization was appropriate considering the basis for separation and lack of mitigating evidence. 

After a thorough review of the available evidence, to include the Applicant’s Summary of Service, Service  Record Entries, Discharge Process and evidence submitted by the Applicant, the Board found the discharge was proper and equitable.

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 or is referred to a court martial 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 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 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 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 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

Key:	NFIR - Not Found In Record 	UA – Unauthorized absence	NJP – Non-judicial punishment	SCM – Summary court-martial
	SPCM – Special court-martial	FOP – Forfeiture of pay	RIR – Reduction in rank	EPD – Extra Duties
	CONF – Confinement		CC - Civilian conviction	B&W – Confinement on bread and water

Key:	NFIR - Not Found In Record 	UA – Unauthorized absence	NJP – Nonjudicial punishment	SCM – Summary court-martial	
	SPCM – Special court-martial	FOP – Forfeiture of pay	RIR – Reduction in rank	EPD – Extra Duties 
	CONF – Confinement		B&W – Confinement on bread and water