Title: DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
Author: CAP
Last saved by: carla.d.smith1
Company: NCPB

Docket No. ND09-00827

ex-ABHAN, USN

Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request

Application Received: 20090225
Characterization of Service Received:  UNDER OTHER THAN HONORABLE CONDITIONS
Narrative Reason for Discharge: IN LIEU OF TRIAL BY COURT MARTIAL
Authority for Discharge:  MILPERSMAN 1910-106 (IN LIEU OF TRIAL BY COURT MARTIAL)

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

Summary of Service

Prior Service:
Inactive:	USNR (DEP)	20030730 - 20030818  COG	Active:	NONE

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Enlistment:  20030819	Age at Enlistment:  19
Period of Enlistment:  4 Years  NO Extension
Date of Discharge:  20061108	Highest Rank/Rate:  ABH3
Length of Service:  03 Year(s)   02  Month(s)   20 Day(s)
Education Level:  12	AFQT:  61
Evaluation Marks:	Performance:  1.3 (3)	Behavior:  1.0 (3)	OTA:  1.38

Awards and Decorations (per DD 214):	NDSM GWOTSM

Periods of UA/CONF:  0600, 20060602-1925 20061005 (125 days)

NJP:  2
- 20050126:	Article 81 (Conspiracy)
	Awarded: RESTR EPD FOP RIR  Suspended:  NONE

- 20060517:	Article 86 (UA)
	Article 92 (Failure to obey order or regulation)
	Awarded: RESTR EPD RIR  Suspended:  NONE

SCM:  NONE          SPCM:  NONE          CC:  NONE

Retention Warning Counseling:  NFIR

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:  ☐

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

1. Combat veteran with mental health issues and needs treatment.
2. Isolated incident in three years of honorable service.

Decision

Date:  20090528	DOCUMENTARY REVIEW	Location:  Washington D.C.	Representation:  NONE

By a vote of 5-0 the Characterization shall remain UNDER OTHER THAN HONORABLE CONDITIONS.
By a vote of 5-0 the Narrative Reason shall remain IN LIEU OF TRIAL BY COURT MARTIAL.

Discussion

Issue 1:. The Applicant contends he is a combat veteran who suffers from mental health issues and needs treatment.  There is no medical documentation in the record or provided by the Applicant to support this contention.  The Board requested the Applicant’s medical records, but were not available for review.  Additionally, 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 Service Benefits, for additional information regarding this Issue.

Issue 2:  (Equity)  RELIEF NOT WARRANTED.  In seeking an upgrade to Honorable, the Applicant contends he served honorably for three years, received a combat action ribbon, and his discharge was based on one isolated incident during his period of service.  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.  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/or the reason for discharge if such change is warranted.  Furthermore, despite a member’s prior record of service, certain serious offenses, even though isolated, warrant separation from the Naval service to maintain proper order and discipline. 

The Applicant’s service record was marred by two NJPs for violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ):  Article 81 (Conspiracy), Article 86 (UA, duration unknown), and Article 92 (Failure to obey a lawful order or regulation).  Additionally, the evidence of record reflects the Applicant violated Article 86 (UA for 125 days, apprehended) and Article 134 (Breaking restriction) and in lieu of trial by SPCM, he requested administrative separation and was subsequently discharged in abstentia.  This evidence refutes the Applicant’s contention that his discharge was based on one isolated incident in three years of service.  The presumption of regularity was applied in the absence of the administrative separation package.  After reviewing the evidence of record and information presented by the Applicant, the Board determined the discharge was appropriate in light of the frequency and seriousness of the Applicant’s misconduct and the length of the UA.  Furthermore, the Board found no evidence in the record the Applicant received a combat action ribbon.  Therefore, relief is denied.  

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

Pertinent Regulation/Law

A.  Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 11, effective 31 May 2005 and Present, Article 1910-106, SEPARATION IN LIEU OF TRIAL BY COURT-MARTIAL.

B.  Secretary of the Navy Instruction 5420.174D of 22 December 2004, Naval Discharge Review Board (NDRB) Procedures and Standards, Part IV, Para 403m(7)(b), Presumption Concerning Court-Martial Specifications.

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 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 Board for Correction of Naval Records (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 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 NDRB 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 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

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	CCU - Correctional Custody Unit	BW – 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