Y
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAV
BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF NAVAL RECORDS

2 NAVY ANNEX

WASHINGTON DC 203704100

TRG
Docket No: 5577-98
7 May 1999

Chairman, Board for Correction of Naval Records
Secretary of the Navy

REVIEW OF NAVAL, RECORD 

OF

(a) Title 10 U.S.C. 1552

(1) DD Form 149 w/attachments
(2) Case Summary
(3) Subject's naval record

From:
To:

Subj:

Ref:

Encl:

Pursuant to the provisions of reference (a), Petitioner, a

1.
former enlisted member of the United States Navy filed enclosure
(1) with this Board requesting that his reenlistment code be
changed.

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The Board, consisting of Mr. Zsalman, Mr. Milner and Ms.

2.
Nofziger, reviewed Petitioner's allegations  
oi' error and
injustice on 18 May 1999 and, pursuant to its regulations,
determined that the corrective action indicated below should be
taken on the available evidence of record.
considered by the Board consisted of the enclosures, naval
records, and applicable statutes, regulations and policies.

Documentary material

The Board, having reviewed all the facts of record pertaining

3.
to Petitioner's allegations of error and injustice, finds as
follows:

a.

Before applying to this Board, Petitioner exhausted all

administrative remedies available under existing law and
regulations within the Department of the Navy.

b.

Enclosure (1) was filed in a timely manner.

Petitioner enlisted in the Navy on 2 July 1996 at age

C .
In September 1996 he was referred by the Recruit Evaluation
(REU) for a psychiatric evaluation.

22.
Unit 
psychiatric evaluation states, in part, as follows:

The subsequent

. 

. (He) has been a exemplary recruit with outstanding

. 
performance who served as his Division  
reported to this examiner with barely audible responses
and revealed some facts which seem to explain his mood
(He) also revealed some facts which seem
or behavior.
He also revealed
to explain his apparent pathology.
serious thoughts of suicide and actually cut his hand

MAA.

(He)

with a scissors this morning and showed his hand to
this examiner  

.. . 

. 

He denied

(He) described

He also reported  

. (He) also reported some antisocial behavior but was

. 
very vague and unwilling to elaborate.
convictions or incarcerations.
approximately 10 jobs with chronic problems with bosses
and co-workers.
(He) reported to this examiner an
chronic unhappiness.
ongoing history of depressed mood and associated
symptoms of depression to include serious suicidal
ideations, fatigue, low self-esteem, concentration
problems, a defeated attitude, and poor coping with the
demands of daily living.
continuing danger to self or others should expeditious
separation not take place due to further risk of self
harm. . . . He realized he has become unable to cope
after almost completing RTC training.

. . . (He) presents a

anger.problems  and

The psychologist made a diagnosis of early onset dysthymic
disorder and recommended an entry level separation.

d.

On 9 September 1996 Petitioner was notified of

separation processing due to erroneous enlistment. In
connection with processing he elected to waive his
procedural rights.
He was so
authority directed an entry level separation.
separated on 16 September 1996.
The narrative reason for
separation was entered as "personality disorder" on the DD
Form 214.
reenlistment and was assigned an RE-4 reenlistment code.

At that time he was not recommended for

On 11 September 1996 the separation

e.

The Board is aware that Dysthymic Disorder is not listed
in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as a
personality disorder, but is a separate category of disorder.

f.

The Board is also aware that when discharge is warranted

but the reason for discharge is erroneous, the narrative reason
for separation is normally changed to the nonstigmatizing
Interest of the  

Service" or "Secretarial Authority."

 

"Best

CONCLUSION:

Upon review and consideration of all the evidence of record the
Board concludes that Petitioner's request warrants favorable
action.
difficulties in recruit training,
disorder during his enlistment. Since his condition would
severely impact on his ability to complete recruit training and

In this regard, the Board notes Petitioner's documented

and the diagnosed dysthymic

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subsequent service, the Board concludes that separation from the
However, the Board also finds that he does
Navy was warranted.
not have a diagnosed personality disorder and separation for that
Accordingly, the Board concludes that the
reason is erroneous.
narrative reason for separation should be changed to best
interest of the service or secretarial authority.

The Board is aware that most individuals who fail to complete
Navy recruit training are assigned an RE-4 reenlistment code.
The Board also believes the nature of Petitioner's condition
makes the assignment of an RE-4 reenlistment code appropriate.
Accordingly the Board concludes that the reenlistment code should
not be changed.

RECOMMENDATION:

That Petitioner's naval record be corrected to show that

a.
the narrative reason for separation is Secretarial Authority vice
the narrative reason for separation now of record.

That Petitioner's request for a change in his reenlistment

b.
code be denied.

C . That any material or entries inconsistent with or relating to
the Board's recommendation be corrected, removed or completely
expunged from Petitioner's record and that no such entries or
material be added to the record in the future.

d. That any material directed to be removed from Petitioner's
naval record be returned to the Board,
of Proceedings, for retention in a confidential file maintained
for such purpose, with no cross reference being made a part of
Petitioner's naval record.

together with this Report

It is certified that a quorum was present at the Board's

4.
review and deliberations,
and that the foregoing is a true and
complete record of the Board's proceedings in the above entitled
matter.

ROBERT D. ZSALMAN
Recorder

ALAN E. GOLDSMITH'
Acting Recorder

Pursuant to the delegation of authority set out in Section
5.
6(e) of the revised Procedures of the Board for Correction of
Naval Records (32 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 723.6(e))
and having assured compliance with its provisions, it is hereby

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announced that the foregoing corrective action, taken under the
has been approved by the Board on
authority of reference (a),
behalf of the Secretary of the Navy.

Executive D

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