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NAVY | DRB | 2001_Navy | ND01-00544
Original file (ND01-00544.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied


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

ex-RMSN, USN
Docket No. ND01-00544

Applicant’s Request
The application for discharge review, received 010319, requested that the reason for the discharge be changed to no reason or N/A - See attached letter. The applicant requested a documentary record discharge review. The applicant did not list any representative on the DD Form 293.

Decision

A documentary discharge review was conducted in Washington, D.C. on 010629. After a thorough review of the records, supporting documents, facts, and circumstances unique to this case, NDRB discerned no impropriety or inequity in the characterization of the applicant’s service. The Board’s vote was unanimous that the character of the discharge shall not change. The discharge shall remain: HONORABLE/Other physical/mental conditions - personality disorder, authority: NAVMILPERSMAN, Article 3620200.

PART I - APPLICANT’S ISSUES AND DOCUMENTATION

Issues

1. To whom it may concern,

On March 3 rd , 1988 I was honorable discharged from the U.S. Navy. On my discharge paperwork it stated "Personality Disorder." I respectfully request that my service record be corrected to remove this statement and a new DD-214 be issued that does not contain any comment or derogatory classification whatsoever. Over a year before entering the U.S. Navy I spent some time as an inpatient of a St. Joseph hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, being treated for depression. This was fully disclosed when I entered the military. I entered the Navy on April 8th, 1985. I successfully completed boot camp and Radioman A school. I was assigned to the U.S. S. Vandegrift. While serving on the ship I felt I was becoming clinically depressed and drove to Long Beach Naval Hospital to see a physician. This ended up being the worst mistake of my life. After one visit with the physician I was permanently kicked out of radio on the U.S. S Vandegrift. My clearance was revoked. Every single person that I had spent time working with on the ship was informed that I was crazy. (I got a lot of derogatory feedback from some of the less respectful shipmates.) I was transferred to Long Beach Naval Hospital where I sat in a room for five days. (I suppose this was considered to be observation.) I was then sent to Port Huaneme Naval Base where I was assigned to a unit of people that were being processed out of the Navy. I never received medication or treatment at any time. I recall that at some point someone at Long Beach Naval hospital must have panicked because shortly before being discharged I recall taking a van to Long Beach Naval Hospital. (Two or three times. I don't really remember. Nor was I able to derive a purpose for these trips besides someone putting together a file on me.) It was over a year after my initial doctor visit that I was finally discharged. For nearly a year I lived in the barracks of Port Huaneme Naval Base. Anyone that I worked with while stationed there was told that I was crazy. They all wanted to discuss it with me and that is how I knew that my medical record was made public knowledge. My medical record was also made public knowledge on the U.S. S. Vandegrift. When I was discharged my parents received a letter in the mail stamped "CONFIDENTIAL." The stamp was similar to the ones I had used as a Radioman. The letter officially informed my parents that I was seriously mentally ill.
When I visited the doctor initially at Long Beach Naval Hospital my only goal was to obtain an antidepressant medication to treat my clinical depression and get back to work. The sequence of events that occurred was in my opinion cruel and unusual punishment. What exactly was I being punished for? Upon leaving the military I had no job reference I could trust. I had a DD-214 that stated I had a "Personality Disorder". I had very few articles of clothing and only about a thousand dollars. If I had felt clinically depressed before my new feelings of immense sorrow and hopelessness quickly added to them. I proceeded to go to work and attend classes at a community college. At the time my DD-214 was being requested by every decent employer in town so I was forced to take low paying jobs and live in absolute poverty for many years. There were times I was forced to live out of my run down vehicle while attending school. I showered at a local gym and ate at homeless shelters. My family had long since abandoned treating me like a human being and disrespectfully referred to me as the crazy person when speaking to others.
I graduated college with a Bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. My graduation date was 1995. Where had all the years gone? I had a degree and now needed a real job. How I still had a DD-214 from the Navy that stated I had a "Personality Disorder". I was forced to take a job that did not ask for one. I endured a terrible sweatshop sales position working for a company that has since gone out of business. It was the only company that would hire me without a lot of questions.
In 1996 many companies were in a hiring frenzy and I was hoping that in the frantic bustle to hire people I could get my foot in the door of a real company without showing my DD-214. I tried tons of companies and encountered the same thing every time. They all wanted to see my dreaded DD-214. If I produced it I would never get hired. Or, if I were hired with it I would never overcome the stigma that was attached to it. It became apparent that I could not work for a company that requested this document.
A funny thing happened in the summer of 1996. A small Omaha based brokerage called Transterra was in a hiring frenzy and I happened to have gotten swept up into it. I always held my breath when applying for a position and was relieved when Transterra did not ask for my DD-214. I lived in fear over the next year that I would get a phone call from personnel requesting the dreaded document or worse that I would be found out by my agreement to a background investigation that I had signed. If I had refused to sign such a document I would not have been hired.
I soon was studying for my NASD Series 7 exam and also the Series 63. I passed the exams and quickly became a stockbroker. Shortly thereafter Transtetta became Ameritrade Incorporated. I was quickly promoted to Senior Representative and later to Trading Team manager. I never applied or interviewed for the promotions. I always felt that somehow, someday my secret would destroy me. I soon passed the NASD Registered Securities Principal Exam and later the NASD Options Principal Exam. The weight of this dreaded military discharge continued to bear down upon me.
While attending college it became apparent to me that even if I achieved some sort of financial success a stigma of mental illness would follow me. I realized early on that to make things right my accomplishment needed to be much greater.
In 1989 I met a wonderful girl. She was financially distraught and had a baby boy that was a few months old. The deadbeat father had long since abandoned them. I found two people that needed me as much as I needed them. I later moved into a one-bedroom apartment with them and helped out as much as possible. We all slept in one twin bed for nearly a year. I later bought a home and we all moved into it. It wasn't until years into the relationship that I finally disclosed my dreaded history to her. She didn't care! I raised the boy as my own and married the girl. We will soon have another child.
Attached is my resume. Please review it. Take the time to verify the information. You have my permission to verify its authenticity. I have terrific credit. I own my home and also own a brand new truck. Our home is fully furnished and I have completely remodeled it over the years. I have no criminal history whatsoever. You have my permission to check this. I do not have a personality disorder (never did) and believe that I have proven that the U. S. Navy should provide me with a sincere apology as my parents did only recently.
Documentation
In addition to the service record, the following additional documentation, submitted by the applicant, was considered:
Character/job reference dated January 10, 2001
Character/job reference dated January 12, 2001
Copy of termination notice dated January 24, 2001
Copy of permanent record transcripts

PART II - SUMMARY OF SERVICE

 Prior Service (component, dates of service, type of discharge):
         Active: None
         Inactive: USNR (DEP)     841123 - 850407  COG

 Period of Service Under Review :
Date of Enlistment: 850408               Date of Discharge: 880303

 Length of Service (years, months, days):

         Active: 02 10 26
         Inactive: None

 Age at Entry: 18                          Years Contracted: 4

 Education Level: 12                        AFQT: 78

 Highest Rate: RMSN

 Final Enlisted Performance Evaluation Averages (number of marks):

 Performance: 3.55 (4)    Behavior: 3.44 (5)                OTA: 3.45

 Military Decorations: None

 Unit/Campaign/Service Awards: None

 Days of Unauthorized Absence: None

 Character, Narrative Reason, and Authority of Discharge (at time of issuance):

HONORABLE/Other physical/mental conditions - personality disorder, authority: NAVMILPERSMAN, Article 3620200.

 Chronological Listing of Significant Service Events :

880119:  Applicant diagnosed with immature personality disorder. The psychiatrist recommended separation based on a personality disorder of such severity as to render the applicant incapable of serving adequately in the naval service. Applicant was considered self-destructive and a continuing risk of harm to self or others.

880217:  Applicant notified of intended recommendation for discharge general (under honorable conditions) by reason of convenience of the government on the basis of a diagnosed personality disorder of such severity as to render the applicant incapable of serving adequately in the naval service as evidenced by your incapability to serve adequately in the Navy.
880225:          Applicant advised of his rights and having elected not to consult with counsel certified under UCMJ Article 27B, elected to waive all rights except the right to obtain copies of the documents used to support the basis for the separation.
880420:  Commanding officer recommended discharge honorable by reason of convenience of the government on the basis of a diagnosed personality disorder of such severity as to render the applicant incapable of serving adequately in the naval service. Commanding officer’s comments (verbatim): RMSN (applicant) reported to CBC after psychological evaluation at Naval Hospital Long Beach. He was ordered in an accounting category specifically for discharge and not for limited duty. He persuaded the receipts section at PSD that he wasn't at CBC for personality disorder but actually for chronic seasickness and his paperwork was changed accordingly. After lengthy delay and exhaustive records search, RMSN (applicant's) physical evaluation board was nowhere to be found. This was complicated by the "loss" of RMSN (applicant's) medical record. RMSN (applicant) found his medical record when he was informed that if he had no personality disorder he would return to sea duty. He was referred for further psychological evaluation. RMSN (applicant) was judged by a medical officer to be a continuing risk to himself and others and was returned to duty for immediate processing for administrative discharge. Date of Separation: 3 March 1988.

PART III – RATIONALE FOR DECISION AND PERTINENT REGULATION/LAW

Discussion

The applicant was discharged on 880303 honorable for convenience of the government on the basis of a diagnosed personality disorder of such severity as to render the applicant incapable of serving adequately in the naval service. (A and B). The Board presumed regularity in the conduct of governmental affairs (C). After a thorough review of the records, supporting documents, facts, and circumstances unique to this case, the Board found that the discharge was proper and equitable (D and E).

In the applicant’s issue (letter) discussed the circumstances of his discharge and his activities and accomplishments since discharge. The applicant requested the reason for discharge be changed to “No Reason or N/A”. The record shows at the time of discharge the applicant was evaluated by a medical officer as having an Immature Personality Disorder. The Board found no other reason would adequately describe his separation prior to the completion of his enlistment contract. Additionally, the applicant did not submit documentation from medical professionals that this condition does not still exist. Relief is not warranted.

 The applicant is eligible for a personal appearance hearing provided the application is received within 15 years from the date of discharge. Representation at personal appearance hearing is highly recommended.

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