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NAVY | DRB | 2006_Navy | ND0601134

Original file (ND0601134.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

, ex-CS3, USN
ND06-01134

Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request:

Application Received:                               20 060829
         Characterization of Service:
         Reason for Discharge :
         Discharge Authority :                       MILPERSMAN 1910-152
         Duty Assignment/ Command at Discharge:    depmed nnmc beth det, bethesda, md

Applicant’s Request:
         Characterization change to:
         Narrative Reason change to:
         Review Requested:
         Representation:
         Issues (as summarized by NDRB):          1. Reenlistment
2. Post service – Alcohol counseling, employed, no criminal record.

Decision:

Date of Decision:                                            20 070727
Location of Board:                                  Washington D.C.
Complete Service Record:
Complete Medical Record:
Complete Discharge Package:

Regarding propriety, the Board found the discharge:
Regarding equity, the Board found the discharge:

By a vote of the Characterization shall .
By a vote of the Reason for Discharge shall ALCOHOL REHABILITATION FAILURE.

Summary of Service:

Prior Service:
Inactive: USNR (DEP)                                19980722 - 19980915
Active:                                              19980916 - 20020915
Inacti ve USNR                                        20020916 - 20021028      IRR

Period of Service Under Review :
Date of Enlistment:                                 20021029
Years Contracted :
Date of Discharge:                                  20050627
Length of Service
         Active:                                     02 Y ea rs 07 M on ths 29 D ays
         Time Lost During This Period:

Education Level:
Age at this Enlistment:
AFQT:                                                 52
Highest Rate/Rank:                                   C S3

Performance Evaluation Averages (number of marks):
                                    Performance : 2.3 ( 3 )      Behavior : 2.0 ( 3 )                   OTA : 2.5(3)

Awards and Decorations (as listed on the DD Form 214): NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM SERVICE MEDAL

Service Record Entries Related to Characterization of Service or Reason for Discharge

20000714:        A pplicant discharged from Substance Abuse re habilitation treatment at Naval Medical Center San Diego. Diagnosis alcohol dependant, aftercare plan defined as well as definitions of and consequences of any alcohol related incident in the future.

20030703 :        Applicant released from treatment at S ubstance A buse R ehabilitation P rogram, Portsmouth Virginia .

20030829 :        Applicant discharged from S ubstance A buse R ehabilitation P rogram, Continuing Care program due to unexcused absences.

20031017 :        NJP for violation s of UCMJ:
         Article 86: Unauthorized absence.
         Article 87: Missing ship’s movement.
         Article 107: False official statement. [Extracted from Awards and NAVPERS 1070/613, Administrative Remarks.] No further information found in record.

20031017:        Retention Warning: Advised of deficiency (Violation of UCMJ, Article 86: Absence without leave, Article 87: Missing ship’s movement and Article 107: False official statement.), notified of corrective actions and assistance available, advised of consequences of further deficiencies, and issued discharge warning.

20050318:        Applicant arrest ed for D riving Under the Influence of alcohol by United State s Capital Police with a blood alcohol content of 0 .12 .

20050531 :        Applicant notified of intended recommendation for discharge with the least favorable characterization of service as general (under honorable conditions) by reason of alcohol rehabilitation failure.

20050531 :        Applicant advised of rights and having elec ted not to consult with counsel , el ected to waive all rights .

20050627:        DD-214, Applicant discharged for alcohol rehabilitation failure with a characterization of service as General (under honorable conditions). Commanding Officer references Applicants Level II alcohol treatment completion in June of 1999.

20060913 :        Commanding Officer, National Naval Medical Center informed Commander, Naval Personnel Command of the Applicant’s discharge with a general (under honorable conditions) by reason of alcohol rehabilitation failure .

Elements of Discharge: [INVOLUNTARY]

Date Notified :                                        20050531
Reason for Discharge
Least Favorable Characterization Authorized :

Date Applicant R esponded to N otification:                 20050531
Rights E lected at N otification :
Consult with Counsel
Obtain Copies of Documents
Submit Statement(s) (date)
Administrative Board
GCMCA Review

Commanding Officer R ecommendation (date):
Separation Authority (date):      COMMANDER, NATIONAL NAVAL MEDICAL CENTER ( 20050621 )
         Reason for discharge directed :
         Characterization directed:
Date Applicant Discharged:                         20050627

Additional Documents Submitted by Applicant and Considered By Board

Total Number of Pages:                               9

Related to Period of Service Under Review :
         From Service and/or Medical Record :                Other Records :

Related to Other Period (s) of Service:
         From Service and/or Medical Record:               Other Records:

Related to Post-Service Period:
         Employment:                                           Finances:
         Health/Medical Records:                            Substance Abuse:
         Family/Personal Status:                            Education:
         Community Service Efforts:                         References:
         Criminal Records:

Other:
         Additional Statements From Applicant :             From Representative:
         Other Documentation (Describe)

Discussion

Issue 1 (reenlistment) : either which the Board cannot form the basis of relief for the Applicant , or the Board does not have the authority to grant the relief for which the Applicant petitioned. The Applicant is directed to the Addendum regarding .

Decisional Issues:

Issue 2 (Post service conduct – employed, completed alcohol counseling and no criminal record ): The NDRB is authorized to consider post-service factors in the recharacterization of a discharge. However, 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 the civilian life subsequent to leaving the service. Normally, to permit relief, a procedural impropriety or inequity must have been found to have existed during the period of enlistment in question. Outstanding post-service conduct, to the extent that 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. The Applicant stated that he has no criminal record and provided a letter verifying his employment, Stratford University financial aid award letter, and a letter verifying his completion of an alcohol education program as documentation of his post-service accomplishments. The Applicant's efforts need to be more encompassing than those provided. For example, the Applicant could have produced evidence of completed college courses , documentation of community service, and certification of non-involvement with civil authorities. The Board determined that the documentation provided by the Applicant did not mitigate the misconduct that resulted in the characterization of the Applicant’s service . Relief denied.

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

Pertinent Regulation/Law

A. Navy Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 11, 29 April 2005 until Present, Article 1910-152, SEPARATION BY REASON OF ALCOHOL REHABILITATION FAILURE.

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 . 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, provi ded 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 grante d 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 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, 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 “PTSD . ” 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 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.

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

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NAVY | DRB | 2006_Navy | ND0601134

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