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USMC | DRB | 2007_Marine | MD0700171
Original file (MD0700171.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied
ex-PVT, USMC
MD07-00171
Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request
Application Received: 20061121 Characterization Received:
Narrative Reason: MISCONDUCT: MINOR DISCIPLINARY INFRACTIONS     Authority: MARCORSEPMAN 6210.2

 Applicant’s Request:      Characterization change to:
                           Narrative Reason change to:
Applicant’s Issues:       1. Veteran’s Administration benefits.
                           2. Do not agree with the Narrative Reason for Separation.
                           3. Immaturity at time of service.
                           4. Post service.

Decision

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 MISCONDUCT: MINOR DISCIPLINARY INFRACTIONS.

Date: 2007091 2 Location: Washington D.C. The Board found that

Discussion

Issue 1: The Board determined that th is Issue is n ot an issue which can form the basis for relief for the Applicant or that the Board did not have the authority to grant the relief for which the Applicant petitioned. The Applicant is directed to the Addendum .

Issue 2 (Equity). When a Marine has a documented series of at least three minor disciplinary infractions during the current enlistment, of a nature which have been or would have been appropriately disciplined under Article 15, UCMJ, administrative separation proceedings are authorized using Minor Disciplinary Infractions as the basis for discharge. The evidence of record does not demonstrate that the Applicant was not responsible for his conduct or that he should not be held accountable for his actions. A change in the Narrative Reason would be inappropriate.

Issue 3 (Equity). T he Board reviews the propriety and equity of an Applicant’s discharge individually, on a case-by-case basis. If such a review reveals an impropriety or inequity, relief is in order. Regulations permit relief on equitable grounds if the Applicant’s discharge is inconsistent with standards of discipline of the Naval service. T he Applicant contends that h is problems were attributed to immaturity. While he may feel that this was the underlying cause of misconduct, the record clearly reflects willful misconduct and demonstrated he was unfit for further service. When a Marine’s service has been honest and faithful, it is appropriate to characterize that service under honorable conditions. A under other than honorable conditions discharge 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 Applicant’s service was marred by one discharge warning and four nonjudicial punishments for Article(s) 86, 91, and 92. V iolation (s) of Article 91, Willfully disobeying an order and Article 92, Failure to obey an order, regulation are considered serious offense s for which a punitive discharge is authorized if adjudged by a Special or General Courts Martial. An upgrade to general (under honorable conditions) would be inappropriate .

Issue 4 (Equity). 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 Board determined that the documentation provided by the Applicant did not mitigate the misconduct that resulted in the characterization of discharge.


Summary of Service

Prior Service:
 Inactive: USMCR (DEP)     19880514 - 19880906             
Period of Service Under Review:
 Date of Enlistment: 19880907      Years Contracted : 4 ; Extension:         Date of Discharge: 19911230
Length of Service : 3 Yrs 2 Mths 2 6 D ys    Lost Time : Days UA: Days Confine d :
Education Level: 12       Age at Enlistment: 18     AFQT: 41          MOS: 5831 Highest Rank: LCPL
Proficiency/Conduct marks (# of occasions):      4.1 ( 10 ) / 4.0 ( 10 )
Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214): M16 Marksman Badge; Pistol Sharpshooter Badge; Overseas Ribbon; National Defense Service Medal

Medical/Service Record Entries Related to Characterization of Service or Basis for Discharge

 19890424:        CO's NJP -- Viol UCMJ Art. 9 1/92 – Willfully disobeying an order /Dereliction of duties. Awarded - - FOP $391 for 2 months (one month suspended for 6 months), Restr for 30 days, Extra duties for 30 days.

19891218:        CO's NJP -- Viol UCMJ Art. 92 – Dereliction of duties. Awarded - - FOP $407 for 2 months (one month suspended for 6 months) and Correctional Custody for 30 days.

19910206:        Counseling: Advised of deficiencies in performance and conduct (UA) . N ecessary corrective actions explained, sources of assistance provided, disciplinary and discharge warning issued .

1991042 5 :        CO's NJP -- Viol UCMJ Art. 86 - Unauthorized absence. Awarded - - FOP $350 for 1 months; Reduction to E-2; Restr for 30 days; Extra duties 30 days.
19910726:        Appointment of Administrative Discharge board.
1991092 5 :        CO's NJP -- Viol UCMJ Art. 86 - Unauthorized absence and Art 92 – Dereliction of duties. Awarded - - Reduction to E-1, Res t r for 30 days, Extra duties for 30 days. Appeal denied 19911011.

199 1 1031:        Applicant’s conditional waiver request contingent on receiving a general (under honorable conditions) discharge.

19911105:        SJA recommended disapproval of applicant’s conditional waiver request.
.
19911105:        CG disapproved request for conditional waiver.
Discharge Process

 Date Notified:   19911001
Basis for Discharge:      DUE TO:
        
Least Favorable Characterization:       
Commanding Officer’s Intended Recommendation:   

Date Applicant Responded to Notification:                  19911003
Rights Elected at Notification:
         Consult with Counsel                      
         Obtain Copies of Documents               
         Submit Statement(s) (date)                         ( NA )
         Administrative Board                      

Administrative Board Date :       19911107
Findings, by preponderance of the evidence:     BY DUE TO .
Recommendation on Separation:   BY
Recommendation on Characterization:     BY

Commanding Officer Recommendation (date):        ( 19911004 )
SJA review (date):       ( 19911122 )
Separation Authority (date):     CG, MARINE COMBAT DEV CMD ( 19911125 )
Basis for discharge directed:   DUE TO:
Characterization directed:     
Date Applicant Discharged:       19911130


Types of Documents Submitted by Applicant and Considered By Board

 Related to Military Service:      Service and/or Medical Record:            Other Records:

Related to Post-Service Period:         
         Employment:                        Finances:                          Education:               
         Health/Medical Records:                   Substance Abuse:                           Criminal Records:       
         Family/Personal Status:                   Community Service:                References:              
        
Additional Statements From Applicant:    From Representative:
Other Documentation (Describe) Photos


Pertinent Regulation/Law

 A. A. Paragraph 6210, Misconduct, of the Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual, (MCO P1900.16D), effective 27 Jun 89 until 17 Aug 95.

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 .

C. The Manual for Courts-Martial authorizes the award of a punitive discharge if adjudged as part of the sentence upon conviction by a special or general court-martial for violation of the UCMJ, Article (s) 91 and 92 .

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, 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.
Employmen t / 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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