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NAVY | DRB | 2007_Navy | ND0700177
Original file (ND0700177.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied
ex-FN, USN
ND07-00177
Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request
Application Received: 20061128  
Characterization Received: OTHER THAN HONORABLE
Narrative Reason: MISCONDUCT – COMMISSION OF A SERIOUS OFFENSE Authority: BUPERSMAN 3630600

 Applicant’s Request:      Characterization change to:
                           Narrative Reason change to:
Applicant’s Issues:       1. Benefits
                           2. Reenlist
                           3. Post service - No longer rely on alcohol.


Decision

 By a vote of the Characterization shall .     
By a vote of the Narrative Reason shall MISCONDUCT .
Date: 20 070913                                       Location: Washington D.C.


Discussion

 Issues 1 and 2 : 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 .

Issue 3 ( ): 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 cons idered. The Applicant states in his application that he no longer relies on alcohol, 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 continuing educational pursuits, a verifiable employment record, documentation of community service, evidence of drug free existence, and certification of non-involvement with civil authorities. The Board determined that the documentation provided by the Applicant did not mitigate the misconduct which resulted in the Applicant’s administrative separation and characterization of his service.

For the information of Applicant, the record clearly documents the Applicant ’s violation of UCMJ Article 121 ( larceny ). Each violation of Article 121 constitutes the “commission of a serious offense”, which is punishable by a bad conduct discharge and up to a year of imprisonment if adjudicated by a Courts Martial. The commission of a serious offense is the actual basis for discharge in this case. Regulations limit the Board’s review to a determination of the propriety and equity of the discharge. In the Applicant’s case, the Board could discern no impropriety or inequity and therefore considers his discharge proper and equitable.


Summary of Service

Prior Service:
 Inactive: US N R (DEP)      19910226 - 19910523              Active:
Period of Service Under Review:
 Date of Enlistment: 19910524      Years Contracted : 4 ; Extension:         Date of Discharge: 19930628
Length of Service : 2 Yrs 1 Mths 5 D ys                       Lost Time :
Education Level: 12       Age at Enlistment: 20     AFQT: 42          Highest Rank /Rate : FN
Evaluation marks (# of occasions):       Performance: 2.9                   Behavior: 2.4     OTA: 2.90 (2)
Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214): NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL (FIRST), S.W. ASIAN SERVICE MEDAL WITH BRONZE STAR (FIRST), SEA SERVICE DEPLOYMENT RIBBON (FIRST).


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

 19910911:        Medical Record: Psych consult.
         Diagnosis: I: Adjustment disorder not otherwise specified
         II: Schizoid traits
19910926 :        NJP - Viol UCMJ Art. 121 – Larceny , from Enlisted Club, Great Lakes; Awarded - FOP ( $ 100 PPM - 1 month); Restr - 14 days and Extra duties - 14 days .
19910926 :        Retention Warning for ( Poor Military Performance: Theft of property form the Helm Club, Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois ) .
19920515:        Medical Record: Naval Hospital Long Beach, CA.
         Diagnosis: Axis I: Adjustment disorder with depressed mood/Alcohol dependent.
         Axis II: Schizotypal personality disorder
         
19930429:        Applicant discharged from Alcohol Level III Treatment as a treatment failure.
         Diagnosis: Alcohol Dependence and Somnambulism
          Recommendation: It is strongly recommended that he be expeditiously administratively separated. It is felt that he will continue to be a burden on his chain of command and has no future potential for further good service .


Discharge Process

 Date Notified:                                       19930511
Reason for Discharge:     -
        
Least Favorable Characterization:       

Date Applicant Responded to Notification:                  19930514
Rights Elected at Notification:
         Consult with Counsel                      
         Obtain Copies of Documents               
         Submit Statement(s) (date)                        
         Administrative Board                       
Commanding Officer Recommendation (date):        ( 19930521 )
 Separation Authority (date):     COMNAVPERSCOM ( 19930622 )
 Reason for discharge directed:  -
Characterization directed:     
Date Applicant Discharged:       19930628


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)      


Pertinent Regulation/Law

 A. Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 5, effective 05 Mar 93 until 21 Jul 94, Article 3630600, SEPARATION OF ENLISTED PERSONNEL BY REASON OF MISCONDUCT - COMMISSION OF A SERIOUS OFFENSE.

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 121 (larceny).


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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