ex-SA, USN
                                 ND07-00807

                  Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request

Application Received:  20070531   Characterization Received:
Narrative Reason:  MISCONDUCT     Authority:  MILPERSMAN 3630620

Applicant’s Request:   Characterization change to:
                 Narrative Reason change to:
Applicant’s Issues:    1. VA Benefits
                 2. Post Service

                                  Decision

By a vote of  the Characterization shall  .
By a vote of  the Narrative Reason shall  MISCONDUCT.

Date:  20071212              Location:  Washington D.C
Representation:

                                 Discussion

Issue 1:   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 2: ().  The 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.  There is credible evidence
in the record that the Applicant used illegal drugs.  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.  When a
Sailors’s service has been honest and faithful, it is appropriate to
characterize that service under honorable conditions.  A general (under
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.  Certain serious offenses, even
though isolated, warrant separation from the Naval service in order to
maintain proper order and discipline. The Applicant’s service was marred by
one non-judicial punishment for a violation of Uniform Code of Military
Justice, Article 112a (Wrongful use of controlled substance).  A violation
of Article 112a is considered a serious offense for which a punitive
discharge is authorized if adjudged by a Special or General Courts Martial.


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, good conduct, or favorable endorsements 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 provided
his statement of non-involvement with civil authorities.  The Applicant's
efforts need to be more encompassing.  For example, the Applicant could
have produced evidence of continuing educational pursuits, a verifiable
employment record, documentation of community service, and certification of
non-involvement with civil authorities.  The Board determined that the
absence of documentation by the Applicant did not mitigate the
circumstances that resulted in the characterization of discharge

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, Medical and Service Record Entries, Discharge Process
and evidence submitted by the Applicant, the Board found that


            Administrative Corrections to the Applicant’s DD 214

The NDRB did note administrative error(s) on the original DD Form 214:

        “GENERAL (UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS)”
        “MILPERSMAN 1910-146”

The NDRB will recommend to the Commander, Navy Personnel Command, that the
DD 214 be corrected as appropriate.


                             Summary of Service

Prior Service:
Inactive: 19960509-19960923                  Active:
Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Enlistment: 19960924 Years Contracted:           Date of Discharge:
 19990720
Length of Service:  Active:  02  Yrs  09  Mths  27  Dys  Inactive:  00  Yrs
 04  Mths  15  Dys
Lost Time:  Days UA:    Days Confined:
Education Level:       Age at Enlistment:    AFQT:  35   Highest Rank/Rate:
 SN
Evaluation marks (# of occasions):      Performance:  2.0(1)  Behavior:
1.0(1)       OTA:  1.83
Awards and Decorations (per DD 214):  NUC, AFEM, SSDR

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

19990304:   NAVDRUGLAB, Jacksonville, FL, reported Applicant’s urine
           sample, received 19990226, tested positive for THC.

19990305:   NJP -- Viol UCMJ Art. 112a - Wrongful use of marijuana..
      Awarded - FOP ($537.00) for (2 months); RIR (E-2); Restr for (45
           days); Extra duties (45 days).

                              Discharge Process

Date Notified:                          NOT FOUND IN RECORD
Reason for Discharge:
Least Favorable Characterization:

Date Applicant Responded to Notification:          NOT FOUND IN RECORD
Rights Elected at Notification:
      Consult with Counsel
      Obtain Copies of Documents
      Submit Statement(s) (date)
      Administrative Board
      GCMCA review

Administrative Board Date:   19990608
              Findings, by preponderance of the evidence:     BY   -  .
      BY  SEPARATION
              Recommendation on Separation:  BY
              Recommendation on Characterization:  BY

Commanding Officer Recommendation (date):     (19990722)
Separation Authority (date): NOT FOUND IN RECORD
              Reason for discharge directed:
              Characterization directed:
Date Applicant Discharged:   19990720
      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.  The Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 24,
effective 20 May 1999 until 26 March 2000,
Article 1910-146, Separation by Reason of Misconduct - Drug Abuse.

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 112a.





                  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, provided 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 granted 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