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NAVY | DRB | 2008_Navy | ND0800199
Original file (ND0800199.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-CTR1, USN
Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request
Application Received: 20071126
Characterization of Service Received:
Narrative Reason for Discharge:
Authority for Discharge: MILPERSMAN

Applicant’s Request:     Characterization change to:
                           Narrative Reason change to: CONVENIENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT

Summary of Service

Prior Service:
 Inactive: US MCR (DEP)     199 5 0124 - 19950529              Active:          19950530 – 19990529 HON
                                                                                          20000131 – 20020725 HON
 Period of Service Under Review:
 Date of Enlistment: 200 20726      Period of enlistment : Years Extension         Date of Discharge: 20060317
Length of Service : Yrs Mths 22 D ys      Education Level:         Age at Enlistment:       AFQT: 92
Highest Rank /Rate : CTR1            Evaluation marks: Performance: 3.6 ( 5 )     Behavior: 3.4 ( 5 )          OTA: 3.60
Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214): Rifle Pistol (2) (2) (4) (2) (NDRB note: Service record also indicates 3 rd NMCAM, Letter of Appreciation and 2 Letters of Commendation)

Periods of UA /C ONF :

NJPs :    

S CMs :   

SPCMs:  

C C :      

Retention Warnings: .

Types of Documents Submitted

 Related to Military Service:      DD 214:          Service and/or Medical Record:            Other Records:

Related to Post-Service Period:  
         Employment:                        Finances:                          Education /Training :     
         Health/Medical Records:           Substance Abuse:                           Criminal Records:       
         Family/Personal Status:           Community Service:                References:              
        
Additional Statements From Applicant:             From Representat ion :              From Member of Congress:
Other Documentation (Describe)



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

Applicant’s Issues

 1. Characterization not warranted by overall service
2. Not afforded right to administrative discharge board
3 . Post-service conduct

Decision

Date: 20 08 0306             Location: Washington D.C         R epresentation :

By a vote of the Characterization shall .
 By a vote of the Narrative Reason shall PERSONALITY DISORDER .
Discussion

Issue 1 ( ). When the reason for discharge is convenience of the government – personality disorder, characterization of service is Honorable unless an Entry Level Separation or General (Under Honorable Conditions) is warranted per MILPERSMAN 1910-300 to 1910-308. The Applicant was not eligible for an Entry Level Separation. The Board noted that there was no record of any disciplinary proceedings or negative counseling warnings during the Applicant’s enlistment. To the contrary, his record of performance and conduct until the circumstances leading to his discharge was exemplary. The Board concluded that the Applicant’s positive record of service was not outweighed by any negative aspects which might be construed by the circumstances of his diagnosis and subsequent discharge. Therefore, the Board determined that the description of the Applicant’s service as General was an error of discretion and voted to change it to Honorable.

Issue 2 ( ). Because he had more than 6 years of active service, the Applicant was entitled to an administrative discharge board. In support of his contention that he was denied a board, the Applicant submitted a purported copy of his notification of administrative discharge which indicated that a right to board was “NA” (not applicable). The Board noted that the command transmittal letter assigned a separation code indicating that there was no board entitlement. However, the Applicant’s official record contained a copy of the notification that indicated that the Applicant waived his board, and a DD 215 issued some months after his discharge changed his separation code to on e reflecting a board waiver. The Board was unable to reconcile the conflicting evidence it considered, nor was it able to determine which documents more accurately reflected the events that actually occurred. The Board did determine, however, that the Applicant was properly diagnosed with a personality disorder and recommended for expeditious administrative separation , and that expeditious processing for administrative separation was warranted on the basis of that recommendation. Therefore the Board found no impropriety or inequity in the reason for discharge . The reason for discharge shall remain convenience of the government – personality disorder, the appropriate narrative reason for which is “personality disorder.” The Board also determined that the question of what, if any, this issue had on the Applicant’s characterization of service was moot in light of its determination noted above that the appropriate characterization of the Applicant’s service was Honorable.

Issue 3 ( ). The Board determined that this issue was moot in light of its determination noted above that the appropriate characterization of the Applicant’s service was Honorable.
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

Pertinent Regulation/Law

 A. Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560 D ), Change 11, effective 20 June 2005 until Present, Article 1910-122, Separation By Reason of Convenience of the Government - Personality Disorder(s).

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 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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