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NAVY | DRB | 2008_Navy | ND0800704
Original file (ND0800704.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-CECN, USN
Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request
Application Received: 20080206
Characterization of Service Received:
Narrative Reason for Discharge:
Authority for Discharge: MILPERSMAN

Applicant’s Request: Characterization change to:
Narrative Reason change to:

Summary of Service

Prior Service:
 Inactive: US N R (DEP)      19981218 - 19990907              Active:
Period of Service Under Review:
 Date of Enlistment: 19990908      Period of enlistment : Years Extension          Date of Discharge: 20010404
Length of Service : Yrs Mths 27 D ys      Education Level:         Age at Enlistment:       AFQT: 54
Highest Rank /Rate : CECN   Evaluation marks: Performance: 3.0 ( 1 )     Behavior: 1.0 ( 1 )          OTA: 2.50
Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214): NONE

Periods of UA /C ONF :

NJPs :    
         20010330 : Art 86 (Absence without leave) ; Art 117 (Provoking speeches or gestures) ; Art 134 (Assault).
         A warded - . Susp - .

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. Employment enhancement.
2 . In service – Equity. Applicant claims discharge is b ased on an isolated incident and is unfair .
3 . Applicant is claiming innocent ingestion.

Decision

Date: 20 08 0606             Location: Washington D.C         R epresentation :

By a vote of the Characterization shall .
By a vote of the Narrative Reason shall MISCONDUCT (DRUG ABUSE) .
Discussion

 ( ) : 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 .

( ) : The Applicant claims his discharge is based on one isolated incident and is unfair. T he NDRB advises the Applicant despite a service member ’ s prior record of service certain serious offenses, even though isolated, warrant separation from the Navy in order to maintain proper order and discipline. The Applicant claimed, in his written statement, he was drugged by his shipmates and claims his violation of Article 112a (wrongful use of a controlled substance) of the UCMJ was not of his own doing. The Applicant stated he understood the zero tolerance policy but claims the discharge was still unfair. The Applicant's misconduct is documented in his service record, which is marred by the Applicant admitting he had taken a wrongful controlled substance and by a finding at a nonjudicial punishment (NJP) proceeding on 4 April 200 1 for a violation s of the U niform C ode of M ilitary J ustice, Article s 86, 117 and 134 . Individuals are indoctrinated from the day of recruitment and have had the policy reinforced through annual Navy-wide training sessions throughout their enlistment on the U.S Navy ’ s zero tolerance policy for substance abuse. Violations of this policy result in mandatory processing for administrative separation which usually results in an unfavorable characterization of discharge. Accordingly, this misconduct substantiates the reason for his separation as well as his characterization of service under other than honorable conditions.

:( ) The Applicant is claiming innocent ingestion. 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 review of the Applicants records it was discovered the Applicant received an administrative discharge board and the board members determined the Applicant was guilty of violating Article 112a and deserved an under other than honorable discharge . Based on the Administrative Boards findings, n o other narrative reason for separation or characterization could more clearly describe why the Applicant was discharged. The NDRB determined relief was not warranted.
After a thorough review of the available evidence, to include the Applicant’s Summary of Service, Record Entries, Discharge Process and evidence submitted by the Applicant, the Board found

Pertinent Regulation/Law

 A. The Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 31, dated 20 February 2001, effective
12 February 2001 until 15 July 2001, 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 117,134.
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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