Search Decisions

Decision Text

NAVY | DRB | 2008_Navy | ND0801100
Original file (ND0801100.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-SN, USNR-R

Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request

Application Received: 20080422
Characterization of Service Received:
Narrative Reason for Discharge: UNSATISFACTORY PARTICIPATION
Authority for Discharge: MILPERSMAN


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

Summary of Service

Prior Service:
Inactive: NONE            Active:

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Enlistment: 20020815      Period of Enlistment : Years Extension         Date of Discharge: 20041208
Length of Service: Yrs Months 23 D ays  Education Level:         Age at Enlistment: 39    AFQT: 31
Highest Rank/Rate: BMSN   Evaluation Marks: Performance: NFIR       Behavior: NFIR   OTA: NFIR
Awards and Decorations: NONE

NJPs:   

SCMs:   

SPCMs:  


CC:     

Retention Warnings: .

Types of Documents
Submitted/reviewed

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 Representation:              From Member of Congress:
Other Documentation (Describe):


Pertinent Regulation/Law

A. The Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), re-issued October 2002, effective 22 August 2002 until 4 August 2005, MILPERSMAN Article 1910-158, SEPARATION BY REASON OF UNSATISFACTORY PARTICIPATION IN THE READY RESERVE.

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 .


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

Applicant’s Issues

1. Reenlistment opportunities.
2. Confusion over transfer between reserve units.

Decision

Date: 20080915            Location: Washington D.C.        R epresentation :

By a vote of the Characterization shall .
By a vote of
the Narrative Reason shall UNSATISFACTORY P ARTICIPATION.

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 , specifically the paragraph concerning s, regarding .

: ( ) . The Applicant contends her failure to participate in scheduled drills was the result of confusion regarding transfer to a new reserve unit. 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. The record of evidence shows the Applicant was transferred to a reserve unit near her new home in December 2003. The Applicant accumulated a total of twelve unexcused absences between November 2003 and August 2004. In September 2004 the Applicant was notified of discharge proceedings being initiated. She was given 30 days to respond or correct the information used as the basis for the discharge proceedings. The record of evidence does not include any response by the Applicant or show any effort on her part to resolve the unexcused absences with her command. Without a response from the Applicant, the command processed an administrative discharge with a characterization of “General (Under Honorable Conditions).”

For the information of the Applicant, a “General (Under Honorable Conditions)” characterization of service is normally warranted when the quality of the member’s service has been honest and faithful; however, significant negative aspects of the member’s conduct or performance of duty outweighed positive aspects of the member’s service record. The Board determined an upgrade would be inappropriate in light of the excessive number of missed drills and lack of communication the Applicant had with her command concerning her circumstance.

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




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 or is referred to a court martial 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 other medical related reasons. 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 special 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. The NDRB does not have the jurisdictional authority to review a discharge or dismissal resulting from a general court-martial.

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

Similar Decisions

  • NAVY | DRB | 2015_Navy | ND1401760

    Original file (ND1401760.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

    DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVYNAVAL DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD (NDRB) DISCHARGE REVIEW DECISIONAL DOCUMENTApplicant’s Issues 1. Summary: After a thorough review of the available evidence, to include the Applicant’s summary of service, record entries, and discharge process, the Board found Therefore, the awarded characterization of service shall remain UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS (GENERAL) and the narrative reason for separation shall remain UNSATISFACTORY PARTICIPATION. ” Additional Reviews : After a...

  • NAVY | DRB | 2013_Navy | ND1301166

    Original file (ND1301166.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

    Additionally, the NDRB has no authority to upgrade a discharge for the sole purpose of enhancing reenlistment opportunities.Issue 2: (Decisional) (Equity) RELIEF NOT WARRANTED. Relief denied.Summary: After a thorough review of the available evidence, to include the Applicant’s summary of service, record entries, and discharge process, the Board found Therefore, the awarded characterization of service shall and the narrative reason for separation shall remain.The Applicant remains eligible...

  • NAVY | DRB | 2011_Navy | ND1101090

    Original file (ND1101090.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

    Applicant’s Request:Characterization change to:Narrative Reason change to: Summary of Service Prior Service: Inactive:NONE Active: Period of Service Under Review: Date of Current Enlistment: 20051215Age at Enlistment:39Period of Enlistment: YearsExtensionDate of Discharge:20070216Highest Rank/Rate:AZ3Length of Service:Year(s)Month(s) 05 Day(s)Education Level:AFQT: 88EvaluationMarks:Performance:NFIRBehavior:NFIROTA: NFIRAwards and Decorations :Periods of UA/CONF: NJP:SCM:SPCM:CC:Retention...

  • NAVY | DRB | 2012_Navy | ND1201521

    Original file (ND1201521.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

    DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVYNAVAL DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD (NDRB) DISCHARGE REVIEW DECISIONAL DOCUMENTApplicant’s Issues 1.The Applicant would like to finish his contract.2. Representation: By a vote of the Characterization shall .By a vote of the Narrative Reason shall .Discussion The NDRB, under its responsibility to examine the propriety and equity of an Applicant’s discharge, is authorized to change the character of service and the reason for discharge if such change is warranted.In reviewing...

  • NAVY | DRB | 2014_Navy | ND1401009

    Original file (ND1401009.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

    DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVYNAVAL DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD (NDRB) DISCHARGE REVIEW DECISIONAL DOCUMENTApplicant’s Issues 1.The Applicant wants to reenlist in the Navy reserve.2. Representation: By a vote of the Characterization shall .By a vote of the Narrative Reason shall .Discussion The NDRB, under its responsibility to examine the propriety and equity of an Applicant’s discharge, is authorized to change the character of service and the reason for discharge if such change is warranted.In...

  • NAVY | DRB | 2013_Navy | ND1301391

    Original file (ND1301391.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

    Representation: By a vote of the Characterization shall .By a vote of the Narrative Reason shall .Discussion The NDRB, under its responsibility to examine the propriety and equity of an Applicant’s discharge, is authorized to change the character of service and the reason for discharge if such change is warranted.In reviewing discharges, the Board presumes regularity in the conduct of governmental affairs unless there is substantial credible evidence to rebut the presumption, to include...

  • NAVY | DRB | 2009_Navy | ND0900296

    Original file (ND0900296.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

    Based on the number of drills missed and absence of mitigating and/or extenuating circumstances the Board determined the characterization of discharge to be appropriate and an upgrade is 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 ADDENDUM: Information for the Applicant Complaint Procedures : If you believe that the decision in your...

  • NAVY | DRB | 2014_Navy | ND1401102

    Original file (ND1401102.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

    Applicant’s Request:Characterization change to:Narrative Reason change to: Summary of Service Prior Service: Inactive:USNR (DEP)NONEActive: Period of Service Under Review: Date of Current Enlistment: 20020627Age at Enlistment: Period of Enlistment: YearsExtensionDate of Discharge:20051210Highest Rank/Rate: ANLength of Service: Year(s) Month(s) 14 Day(s)Education Level:AFQT: NFIREvaluationMarks:NFIRAwards and Decorations (per DD 214):Periods of CONF: NJP:SCM:SPCM:CC:Retention Warning...

  • NAVY | DRB | 2009_Navy | ND0901805

    Original file (ND0901805.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

    Decision Date: 20100415Location: Washington D.C.Representation: By a vote of the Characterization shall .By a vote of the Narrative Reason shall UNSATISFACTORY PARTICIPATION IN READY RESERVE.Discussion The NDRB, under its responsibility to examine the propriety and equity of an Applicant’s discharge, is authorized to change the character of service and the reason for discharge if such change is warranted.In reviewing discharges, the Board presumes regularity in the conduct of governmental...

  • NAVY | DRB | 2012_Navy | ND1201375

    Original file (ND1201375.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

    With more than six years of total service, she warranted the right to appear before an administrative separation board. Relief granted.Summary: After a thorough review of the available evidence, to include the Applicant’s summary of service, record entries, and discharge process, the Board found the discharge was warranted but not properly executed. ” Additional Reviews : After a document review has been conducted, former members are eligible for a personal appearance hearing, provided the...