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NAVY | DRB | 2008_Navy | ND0801129
Original file (ND0801129.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-FR, USN
Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request
Application Received: 20080428
Characterization of Service Received:
Narrative Reason for Discharge:
Authority for Discharge: MILPERSMAN 3630600 (COMMISSION OF A SERIOUS OFFENSE)

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: 19940423      Period of E nlistment : Years              Date of Discharge: 19960703
Length of Service : Yrs M on ths 28 D a ys   Education Level:         Age at Enlistment:       AFQT: 42
Highest Rank /Rate : FN     Evaluation M arks: Performance: 3.2 ( 1 )    Behavior: 3.4 ( 1 )         OTA: 3.40
Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):

Periods of UA /C ONF : UA : 0730, 19950610 - 0730, 19960619 ( 9 days) ;
0515, 19950624 - 0730, 19950706 ( 12 days, 2 hours, 15 minutes ) ;
1230, 19950731-0730, 19950801 ( 19 hours);
0700, 19950807 - 0700, 19950808 ( 1 day ) ;
0830, 19950817 - 0730, 1995081 8 ( 23 hours ) ;
0900, 19951129 - 0700, 1995 1201 ( 19 hours) ;
0700, 19951211 - 2231, 19960530 ( 171 days , 15 hours, 31 minutes ) .
CONF : 19950821-19950926 ( 36 days) .

NJPs :
199 51102 : Art icle 86 (Unauthorized absence) , 4 specifications:
         - Specification 1: 0730, 19950930 to 0715, 19951002 ( 1 day , 23 hours, 45 minutes ).
          - Specification 2: 0700-0830, 19951017 (1 hour, 30 minutes ).
         - Specification 3: 0700, 19951023 to 0700, 19951024 (1 day).
         - Specification 4: 0700-0930, 19951102 (2 hours, 30 minutes ).
 Awarded : B read &W ater . Susp - .

S PC Ms :  
19950927 : Art icle 86 (Unauthorized absence), 8 specifications.
Article 91 (Disrespectful in deportment toward a Superior Petty Officer)
 Sentence : .
 CA Action : Approved and ordered executed 19951108

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 Representat ion :              From Member of Congress:
Other Documentation (Describe) :


Pertinent Regulation/Law

 A. Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 9, effective 22 July 1994 until 2 October 1996,
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 s 86 and 91.















































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

Applicant’s Issues

 1 . Desires medical benefits.
2 . Feels discharge should have been medical.

Decision

Date : 20 08 0 911             Location: Washington D.C .        R epresentation :

By a vote of the Characterization shall .
 By a vote of the Narrative Reason shall MISCONDUCT (COMMISSION OF A SERIOUS OFFENSE) .
Discussion

Issue 1: T he characterization of the Applicant’s discharge impacts the service benefits he is eligible to receive. However, this is 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 Service Benefits, regarding . The A pplicant is encouraged to contact his nearest Department of Veteran’s Affairs Regional Office and submit a claim for service connected medical benefits. There is no claims filing time limit from when the Applicant was released from active duty and when the disability surfaced to hinder this application.
Issue 2 : ( ) . The Applicant states his current medical condition, Multiple S clerosis ( which was diagnosed in 2006 ) , may have started in 2000 when he became ill with meningitis. He was discharged 3 July 1996 and is claiming medical bene fits for conditions which occur up to 7 years after 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 . When reviewing a discharge, the NDRB does consider the extent to which a medical problem might affect an Applicant’s performance and ability to conform to the military’s standards of conduct and discipline . H owever, the B oard generally does not consider the circumstances surrounding the Applicant’s stated condition, the implied incorrect diagnosis, nor the medical treatment given to the Applicant to be of sufficient nature to exculpate the Applicant’s misconduct . There is no medical evidence in his record nor does the record demonstrate that the Applicant was not responsible for his conduct or that he should not be held accountable for h is actions based on any medical condition . In fact, the B oard could find no mitigating factors between the Applicant ’s stated medical condition and his overall pattern of miscond uct while in the service.

There is credible evidence in the record the Applicant committed serious offenses. The Applicant’s record of service was marred by one non-judicial punishment for multiple violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Article 86, and a Special Court-Martial, where he was found guilty, for violations of Articles 86 and 91. V iolation s of Article s 86 and 91 are considered serious offense s punishable by a bad conduct or d ishonorable discharge and up to imprisonment if adjudicated as part of the sentence upon conviction by a special or general court-martial. For the edification of the Applicant, c ertain serious offenses warrant separation from the Naval service in order to maintain proper order and discipline.

When a Marine’s service has been honest and faithful, it is appropriate to characterize that service under honorable conditions. A ”General (Under Honorable C onditions ) ” discharge is appropriate if the member’s service has been honest and faithful but significant negative aspects of the member’s conduct or performance outweigh positive aspects of the member’s military record. The Board determined based on the numerous vi o l ations of the UCMJ an upgrade would be inappropriate.

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, 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 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

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