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USMC | DRB | 2009_Marine | MD0900802
Original file (MD0900802.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-, USMC
Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request
Application Received: 20090224
Characterization of Service Received:
Narrative Reason for Discharge: FAILURE TO PARTICIPATE (RESERVE NOT ON ACTIVE DUTY)
Authority for Discharge: MARCORSEPMAN

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: 19970527     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years Months
Date of Discharge: 20000408      H ighest Rank:
Length of Service :
         Active: Y ea r ( s ) M on th ( s ) 27 D a y ( s )
         Inactive: Year(s) Month(s) 10 D ay(s)
Education Level:        AFQT: 77
MOS: 0351
Proficiency/Conduct M arks (# of occasions): ( ) / ( )    Fitness Reports:

Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):      Rifle

Periods of UA / CONF :

NJP:     SCM:              SPCM:             CC:

Retention Warning Counseling: 14

- 19981206 :       For following deficiencies: UA for Dec 1998 drill weekend. Specific recommendation include following the unit’s drill schedule.
 - 19990110 :      For following deficiencies: UA for Jan 1999 drill weekend. Specific recommendation include following the unit’s drill schedule.
- 19990210 :      For following deficiencies: UA for Feb 1999 drill weekend. Specific recommendation include following the unit’s drill schedule.
- 19990220 :      For following deficiencies: UA for Annual Training Feb 1999. Specific recommendation include following the unit’s drill schedule.
- 19990420 :      For following deficiencies: UA for April 1999 drill weekend. Specific recommendation include following the unit’s drill schedule.
- 19990504 :      For following deficiencies: UA for May 1999 drill weekend. Specific recommendation include following the unit’s drill schedule.
- 19990715 :      For following deficiencies: UA for J uly 1999 drill weekend. Specific recommendation include following the unit’s drill schedule.
- 19990815 :      For following deficiencies: UA for Aug 1999 drill weekend. Specific recommendation include following the unit’s drill schedule.
- 19990915 :      For following deficiencies: UA for Sept 1999 drill weekend. Specific recommendation include following the unit’s drill schedule.
- 19991015 :      For following deficiencies: UA for Oct 1999 drill weekend. Specific recommendation include following the unit’s drill schedule.
- 19991115 :      For following deficiencies: UA for Nov 1999 drill weekend. Specific recommendation include following the unit’s drill schedule.
- 19991215 :      For following deficiencies: UA for Dec 1999 drill weekend. Specific recommendation include following the unit’s drill schedule.
- 20000115 :      For following deficiencies: UA for Jan 2000 drill weekend. Specific recommendation include following the unit’s drill schedule.
- 20000215 :      For following deficiencies: UA for Feb 2000 drill weekend. Specific recommendation include following the unit’s drill schedule.


Types of Documents Submitted/reviewed

 Related to Military Service:
DD 214:      Service / 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 Congress member :

Other Documentation :


Pertinent Regulation/Law

 A. Paragraph 6213 of the Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual, (MCO P1900.16E), effective
18 August 1995 until 31 August 2001.

B. Marine Corps Reserve Administrative Management Manual, MCO P1001R.1, Chapter 3, Reserve Participation and Administrative Procedures, paragraph 300.

C. Table 6-1 of the Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual, (MCO P1900.16E), effective 18 August 1995, Guide for Characterization of Service.


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

Applicant’s Issues

 1. Reenlistment opportunities.
2. Father’s health.

Decision


 Date: 20 0 9 0521            Location: Washington D.C .         R epresentation :

By a vote of the Characterization shall .
By a vote of the Narrative Reason shall FAILURE TO PARTICIPATION ( RESERVE NOT ON ACTIVE DUTY) .
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 contends he could not drill because he was the only person who could take care of his sick father. 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 Applicant’s record of service was marred by a failure to maintain a 90 percent participation level in required reserve training over a progressive 12 month period. The record shows the Applicant missed 42 drill periods between December 1998 and October 1999 (48 drill periods are in a twelve month period) . The NDRB found no misconduct which resulted in NJP or a court-martial .

The Applicant provided no documentation in support of h is claims about his father nor did he provide any explanation concerning the nature of his father’s illness or why he was the only family member available to provide care. Members from the command tried to contact the Applicant on numerous occasions, but each attempt was unsuccessful. The command also visited the Applicant ’s home and the Applicant’s moth er said he was ho me and would bring him to the front door. When she left, the Marine NCO in charge of the at-home visit heard the mother hav ing a loud conversation with an unknown male, who is presumed to be the Applicant. She returned to the door and announced her son was not home. The command ’s subsequent effor ts to contact the Applicant were met with significant obstruction from members of his family. In the DD Form 293, the Applicant also admitted “…though regretfully not informing my unit.” It is apparent the Applicant did not want to fulfill his military and legal obligation s to be a Marine. While the Applicant may feel his family and personal circumstances were the underlying causes of his misconduct, the record of evidence does not demonstrate the Applicant was not responsible for his misconduct or should not be held accountable for his actions due to those problems. The NDRB determined the awarded discharge characterization was appropriate; and an upgrade would be inappropriate.
After a thorough review of the available evidence, to include the Applicant’s Summary of Service, Record, 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 NDRB has no authority to upgrade a discharge for the sole purpose of enhancing employment or educational opportunities. Regulations limit the NDRB ’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 NDRB 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 fo r 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 NDRB 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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