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USMC | DRB | 2009_Marine | MD0900804

Original file (MD0900804.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-, USMC

Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request

Application Received: 20090224
Characterization of Service Received:

Narrative Reason for Discharge:
Authority for Discharge: MARCORSEPMAN

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

Summary of Service

Prior Service:
Inactive:         USMCR (DEP)       20040701 - 20050102     Active:

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Enlistment: 20050103     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years Months
Date of Discharge: 20050518      H ighest Rank:
Length of Service: Y ea r ( s ) M on th ( s ) 16 D a y ( s )
Education Level:        AFQT: 38
MOS: 9971
Proficiency/Conduct M arks (# of occasions): ( ) / ( )    Fitness R eports:

Awards and Decorations (per DD 214):      Rifle

Periods of UA/ CONF :     NJP:     SCM:     SPCM:    CC:

Retention Warning Counseling :
- 20050415:       Concerning your physical condition (Personality Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, with Borderline Features), which interferes with your duties, specifically, the inability to participate in rigorous exercises, conditioning hikes, and field duty.

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 Representation: From Congress member :

Other Documentation:

Pertinent Regulation/Law

A. Paragraph 6203.3 CONVENIENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT, of the Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual, (MCO P1900.16F), effective 1 September 2001 until Present.

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. Reenlist into the National Guard.
2. Employment opportunities.
3 . Marital and financial problems .

Decision

Date : 20 0 9 514 Location: Washington D.C . R epresentation :

By a vote of the Characterization shall : .

By a vote of the Narrative Reason shall : .

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 , and Employment/Educational Opportunities , regarding .

Issue 3 : ( ) . The Applicant contends he was hav ing marital and financial problems that caused his “impairment.” 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 one NAVPERS 1070/613 (Page 13) warning, but no violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) resulting in NJP or court-martial. There was nothing in the record of evidence to indicate the Applicant was having marital and financial problems or that these problems were the cause of his personality disorder. On the contrary, in the Mental Health Statement Form of 19 April 2005, the Applicant admitted to a childhood incident that may have been the catalyst for his mental health condition. On 15 April 2005, t he Staff Psychologist from the Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton, Mental Heath Services, diagnosed the Applicant for Adjustment Disorder with Depression and Personality Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, with Borderline Features . Thus, the Board finds the Reason for Discharge reflects the Applicant's mental health status at the time of his discharge, and his discharge was proper and equitable at the time of issuance. The Applicant’s marital and financial proble ms do not mitigate his misconduct . Relief denied.

For the Applicant’s information, a discharge initiated within the first 180 days of continuous active duty service is directed to be Uncharacterized unless misconduct occurs which warrants a lesser characterization, or an Honorable discharge is approved by the Secretary of the Navy for unusual circumstances involving personal conduct and performance of military duties. It is clear no such circumstance exists in the Applicant’s case and as such the NDRB determined the discharge characterization should remain Uncharacterized. Finally, with respect to non service-related administrative matters, ( i.e., VA benefits, educational pursuits and especially civilian employ ment) an uncharacterized separation is c onsidered the equivalent of an H onorable or G eneral ( Under Honorable C onditions) discharge.

For the Applicant’s clarification , he was not awarded a Good Conduct Medal. The Good Conduct Medal is awarded to Marines having three or more continuous years of qualifying service. Within the required period of active service, the individual must have a clear record (no convictions by courts-martial, no non-judicial punishments (NJP), any lost time by reason of sickness-misconduct, no civil convictions for offenses involving moral turpitude ) . T he Applicant only served four months in the Marine Corps.

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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USMC | DRB | 2009_Marine | MD0900804

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