Upgrade.Vet

USMC | DRB | 2009_Marine | MD0901272

Original file (MD0901272.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-, USMC

Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request

Application Received: 20090417

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:         USARNG   19910403 - 19930225 COG Active: USAR     19930226 - 19931113 HON

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Enlistment: 19931129     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years Months
Date of Discharge: 19961025      H ighest Rank:
Length of Service:        Y ea r ( s ) M on th ( s ) 27 D a y ( s )
Education Level:        AFQT: 73
MOS: 5811
Proficiency/Conduct M arks (# of occasions): ( ) / ( )    Fitness R eports:

Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):      AAM ARCOTR

Periods of UA /CONF : NONE

NJP:
- 19951108 :       Article 86 (UA) , 2 specifications
         Spec 1: Absent from appointed place of duty
         Spec 2: 19951013 – 19951015 ( 3 days)
         Awarded: Suspended:

- 19960619 :      Article 92 ( Failed to obey an order or regulation )
         Awarded : Susp ended:

SCM:     SPCM:    CC:

ARREST:

- 19951026:      Incarcerated for assault while at a night club in Tijuana, Mexico. [Extracted from Commanding Officer’s letter dated 19961004.]

Retention Warning Counseling :
- 19960105 :       For failure t o provide p roper care of assigned government vehicles in that you were observed closing a sliding door by accelerating and then braking, actions which could have caused the vehicle to sustain damage .
- 19960122 :       For mismanagement of personal finance resulting in insufficient financial support of your dependents.
- 19960520 :       For performance of duty, poor judgment and UA from place of duty.
- 19960906 :       For alcohol related incident , this occurred on 27 July 1996. W hile driving aboard the Depot , you were driving in a reckless manner , causing another vehicle to brake suddenly to avoid being stuck by your vehicle . When approached by the Military Police you were indentified as having been drinking, by use of an alco-sensor with a BAC of .06 percent .

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. The Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual, (MCO P1600.19E), effective 18 August 1995 until 31 August 2001, Paragraph 6209, ALCOHOL REHABILITATION FAILURE.

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. Interested in rejoining the armed services .
2. Seeking p ost-service conduct consideration ( c ompleted a six - month alcohol and substance abuse program at the Bath
Veterans Affairs Medical Center ).

Decision

Date: 2009 1217 Location: Washington D.C . R epresentation :

By a vote of the Characterization shall .
By a vote of the Narrative Reason shall ALCOHOL REHABILITAION FAILURE .

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 evidence submitted by the Applicant. The Applicant’s record of service included 6105 counseling warnings ; non-judicial punishments ( ) for o f the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ): Article 86 ( Unauthorized absence , from appointed place of duty and 3 days from 19951013-19951015 ) and Article 92 ( Failed to obey an order , directed to go from the c ompany XO to family services ) ; and civilian arrest , incarcerated on 26 Oct 1995 , for assault while at a night club in Tijuana, Mexico. On 17 Oct 1995, the Applicant was declared alcohol dependent by a medical doctor and recommended to attend Level III treatment. Upon his completion of Level III treatment on 29 Nov 1995, he was assigned to an aftercare program for 52 weeks. The Applicant had a relapse during his aftercare program treatment, was in noncompliance with his treatment , and was recommended by a medical doctor for administrative separation . On 27 Jan 1996, while driving through a base gate , he was stopped for driving with a BAC .06 percent . O n 29 Jan 1996 the Applicant was determined to be a treatment failure. Based on the offenses committed by the Applicant and his treatment failure status , command administratively processed for separation. When processed for separation, the Applicant waived rights to consult with qualified counsel and submit a written statement.

: (Nondecisional) The Applicant is interested in rejoining the armed services. The NDRB has no jurisdiction over reenlistment, reentry, or reinstatement into the Navy, Marine Corps, or any other of the Armed Forces, and is not authorized to change a reenlistment code. Refer to the Addendum paragraph, Reenlistment/RE-code , for more information.

: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends he has completed a six - month alcohol and substance abuse program at the Bath VA Medical Center and with the Brooklyn Veterans Administration Harbor Healthcare System. To warrant upgrade consideration for post-service achievement, the Applicant’s efforts need to be more encompassing. On page 4, Item 8, in the instructions for completion of DD Form 293, the Applicant is notified to submit evidence "which substantiate s or relate s directly to your issues in Item 6" (Issues: Why an upgrade or change is requested and justification for the request). Additionally, upon receipt of the Applicant's DD Form 293, the NDRB mails an acceptance letter that includes Information Concerning Review Procedures , which discusses the submission of additional documents in paragraph 3, Submission of Evidence , and in the last section on page 4, Information Pertaining to a Review Based Upon Post-Service Conduct . However, even if the Applicant could have produced additional evidence to support a review based on his post-service conduct, the Applicant must have a full understanding that post-service conduct alone does not guarantee an upgrade.

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 for a personal appearance hearing for a period of fifteen years from the date of discharge. The Applicant is directed to the Addendum, specifically the paragraphs titled Additional Reviews, Automatic Upgrades, and Post-Service Conduct .

ADDENDUM: Information for the Applicant

Complaint Procedures : If you believe 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 : After a document review has been conducted, former members are eligible for a personal appearance hearing, provided the application is received at the NDRB within 15 years of the Applicant’s 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. There are veterans organizations such as the American Legion and the Association of Service Disable Veterans that are willing to provide guidance to former service members in their efforts to obtain a discharge upgrade. 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 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) determines eligibility for post-service benefits, not the NDRB. 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 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 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 is processed subsequently for an administrative involuntary separation or is referred to a court martial for misconduct, the disability evaluation is suspended pending the outcome of the non-disability proceedings. If the action includes either a punitive or administrative discharge for misconduct or for any basis wherein an Other Than Honorable discharge is authorized, 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 BCNR can grant this type of narrative reason change.

Automatic Upgrades - There is no law or regulation that provides for an unfavorable discharge to be upgraded based solely on the passage of time or good conduct subsequent to leaving naval service.

Post-Service Conduct : The NDRB is authorized to consider post-service factors in the recharacterization of a discharge. Outstanding post-service conduct, 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, is considered during Board reviews. Documentation to support a post-service conduct upgrade includes, but is not limited to: a verifiable continuous employment record; marriage and children’s birth certificates (if applicable); character witness statements; documentation of community or church service; certification of non-involvement with civil authorities; evidence of financial stability or letters of good standing from banks, credit card companies, or other financial institutions; attendance at or completion of higher education (official transcripts); and documentation of a drug-free lifestyle. The Applicant is advised that completion of these items alone does not guarantee the upgrade of an unfavorable discharge, as each discharge is reviewed by the Board on a case-by-case basis to determine if post-service accomplishments help demonstrate in-service misconduct was an aberration and not indicative of the member’s overall character.

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 | MD0901272

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