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USMC | DRB | 2009_Marine | MD0901735
Original file (MD0901735.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-, USMC
Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request
Application Received: 20090608
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)       20031205 - 20031207     Active:  

Period of Service Under Review:
 Date of Current Enlistment: 20031208     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years Months
Date of Discharge: 20071106      H ighest Rank:
Length of Service : Y ea r ( s ) M on th ( s ) 30 D a y ( s )
Education Level:        AFQT: 36
MOS: 0621
Proficiency/Conduct M arks (# of occasions): ( ) / ( )    Fitness Reports:

Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):      Rifle (Kuwait)

Periods of UA : NONE      CONF : 20050826 – 20050926, 32 days

NJP:

- 20050720 :      Article (Failure to obey order or regulation) , 2 specifications
          Specification 1: Underage drinking on 20050616.
         Specification 2: Underage drinking on 20050717.
         Article ( Drunken or reckless driving – drove his vehicle on base while under the influence of alcohol, BAC was 0 .26)
         Awarded: Suspended:

SCM:

SPCM:

- 20051122 :      Article (Wrongful use, possession, etc., of controlled substances – marijuana) , 3 specifications
         Specification 1: 20050815.
         Specification 2: 20050928.
         Specification 3: 20050824.
         Article (General Article – break restriction) , 2 specifications
         Specification 1: 20050810.
         Specification 2: 20050824.
         Sentence : 120 DAYS (20051015 – 20051219, 66 days)
         CA’s Action: Accused credited with 71 days confinement.
CC:



Retention Warning Counseling:

- 20050615 :      For being arrested aboard Camp Pendleton for DUI on 20050616, BAC was .26.

- 20050719 :      For being arrested in Carlsbad, CA for DUI on 20050717, BAC was .20.

- 20050720 :       For incident on 20050717, found guilty of offense, sentence is Remedial Driving Courses aboard Camp Pendleton.

- 20050928 :      For drug related incident on 20050824, THC usage identified through urinalysis.

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 1105, DISCHARGE ADJUDGED BY SENTENCE OF COURT-MARTIAL , 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 IV, Para 403m(7)(a), Presumption Concerning Court-Martial Specifications .

C . 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. A combination of severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol and drug abuse contributed towards his declining mental state and effort to self-medicate.

Decision

 Date: 20 10 0 603            Location: Washington D.C .         R epresentation :

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 Government affairs unless there is substantial credible evidence to rebut the presumption, to include evidence submitted by the Applicant. With respect to a discharge adjudged by a court-martial case, 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. In response to the Applicant's clemency request, relevant and material facts stated in a court-martial specification are presumed by the NDRB to be established facts. The Applicant's case was considered under the pertinent standards of equity to determine if any factors in this particular case merited clemency. The Applicant’s record of service included four 6105 counseling warnings ; one nonjudicial punishment (NJP) for violations o f the Uniform Code of Military Jus tice (UCMJ): Article 92 ( Failure to obey order or regulation, 2 specifications of underage drinking), Article 111 (Drunken or reckless driving, drove his vehicle on base while under the influence of alcohol, blood alcohol content level was 0.26); and one special court-martial (SPCM) for violations of the UCMJ: Article 112a ( Wrongful use of controlled substances, 3 specifications for marijuana, amount unknown) and Article 134 (Breaking restriction, 2 specifications). (The Applicant did not require a pre-service drug waiver prior to entering the Marine Corps, and acknowledged his complete understanding of the Marine Corps Policy Concerning Illegal Use of Drugs on 24 November 2004 . ) Based on the multiple Article 112a violation s and breaking restriction , the Applicant’s command convened a SPCM. The Applicant pled and was found guilty of all charges and sentenced to 120 days of confinement, reduction in rate to E-1, and a Bad Conduct discharge.

Issue 1 : (Decisional) ( ) PARTIAL . The Applicant contends his severe PTSD contributed towards his declining mental state and his alcohol and drug abuse was an effort to self-medicate. On 3 September 2005, the Applicant had documented evidence of PTSD symptoms and on 28 September 2005, a hospital corpsman diagnosed the Applicant with PTSD and referred him to a consult with mental health on the following day. The Applicant provided documentation the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rated him 100 percent for PTSD, but stated he could not receive paid treatment . A fter a thorough review of the records, supporting documents, facts, and circumstances unique to this case, the NDRB determined the Applicant ’s PTSD wa s a mitigating factor associated with his in-service misconduct , but an upgrade to Honorable would be inappropriate. However, the NDRB determined partial relief was warranted based on clemency and b y majority rule, the NDRB voted to upgrade the discharge characterization to General (Under Honorable Conditions), but voted unanimously not to change the narrative reason for separation.

Summary: After a thorough review of the available evidence, to include the Applicant’s summary of service, medical and service record entries, and discharge process, the Board found partial 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 Disable d American 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 their 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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