Upgrade.Vet

USMC | DRB | 2009_Marine | MD0901967

Original file (MD0901967.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-, USMC

Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request

Application Received: 20090709

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)       19951109 - 19960902     Active:

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Current Enlistment: 19960903     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years Months
Date of Discharge: 19991109      H ighest Rank:
Length of Service : Y ea r ( s ) M on th ( s ) 07 D a y ( s )
Education Level:        AFQT: 84
MOS: 7372
Proficiency/Conduct M arks (# of occasions): ( ) / ( )    Fitness R eports:

Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):      MM

Periods of UA / CONF :

NJP:

- 19990611 :       Article 1 34 (Falsely obtaining an AT&T federal calling card , services of a value of about $ 878.58 )
         Awarded : NFIR Susp ended: NFIR

SCM: SPCM: CC:

Retention Warning Counseling :

- 19990916 :       For diagnosed personality disorder, frequent tardiness, and periods of weeping while performing routine military duties.

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 6203, CONVENIENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT, of the Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual, (MCO P1900.16E), effective 18 August 1995 until 31 August 2001.

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.       The Applicant does not believe he should have been separated from the Marine Corps.
2. Post-service conduct.

Decision

Date: 20 10 0 805          Location: Washington D.C .         R epresentation :

By a vote of the Characterization shall .
By a vote of the Narrative Reason shall SECRETARIAL AUTHORITY .

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 g overnment al a ffairs 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 warning , for o f the Uniform Code of Mil itary Justice (UCMJ): Article 134 (Falsely obtaining a federal calling card , 1 specification). The Applicant did not have a pre-service drug waiver , and acknowledged complete understanding of the Marine Corps Policy Concerning Illegal Use of Drugs on 8 November 1995 . Based on the recommendation of competent medical authority, the Applicant’s command administratively processed for separation due to personality disorder . The NDRB did not have the Applicant’s administrative separation package to determine whether or not the Applicant waived rights to consult with a qualified counsel and submit a written statement. The Applicant was not entitled to request an administrative board .

: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends he should not have been separated from the Marine Corps. Further, he denies having a personality disorder and states he should have received treatment and assistance if he did have a personality disorder. The record reflects the Applican t was prescribed the drug Accut ane for severe nodular acne which was not responding to other treatments . The medical records also reflect this drug has numerous, severe side effects including : depression , crying spells, increased irritability, anger and aggressiveness, loss of interest in activities one used to enjoy , changes in behavior , psychosis and acting on dangerous impulses. The drug required the Applicant to be in a “down” status for flight (Applicant was a C-130 navigator). The Applicant took this drug from November 1998 until May 1999. The Applicant was diagnosed with a personality disorder at the mental health department at San Diego Naval Hospital in June 1999 . The Applicant received a page 11 counseling warning from his command in Jun 1999 for “personality disorder, frequent tardiness and periods of weeping while performing routine military duties. ” Consultation with NDRB medical personnel revealed the Applicant’s diagnosis was not well established considering the side effects of Accutane, of which the Applicant exhibited several , and the lingering effects of the drug which would have remained for two months or more after coming off of the medication. The NDRB found the Applicant’s diagnosis of personality disorder to be suspect since it was made less than a month after the Applicant stopped taking the medication. Further, the NDRB found the Applicant was not given sufficient time to recover from the effects of the drug and to show improvement prior to being separated. The NDRB voted 5-0 to upgrade the discharge characterization to HONORABLE and 4-1 to change the narrative reason for separation to SECRETARIAL AUTHORITY.

: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant requested that the NDRB consider post-service conduct as a basis for a more thorough understanding of his performance and conduct during the period of service under review. The Applicant submitted substantial documentation establishing himself as an outstanding citizen including: evidence of steady employment, community and charity service with autistic children, handicapped people in his community and work as a volunteer firefighter. He also submitted proof of outstanding performance in college as well as achieving several certificates of completion for EMT training as well as FEMA certifications. The NDRB commends the Applicant’s outstanding post-service achievements. The NDRB carefully considered the evidence of post-service conduct with the Applicant’s record of service, and found an upgrade of his discharge characterization to HONORABLE to be warranted on equitable grounds.

Summary: 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 Therefore, the awarded characterization of service shall and the narrative reason for separation shall change to .

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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USMC | DRB | 2009_Marine | MD0901967

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