Upgrade.Vet

NAVY | DRB | 2009_Navy | ND0900417

Original file (ND0900417.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-DC3, USN

Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request

Application Received: 20081210
Characterization of Service Received:

Narrative Reason for Discharge:
Authority for Discharge: MILPERSMAN HOMOSEXUAL ADMISSION

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

Summary of Service

Prior Service:
Inactive: USNR (DEP)     20030225 - 20031112     Active:

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Enlistment: 20031113      Age at Enlistment:
Period of Enlistment : Years Extension
Date of Discharge: 20080111       Highest Rank/Rate: DC2
Length of Service: Year(s) Month(s) 29 D ay(s)
Education Level:         AFQT: 89
Evaluation Marks:        Performance: 4.3 ( 3 )     Behavior: 3.0 ( 3 )        OTA: 3.47

Awards and Decorations (per DD 214):     NDSM GWOTEM SSDR Pistol MM FLOC

Periods of UA/CONF:

NJP:
- 20071003: Article 92 (Failure to obey lawful written order)
Awarded: Suspended:

SCM: SPCM: CC:

Retention Warning Counseling:

- 20071003 : For CO’s NJP of 20071003 for violation of UCMJ, Article 92, failure to obey a lawful written order or
regulation.

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. The Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 11, effective
29 April 2005 until Present, Article 1910-148, SEPARATION BY REASON OF HOMOSEXUAL CONDUCT

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. Seeking to obtain educational benefits.
2. Released for homosexual admission but served 4 years.

Decision

Date: 20090326 Location: Washington D.C. R epresentation :

By a vote of the Characterization shall .
By a vote of the Narrative Reason shall HOMOSEXUAL ADMISSION.

Discussion

: The Applicant is seeking an upgrade in order to obtain educational benefits. 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 for additional information regarding this Issue, specifically the paragraph concerning Employment/Educational Opportunities.

: ( ) . The Applicant acknowledges he was discharged for homosexual admission but contends he deserves an honorable discharge because he served over four years and worked hard. He submitted no documentary evidence for the Board’s consideration. The NDRB, under its responsibility to examine the propriety and equity of an Applicant's discharge, will change the reason for discharge or characterization of service if such a 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. The Applicant’s service was marred by one retention warning and one NJP for violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ): Article 92 (Failure to obey a lawful written order or regulation (hazing)). The commanding officer letter of 16 October 2007 indicates at the time of discharge, the Applicant was a lower than average performing Sailor with many disciplinary problems occurring during the past year and a half; he had received numerous counseling’s for various liberty incidents; was found in bed with another male late at night; and had joined in on a hazing incident by assisting in the taping of a junior Sailor to a chair, blindfolding him and playing on his fear of the dark by turning off the lights. The Applicant was subsequently discharged after making a written statement admitting he was gay, unable to hold back his feelings and not allowed express his feelings as he choose in the Navy.

The Applicant has requested an upgrade in his discharge to “Honorable”. An “Honorable” characterization of service is warranted when the quality of a member’s service generally meets the standard of acceptable conduct and performance for naval personnel, or is otherwise so meritorious that any other characterization of service would be clearly inappropriate. A “General (Under Honorable Conditions)” discharge is warranted when the quality of the member’s service has been honest and faithful but significant negative aspects of the member’s conduct or performance of duty outweighed the positive aspects of the member’s service record. The Board determined based on the Applicant’s length of service and the seriousness of the offense committed, an upgrade to honorable is not warranted. The Applicant’s in-service work performance was not sufficient to warrant an “Honorable” characterization as documented by his commanding officer. The Applicant’s conduct, which forms the primary basis for determining the character of his service, reflects his failure to meet established standards of conduct expected from a U. S. Sailor. The Board 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 Entries, and Discharge Process, 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, provided 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 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 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.

Employment/Educational Opportunities : The Board has no authority to upgrade a discharge for the sole purpose of enhancing employment or educational opportunities. Regulations limit the Board’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 Board 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 for 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 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 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 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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NAVY | DRB | 2009_Navy | ND0900417

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