ex-SR, USN

                  Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request

Application Received: 20090421
Characterization of Service Received:
Narrative Reason for Discharge:
Authority for Discharge:  MILPERSMAN 3630620 (DRUG ABUSE)

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

                             Summary of Service

Prior Service:
Inactive:   NONE       Active:

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Enlistment:  19940207     Age at Enlistment:
Period of Enlistment:   Years
Date of Discharge:  19970731 Highest Rank/Rate:  SN
Length of Service:
      Active      Year(s)     Month(s)   00 Day(s)
      Inactive:   Year(s)     Month(s)   24 Day(s)

Education Level:       AFQT:  61
Evaluation Marks:      Performance:  3.6 (1) Behavior:  3.6 (1)     OTA:
3.60

Awards and Decorations (per DD 214):

Periods of UA/CONF:

NJP:
    - 19970418:  Article 81 (Conspire with SN to wrongfully altered an AFID
             card)
      Article 134 (Wrongfully possession of AFID card which she knew to be
             false)
            Awarded:    Suspended:

    - 19970717:  Article 112a (Drug abuse, wrongful use of a controlled
             substance - Cocaine)
            Awarded:     Suspended:

SCM:            SPCM:          CC:


Retention Warning Counseling:

                    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:

                           DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
                     NAVAL DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD (NDRB)
                    DISCHARGE REVIEW DECISIONAL DOCUMENT

                             Applicant’s Issues

1.  Employment opportunities.
2.  She did not receive fair and equal treatment.
3.  Post-service conduct.

                                  Decision

Date:  20090618                   Location:  Washington D.C.
Representation:

By a vote of  the Characterization shall  .
By a vote of  the Narrative Reason shall  MISCONDUCT.

                                 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.  The
Applicant’s record of service included two non-judicial punishments (NJPs)
for violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice: Article 81
(conspiracy), Article 112a (wrongful use of a controlled substance -
cocaine) and Article 134 (false or unauthorized pass).  The NDRB advises
the Applicant certain serious offenses warrant separation from the service
to maintain proper order and discipline.  Violation of Article 112a is one
such offense requiring mandatory processing for administrative separation,
regardless of time in service or grade, which usually results in an
unfavorable characterization of discharge or, at a maximum, a punitive
discharge and possible confinement if adjudicated and awarded as part of a
sentence by a special or general court-martial.  The command did not pursue
court-martial but opted instead for an administrative discharge.  When
notified for administrative separation processing, the Applicant waived her
rights to request an administrative board, to have representation at the
administrative separation board by qualified counsel or civilian counsel at
her own expense, and to submit a written statement.

For the Applicant’s edification, all service members separated for drug
abuse are screened for drug dependency and provided the option of treatment
prior to separation.  The intent of this treatment is for the benefit of
the Applicant after discharge, not to rehabilitate the Applicant for
continued service.

: (Non-decisional) The NDRB has no authority to upgrade a discharge for the
sole purpose of enhancing employment or educational opportunities.  The
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determines eligibility for post-service
benefits, not the NDRB.  There is no requirement or law that grants
recharacterization solely on the basis of obtaining veterans' benefits and
this issue does not serve to provide a foundation upon which the Board can
grant relief.  Regulations limit the NDRB’s review to a determination of
the propriety and equity of the discharge.

:  (Decisional) ()  .  The Applicant contends she tried to get help for her
drug problem and believes she didn’t get fair and equal treatment by the
command.  The Applicant claims she told her chief petty officer several
times that she needed help with her drug problem.  Unfortunately, the
Applicant provided no documented proof that she attempted to use any of the
numerous support programs available for military service members.  These
programs and services, such as the chaplain’s office, the unit substance
abuse rehabilitation department (SARD), and Navy medical health personnel
all provide services to members of the military, regardless of grade, in
times of need.  By her own admission, the Applicant notes that she
“declined rehab and sought treatment on my own after discharge,” which
verifies that her command attempted to reach out and help her.  Relief
denied.

Issue 3: (Decisional) ()  .  The Applicant says she sought drug treatment
after she was discharged from the Navy and will graduate as a Registered
Nurse (RN) in May 2009.  The Board congratulates the Applicant for success
in her career.  However, the Applicant failed to provide any documentary
(verifiable) evidence on her behalf as instructed in NDRB correspondence
for post-service consideration.  By a unanimous vote of 5-0, the Board
determined the characterization of service received, Under Other Than
Honorable Conditions, and the narrative reason for the discharge,
Misconduct, shall remain as issued considering the length of service and
the UCMJ violations involved.  Relief denied.

Summary:  After a thorough review of the available evidence, to include the
Applicant’s summary of service, service record entries, discharge process
and evidence submitted by the Applicant, the Board found
The Applicant remains eligible for a personal appearance hearing for a
period of fifteen years from the date of her discharge.  The Applicant is
directed to the Addendum, specifically the paragraphs titled
Employment/Educational Opportunities and Post-Service Conduct.

                          Pertinent Regulation/Law

A.  Navy Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 14, effective
3 October 1996 until 11 December 1997,
Article 3630620, SEPARATION OF ENLISTED PERSONNEL BY REASON OF MISCONDUCT -
DRUG ABUSE.

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.


                  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 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.  There are veteran's organizations, such as the American
Legion and the Association of Service Disable Veterans, 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 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 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 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.

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
certificate (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 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
previous 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