ex-ABHAA, USN

                  Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request

Application Received: 20090422
Characterization of Service Received:
Narrative Reason for Discharge:
Authority for Discharge:  MILPERSMAN

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

                             Summary of Service

Prior Service:
Inactive:   USNR (DEP) 20031219 - 20040713   Active:

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Enlistment:  20040714     Age at Enlistment:
Period of Enlistment:   Years   Extension
Date of Discharge:  20070901 Highest Rank/Rate:  ABHAN
Length of Service:   Year(s)     Month(s)   18 Day(s)
Education Level:       AFQT:  36
Evaluation Marks:      Performance:  3.0 (2) Behavior:  3.0 (2)     OTA:
3.00

Awards and Decorations (per DD 214):    NDSM GWOTSM HSM SSDR (2)

Periods of UA/CONF:

20060625:  Domestic Violence No Contact Order (expires on 20070625).

20071224:  Applicant involved in a 4th degree Domestic Violence.

NJP:            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.  Applicant claims discharge based on one isolated incident in 37 months
of active duty.
2.  Applicant requests post-service conduct consideration.

                                  Decision

Date:  20090821                   Location:  Washington D.C.
Representation:

By a vote of  the Characterization shall  .
By a vote of  the Narrative Reason shall  MISCONDUCT (SERIOUS OFFENSE).

                                 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 reflects a domestic dispute incident, which
resulted in a “no contact order” being issued to him on 25 June 2006 for a
period of a year.  The Applicant was involved in a 4th degree misdemeanor
(domestic violence) on 24 December 2006, in which he broke the “no contact
order” issued six months earlier.    Based on the incidents, the command
decided to administratively discharge the Applicant due to Misconduct –
Commission of a Serious Offense.  At the time of discharge, the Applicant
invoked his right to consult with counsel and his right to submit a written
statement for consideration by the separation authority.

: (Decisional) ()  .  The Applicant contends his discharge should be
upgraded based on his record of service which was good apart from a single
period of misconduct over 37 months of service.  Despite a Sailor’s prior
record of service, certain serious offenses, even though isolated, warrant
separation from the naval service in order to maintain good order and
discipline;  the offenses committed meet this standard.  A “General (Under
Honorable Conditions)” discharge is appropriate if the member’s service has
been honest and faithful but significant negative aspects of the member’s
conduct or performance outweighs positive aspects of the member’s military
record. Relief denied.

Issue 2:  (Decisional) ()  .  The Applicant was advised via NDRB
correspondence to provide documentation of post-service
conduct/accomplishments.  The Applicant provided only an identification
card showing he works at the Department of Corrections and a statement from
a colleague in reference to the incident which resulted in his eventual
discharge from the Navy as documentary evidence on his behalf.  However, to
warrant an upgrade, the Applicant’s post service efforts need to be more
encompassing.  The Board determined the characterization of service
received was an appropriate characterization considering the length of
service, the violations involved and on the limited post service
documentation provided.

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
By a unanimous vote of 5-0, the Board determined the characterization of
service received, General (Under Honorable Conditions), and the narrative
reason for the discharge, Misconduct (Serious Offense), shall remain as
issued considering the length of service and the UCMJ violations involved.



                          Pertinent Regulation/Law

A.  Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 11, effective
26 April 2005 until Present, Article 1910-142, SEPARATION BY REASON OF
MISCONDUCT - COMMISSION OF A SERIOUS OFFENSE.

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 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 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