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NAVY | DRB | 2009_Navy | ND0901835
Original file (ND0901835.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-STGSN, USN
Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request
Application Received: 20090616
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:         US N R (DEP)        20001115 - 20010916     Active:  

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Current Enlistment: 20010917     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years Extension
Date of Discharge: 20020816      Highest Rank/Rate: STGSN
Length of Service : Y ear ( s ) M onth ( s ) 00 D a y ( s )
Education Level:        AFQT: 42
Evaluation M arks:         Performance: NOB          Behavior: 4.0 ( 1 )        OTA: 3.40

Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):     

Periods of UA /C ONF :

NJP :    SCM:    SPCM:   CC:

Retention Warning Counseling :
- 20020715 :       For claustrophobia, generalized to pathologic fear of being shipboard.

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 /To Representat ion :            From /To Congress m ember :         
Oth er Documentation :   

Pertinent Regulation/Law

 A. Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 33, effective 28 August 2001 until
21 August 2002, Article 1910-120, SEPARATION BY REASON OF CONVENIENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT - PHYSICAL OR MENTAL CONDITIONS .

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.        Narrative reason affects her future job opportunities.
2.       Discharged without pay and still owed money.
 3 .       Was never suicidal .
4 . Narrative reason was unjust .
 5.       Should have been treated and given a chance to stay in the military.
Decision

Da te: 20 10 0422             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 discharg e if such change is warranted. In reviewing discharges, the Board presumes regularity in the conduct of g overnment al affairs unless there is substantial credible evidence to rebut the presumption, to include evidence submitted by the Applicant. The NDRB found no evidence of misconduct in the Applicant’s record of service that resulted in nonjudicial punishment or court-martial. On 24 July 2002, the Applicant was diagnosed with claustrophobia, generalized to pathologic fear of being shipboard. Based on the Applicant’s diagnosis , command administratively processed for separation. When notified for administrative s eparation p rocessing, the Applicant waived rights to consult with qualified counsel and submit a written statement.

: (Nondecisional) The Applicant contends the narrative reason for separation affect s her future job 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.

Issue 2: (Nondecisional) The Applicant contends she was discharged without pay and is still owed money. The NDRB has no authority to resolve pay issues. The NDRB recommends contacting the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) . Ref er to http://www.dfas.mil/ for more information.

Issue 3-5 : (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends she was never s uicidal, and the narrative reason for discharge was unjust. Instead of being discharged, she should have been treated and allowed to stay in the mili tary. On 16 July 2002, the Applican t’s executive officer noted the Applicant’s doctor retrac ted her statement about the Applicant being suicidal and did not think she was a harm to herself. Per her chronological record of care from the Fleet Mental Heath Unit, Branch Medical Clinic, San Diego, dated 24 July 2002, the doctor stated, “Both homicidality and suicidality were convincingly denied.” However, the Applicant was diagnose d with claustrophobia, generalized to pathologic fear of being shipboard. The doctor strongly advised that the Applicant be administratively separated because “She is in a sea-going rate, but she cannot fulfill the requirements of that rate, e.g., she cannot function shipboard. While it is likely that her willingness to deal with her fear is limited, it is more pertinent that treatment for her condition would be lengthy of limited efficacy. Thus, even if she were very motivated, the likelihood of successful treatment is quite low given the needs of the Navy. ” In the chronological record of medical care dated 7 August 2002, the staff clinical social worker stated, “The patient reported today that her Command was separating her, but she was confused as to under what conditions they were separating her. She explained that she had gone to CO’s Mast for malingering prior to being seen at FMHU and did not know if she would be separated honorably.” ( The Applicant stated the charges were dropped. ) After a careful review of the Applicant's official service and medical records, and taking into consideration the facts and circumstances unique to this case, the NDRB determined the Applicant clearly met the requirements for separation by reason of convenience of the government – condition not a disability and the awarded narrative reason was warranted . Relief denied.

Summary: After a thorough review of the available evidence, to include the Applicant’s s ummary of s ervice, medical and service r ecord e ntries, and d ischarge p rocess, the Board found Therefore, the awarded characterization of service shall and the narrative reason for separation shall remain CONDITION NOT A DISABILITY .

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 Disabled 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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