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USMC | DRB | 2010_Marine | MD1000271
Original file (MD1000271.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied
ex-, USMC
Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request
Application Received: 20091020
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)       20020910 - 20031210     Active:  

Period of Service Under Review:
 Date of Current Enlistment: 20031211     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years Months
Date of Discharge: 20050825      H ighest Rank:
Length of Service : Y ea r M on ths 14 D a ys
Education Level:        AFQT: 65
MOS: 0311
Proficiency/Conduct M arks (# of occasions): ( ) / ( )    Fitness Reports:
Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):      Rifle

Periods of UA / CONF : UA 20041206 - 20050328 (113)
                  CONF 20050331 - 20050428        (29)
SCM :
- 20050428 :      Article , Absence without leave, Unauthorized Absence, 20041206 - 20050328 , 113 days.
         Article , Wrongful use of a controlled substance, marijuana, THC 79 ng/ml, Navy Drug Lab message DTG 071951Z APR 05 .
         Awarded: Suspended:

NJP: NONE        SPCM: NONE       CC: NONE
Retention Warning Counseling:
- 20050503: For illegal drug involvement.

Administrative Corrections to the Applicant’s DD 214
The NDRB did note an administrative er ror on the original DD Form 214:

          Character of Service, Remarks should read “UNDER OTHER THAN HONORABLE CONDITIONS ” .
        
The NDRB will recommend to the Commandant of the Marine Corps that the DD 214 be corrected as appropriate.
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:           Rehabilitation/Treatment:                 Criminal Records:       
         Personal Documentation:           Community Service:                References:     
         Department of VA letter:                  Other Documentation:    
                  Additional Statements:
          From Applicant:           From/To Representation:           From/To Congress member:        


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

Applicant’s Issues

 1. The Applicant contends that stressors following his deployment to Iraq were mitigating factors in his misconduct.
2. The Applicant contends he should have been allowed to continue his military service.
3 . The Applicant contends that his discharge was not proper and equitable.

Decision

Date: 20101202 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 discharge if such change is warranted. In reviewing discharges, the Board presumes regularity in the conduct of governmental affairs unless there is substantial credible evidence to rebut the presumption, to include evidence submitted by the Applicant. However, t he Board did complete a thorough review of the circumstances that led to discharge and the discharge process to ensure discharge met the pertinent standards of equity and propriety. The Applicant’s record of service included 6105 counseling warning and for of the UCMJ: Article 86 ( Absence without leave, Unauthorized Absence, 20041206 - 20050328, 113 days) and Article 112a (Wrongful use of a controlled substance, marijuana, THC 79 ng/ml, Navy Drug Lab message DTG 071951Z APR 05). The Applicant did not have a pre-service drug waiver prior to entering the Marine Corps but acknowledged complete understanding of the Marine Corps Policy Concerning Illegal Use of Drugs on 8 September 2002. Based on the offenses committed by the Applicant, command administratively processed for separation. Based on the Article 112a violation, processing for administrative separation is mandatory. When notified of administrative separation processing using the procedure, the Applicant exercised rights to consult with a qualified counsel and submit a written statement, but waived his right to request an administrative board.

 Issue 1: (Decisional) ( ) RELIEF NOT W ARRANTED The Applicant contends that stressors following his deployment to Iraq were mitigating factors in his misconduct. The NDRB found no medical diagnosis in the record to support the Applicant's claim nor did the Applicant produce any medical diagnosis by competent medical authority to support his claim. While he may feel that this was the underlying cause of his misconduct, the record clearly reflects willful misconduct, and that the Applicant had no potential for further service. The evidence of record shows the Applicant was responsible for his conduct and should be held accountable for his actions. However, the Applicant should be aware the VA has announced special access to VA enrollment available to combat veterans discharged under other than honorable conditions. T he VA determines eligibility for enrollment independent of the Applicant's characterization of service as determined by the Marine Corps. The Applicant is advised to contact his local VA for information. Alternately, he can call 1-877-222-8387 or visit the following website for more information: http://www4.va.gov/healtheligibility/Library/pubs/CombatVet/CombatVet.pdf .
: (D ecisional) ( ) RELIEF NOT WARRANTED The Applicant contends he should have been allowed to continue his military service. The Applicant was found guilty of Article 112a ( Wrongful use of a controlled substance, marijuana) at a summary court-martial. Certain serious offenses, even if isolated, require mandatory separation to maintain good order and discipline. Violation of Article 112a is one such offense that requires m andatory separation.
: (Decisional) ( ) RELIEF NOT WARRANTED The Applicant contends that his discharge was not proper and equitable. The NDRB found that the Applicant was properly and equitably discharged from the Marine Corps after being found guilty of violating Articles 86 and 112a at a summary court-martial. In fact, violations of this magnitude are typically sent to a special court-martial, where conviction often results in a Bad Conduct D ischarge. The Applicant’s command opted instead for the more lenient administrative discharge instead of preferring charges to a court-martial that would likely have resulted in a punitive discharge.
Summary: After a thorough review of the available evidence, to include the Applicant’s summary of service, record entries, and discharge process, the Board found Therefore, the awarded characterization of service shall and the narrative reason for separation shall remain . 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, Reenlistment/RE-code , Employment/Educational Opportunities, Service Benefits and Post-Service Conduct .

Pertinent Regulation/Law

 A. The Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual, (MCO P1900.16F), effective 1 September 2001 until Present, Paragraph 6210, MISCONDUCT .
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 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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