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USMC | DRB | 2010_Marine | MD1000273
Original file (MD1000273.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied
ex-, USMC
Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request
Application Received: 20091103
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:         NONE              Active:  

Period of Service Under Review:
 Date of Current Enlistment: 19940523     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years
Date of Discharge: 19980712      H ighest Rank:
Length of Service :
Active: Year(s) Month(s) 02 D ay(s)
Inactive: Year(s) Month(s) 16 D ay(s)
Education Level:        AFQT: 77
MOS: 7242
Proficiency/Conduct M arks (# of occasions): ( ) / ( )    Fitness Reports:
Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):     

Periods of UA / CONF :     NJP:     SCM:     SPCM:    CC:
Retention Warning Counseling:

NDRB Documentary Review Conducted (date):        20090903
NDRB Documentary Review Docket Number:   MD0900995
NDRB Documentary Review Findings:                 Proper as issued and that no change is warranted.
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:        

Pertinent Regulation/Law
A. Paragraph 6213 of the Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual, (MCO P1900.16E), effective
18 August 1995 until 31 August 2001.

B. Marine Corps Reserve Administrative Management Manual, MCO P1001R.1, Chapter 3, Reserve Participation and Administrative Procedures, paragraph 300.

C. Table 6-1 of the Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual, (MCO P1900.16E), effective 18 August 1995, Guide for Characterization of Service.
D . 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.       A bility to serve was impaired, and that financial hardship and personal problems mitigated his misconduct.
 2.       Post-service conduct warrants consideration.

Decision

Date: 20 10 1108            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 g overnment al a ffairs unless there is substantial credible evidence to rebut the presumption, to include evidence submitted by the Applicant. The Applicant’s record of service reflected no 6105 counseling warnings, non-judicial punishments, special court-martials, or summary court-martials for violation o f the Uniform Code of Military Justice . However, because the Applicant ’s drill attendance was unsatisfactory , his command administratively processed him for separation. The command, via the U.S. Postal Service, notified the Applicant of a dministrative separation processing using the procedure . However, the Applicant’s administrative separation package did not reflect whether he exercised or waived rights to consult with a qualified counsel, submit a written statement, and request an administrative board.
: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends his discharge was inequitable , because personal problems and financial hardship created by the unit’s unexpec ted relocation further from his home impaired his ability to serve and should have provided mitigation for his misconduct . He claims that he attempted to transfer to other units closer to his residence . He also provided a copy of a DD Form 368 to show that he request ed a conditional release from the Marine Corps to enlist in the Army National Guard . On the DD Form 368, he acknowledged that he understood that he was required to attend scheduled training at his current command until he enlisted in the other service. Neither his transfer to another Marine unit nor his conditional release from the Marine Corps was ever approved . Therefore, he was obligated to continue drilling at his current Home Training Center. He eventually missed 13 drills over a period of 1 2 months . H is command contacted him on numerous occasion s regarding the mis sed drills , but he made little if any effort to make them up . The A pplicant testified that he receive d several letters from his command and was a d vised on the potential consequences but “ignored them . ” Thus , on at least 13 different occasions, he made a conscious and informed decision not to attend drill. Therefore, t he NDRB determined that the characterization received at the time of discharge was equitable. Relief denied.
: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends his post-service conduct warrants consideration for his discharge to be upgraded to General (Under Honorable Conditions) . The NDRB considers 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. The Applicant provided several letters of r eference and documentation regarding his employment, education and training, criminal record, family and personal status, and community service. After a careful review of the Applicant's post-service documentation and official service record, and taking into consideration his testimony and the facts and circumstances unique to this case, the NDRB determined relief is warranted based on equitable grounds. The Board voted unanimously to upgrade the discharge characterization to General (Under Honorable Conditions) but not change the narrative reason for separation.

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 the discharge was proper and equitable at the time of discharge. However, based on equitable grounds , t he awarded characterization of service shall and the narrative reason for separation shall remain .


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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