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USMC | DRB | 2010_Marine | MD1000325
Original file (MD1000325.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-, USMC
Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request
Application Received: 20091109
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)       19910426 - 19920127     Active:  

Period of Service Under Review:
 Date of Current Enlistment: 19920128     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years Months
Date of Discharge: 19941118      H ighest Rank:
Length of Service : Y ea r ( s ) M on th ( s ) 21 D a y ( s )
Education Level:        AFQT: 38
MOS: 3531
Proficiency/Conduct M arks (# of occasions): ( ) / ( )    Fitness Reports:

Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):      Rifle (2)

Periods of CONF :

NJP:

- 19940831 :      Article (UA 0631, 19940823 – 2318, 19940826, 3 days)
         Awarded: Suspended:

- 19940913 :      Article (Dishonorably failed to pay debt)
         Awarded: Suspended:

- 19940922 :      Article (Disobey a lawful order – ingesting more medication than was prescribed)
         Awarded: Suspended:

SCM:              SPCM:    CC:

Retention Warning Counseling:

- 19921008 :      For lack of motivation and lackadaisical attitude while assigned to the Marine Corps Weight Control Program. Your unsatisfactory progress and unwillingness to maintain the weight goal established by the BN Medical Officer and Company Commander is unacceptable. Your continued failure to make progress may/will result in other administrative action(s) to include administrative separation due to failure of the weight control program. Your weight goal is 203 pounds and your current weight is 223 pounds.

- 19921008 :      For lack of integrity, and initiative. Also poor judgment and lack of self discipline.

- 19930201 :      For being UA from appointed place of duty. Defiance in military grooming regulations.

- 19940316 :       For your total lack of motivation, judgment, and maturity, specifically, your repeated episodes of UA and disrespect toward your seniors. Also your failure to follow base regulations while driving/operating a government vehicle, ie, unsafe off-loading of passengers.

Administrative Corrections to the Applicant’s DD 214

The NDRB did note administrative error(s) on the original DD Form 214:

         “ MISCONDUCT ”
         “ TL: 940823-940825 ”

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:        

Pertinent Regulation/Law

 A. Paragraph 6210, Misconduct , of the Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual, (MCO P1900.16D), effective
27 June 1989 until 17 August 1995.

 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.       The Applicant contends his discharge characterization was unduly harsh and inequitable.
2.       Post-service.

Decision

Date: 20 10 1115            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 included 6105 counseling warnings and for o f the Uniform Code of Mil itary Justice (UCMJ): Article 86 (Unauthorized absence , 3 days surrendered, 1specification), Article 90 (Failure to obey an order of a superior commissioned officer , 1 specification), and Article 134 (General: dishonorably fail to pay just debt , 1 specification ) . The Applicant also had a pre-service drug waiver for using marijuana prior to entering the Marine Corps and acknowledged complete understanding of the Marine Corps Policy Concerning Illegal Use of Drugs on 25 April 1996 . Based on the offenses committed by the Applicant, command administratively processed for separation. When notified of a dministrative separation processing , the Applicant waived rights to consult with a qualified counsel, submit a written statement, and request an administrative separation board .

: (Decisional) ( ) PARTIAL . The Applicant contends his discharge characterization was unduly harsh and inequitable. The NDRB carefully considered the Applicant’s record of service, arguments of counsel , and testimony by the Applicant and his witness. The NDRB found the Applicant’s misconduct to be minor, and in part, mitigated by circumstances. The testimony of the Applicant and his witness was found to be credible and clarified the circumstances of his misconduct for the B oard. The NDRB agreed with the Applicant’s contention and found an upgrade to General (Under Honorable Conditions) is warranted. The NDRB determined that due to the Applicant’s misconduct and low proficiency/conduct marks, an upgrade to Honorable is not warranted. Additionally, t he NDRB considered the Applicant’s request for a change to his narrative reason but found such a change to be inappropriate.

: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant requested that the NDRB consider post-service conduct as a basis for a more thorough understanding of his performance and conduct during the period of service under review. The NDRB considers post-service conduct in order to determine if the misconduct committed during active duty was indicative of the Applicant's character or an aberration. The Applicant provided documented evidence of national EMT certification and involvement in the Para-Olympics. The Applicant testified regarding employment, finances, education, lack of involvement with civil authorities , and his personal status, but provided no documentation to support his testimony. Due to the limited amount of documentary evidence to support the Applicant’s position, the NDRB found an upgrade for this issue would be inappropriate.

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 .


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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