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USMC | DRB | 2010_Marine | MD1002215
Original file (MD1002215.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-, USMC
Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request
Application Received: 20100909
Characterization of Service Received:
Narrative Reason for Discharge:
Authority for Discharge: MARCORSEPMAN

Applicant’s Request:      Characterization change to:
         Narrative Reason change to: CONVENIENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT

Summary of Service

Prior Service:
Inactive:         USMCR (DEP)       19991130 - 20001009     Active:  

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Current Enlistment: 20001010     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years Months
Date of Discharge: 20030407      H ighest Rank:
Length of Service : Y ea r ( s ) M on th ( s ) 29 D a y ( s )
Education Level:        AFQT: 75
MOS: 4066
Proficiency/Conduct M arks (# of occasions): ( ) / ( )    Fitness R eports:

Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):     

Periods of UA / CONF :

Lost Time Per DD 214: 20021204 - 20021204 (1day)

NJP:

- 20020321 :      Article General A rticle ( v iolate Georgia State Law Code 40-5-55 by refusing to take a B reathalyzer after a serious accident)
         Awarded: Suspended:

SCM:     SPCM:    CC:      Retention Warning Counseling :

CC Arrest:

- 20020203 :       Offense: DUI

- 20021201 :       Offense: DUI

Administrative Corrections to the Applicant’s DD 214

The NDRB did note administrative error(s) on the original DD Form 214:
         Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations, and Campaign Ribbons Awarded or Authorized, should read: “ NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, SHARPSHOOTER RIFLE BADGE ”

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:                  Oth er Documentation:    
                  Additional Statements :
         From Applicant:            From /To Representation:            From /To Congress m ember :        

Pertinent Regulation/Law

 A . The Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual, (MCO P1600.19F), effective 1 September 2001 until Present, Paragraph 6209, ALCOHOL REHABILITATION FAILURE.
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 narrative reason for separation should have been C onvenience of the G overnment.
2.       The Applicant contends youth and immaturity mitigate his misconduct.
3.       The Applicant contends he was unfairly treated by his command.
4.       The Applicant contends his use of alcohol impaired his ability to serve, and he has subsequently completed treatment f or alcohol dependency.

Decision

Date : 2011 12 14             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 Applicant’s record of service included for o f the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ): Article ( Article , : Refusing a B reathalyzer test following a serious accident ). Based on the Applicant ’s failure of alcohol rehabilitation , command administratively processed for separation. When notified of administrative separation processing, the Applicant exercised rights to consult with a qualified counsel and submit a written statement. The Applicant was not entitled to an administrative board.

: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends his narrative reason for separation should have been C onvenience of the G overnment. The record shows the Applicant completed intensive outpatient alcohol treatment on 14 Dec 2001 following a DUI in Sept ember 2001. The Applicant subsequently was charged with DUI on 3 Feb ruary 2002 and again in Dec ember 2002 in violation of his aftercare program. The record shows the Applicant was clearly an alcohol rehabilitation failure , which warrants administrative separation per the Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual . Additionally, the Applicant’s multiple incidents of DUI and misconduct of record clearly warrant a General (Under Honorable Conditions) characterization of service. No change is warranted.

: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends that his youth and immaturity contributed to making the wrong choice to engage in alcohol abuse, mitigating his subsequent misconduct. T he record clearly reflects that the Applicant was responsible for his actions when he chose to violate the terms and conditions of his aftercare program and drive while under the influence of alcohol. Further, the record reflects repeated and willful misconduct and that the Applicant had no potential for further service . The NDRB determined the Applicant ’ s youth or age was not a mitigati ng factor in his misconduct or in his failure of alcohol rehabilitation. Relief denied.

: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends he was unfairly treated by his command. The record does not support the Applicant’s contention. The command clearly gave the Applicant multiple chances to correct his alcohol- related problems , including sending him to substance abuse treatment and tolerating multiple DUIs prior to separation. The Applicant’s issue is without merit. An u pgrade would be inappropriate.








: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends his use of alcohol impaired his ability to serve, and he has subsequently completed treatment for alcohol dependency. Alcohol consumption is never an acceptable excuse for misconduct or poor judgment. The Applicant provide d an alcohol rehabilitation completion certificate and letters of recommendation from former co-workers for the NDRB’s consideration. However, it is clear the Applicant’s in - service rehabilitation failure and multiple DUIs were the correct basis for his separation with a General (Under Honorable Conditions) characterization. The NDRB determined an upgrade to the characterization of service and a change to the narrative reason for sepa ration would be inappropriate.

Summary: After a thorough review of the available evidence, to include the Applicant’s s ummary of s ervice, 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 . 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 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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