Upgrade.Vet

NAVY | DRB | 2010_Navy | ND1001688

Original file (ND1001688.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-AE3, USN

Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request

Application Received: 20100701

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:         USA F (DEP)        NFIR - 200004XX UNK
         US N R (DEP)        20000823 - 2000905      Active:          20000906 - 20021218

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Current Enlistment: 20021219     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years Extension
Date of Discharge: 20060801      Highest Rank/Rate: AE2
Length of Service : Y ear ( s ) M onth ( s ) 13 D a y ( s )
Education Level:        AFQT: 52
Evaluation M arks:         Performance: 4.0 ( 4 )      Behavior: 3.25 ( 4 )       OTA: 3.68
Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):      , , , , , EAWS , FLoC ,

Periods of UA /C ONF :

NJP:
- 20060713 :      Article (Drugs - marijuana 21 ng/ml) , NAVDRUGLAB msg 232337Z Jun 06
         Awarded: Suspended:

SCM:     SPCM:    C C :

Retention Warning Counseling :
- 2003 0209 :       For failure of Physical Fitness Assessment , height-weight/body fat .

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 Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 11, effective 29 April 2005 until 1 June 2008,
Article 1910-146, SEPARATION BY REASON OF MISCONDUCT - DRUG ABUSE.

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 that his discharge warrants consideration for upgrade on equitable grounds based on his in-service performance and post-service achievements.

Decision

Date: 20 1 1 0711 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 affairs unless there is substantial credible evidence to rebut the presumption, to include evidence submitted by the Applicant. The Applicant identif ied one decisional issue for the Board ’s consideration . T he Board complete d a thorough review of the circumstances that led to discharge and the discharge process to ensure discharge met the pertinent sta ndards of equity and propriety. The Applicant’s record of service included NAVPERS 1070/613 (Page 13) retention warning for PFA failure (9 Feb 2009) and for o f the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ): Article ( Wrongful use, possession, etc . of a controlled substance, marijuana , 21 ng/ml, as evidenced by NAVDRUGLAB msg 232337Z Jun 06). The Applicant ’s record also reflected a pre-service drug waiver for using marijuana prior to entering the Navy. Based on the Article 112a violation, processing for administ rative separation was mandatory. When notified of administrative separation processing using the procedure on 13 Jul 2006 , the Applicant rights to consult with a qualified coun sel, to submit a written statement , and to request an administrative separation board hearing . The Applicant was separated from the Navy on 1 Aug 2006 with an Under Other Than Honorable Conditions discharge due to Misconduct (Drug Abuse).

: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends his discharge warrants consideration for upgrade on equitable grounds based on his in-service performance and post-service achievements. The Board conducted a detailed and thorough examination of the Applicant’s service records and found that his performance was outstanding throughout his enlistment with average markings of 4.0 (Performance), 3.25 (Behavior), and 3.68 (Overall Trait Average). Additionally, comments made by superiors within his chain of command specifically mentioned his superior technical abilities, exceptional knowledge, attention to detail, supervisory and management skills, and outstanding bearing and appearance. Further more , t he Applicant submitted documentation that provided evidence of his consistent employment history, responsibility and devotion to his family, advanced education transcripts, verification of no criminal history, and substantial community service in coaching sports and providing life mentoring and counseling to underprivileged youth of all ages. After extensive review of the available evidence, to include testimony given by the Applicant, and thorough deliberation on the facts and circumstances unique to his discharge, the NDRB determined that the Applicant’s discharge characterization of service was inequitable and was not consistent with the characterization of discharge given others in similar circumstances . As such, the Applicant’s issue provided a basis for which partial relief could be granted. The NDRB determined that the appropriate characterization of service at discharge was General (Under Honorable Conditions); as such, partial relief is warranted. Full relief to Honorable was not granted due to the nature of the misconduct.

Summary : After a thorough review of the available evidence, to include the Applicant’s s ummary of s ervice, r ecord e ntries , testimony presented at the personal hearing, and the administrative separation p rocess, the NDRB found that the discharge was proper, but not equitable. Therefore, the awarded characterization of service shall GENERAL (UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS); however, the narrative reason for separation shall remain MISCONDUCT (DRUG ABUSE). Having exercised his right to a personal hearing before the Naval Discharge Review Board, the Applicant has exhausted his opportunities for discharge review before the NDRB . The Applicant’s remaining method of redress is to petition the Board for Correction of Naval Records, 2 Navy Annex, Washington, DC 20370-5100 .

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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NAVY | DRB | 2010_Navy | ND1001688

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