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NAVY | DRB | 2010_Navy | ND1002280
Original file (ND1002280.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-BMSN, USN
Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request
Application Received: 20100921
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:         US N R (DEP)        19960911 - 19960925     Active:  

Period of Service Under Review:
 Date of Current Enlistment: 19960926     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years 13 MONTHS Extension
Date of Discharge: 20010419      Highest Rank/Rate: BM2
Length of Service : Y ear ( s ) M onth ( s ) 24 D a y ( s )
Education Level:        AFQT: 76
Evaluation M arks:         Performance: 4.0 ( 3 )      Behavior: 3.6 ( 3 )        OTA: 3.50

Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):     

Periods of UA/ C ONF : UA: 19970701-19970702, 2 day CONF:

NJP :
- 19971021 :      Article 86 (Unauthorized absence from unit 19970716 to 19970814, 29 days )
         Awarded: Suspended:

- 20001004 :      Article 112a (Wrongful use of marijuana)
         Awarded: Suspended:

S CM :    SPCM:

C C :
- 19991123 :       Offense: DUI
         Sentence : $250.00 fine plus $50.00 court cost, 60 days in jail suspended, license suspended 1 year, attend VASAP, and 1 year supervised probation.

Retention Warning Counseling:
- 19971024 :      For violation of UCMJ, Article 86, UA from unit 19970716-19970814 , 2 9 days .

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 wants his discharge upgraded so he can use the GI Bill money for college.
 2.       The A pplicant contends his record of service , as evidenced by evaluation reports and the positive outcome of the A dministrative S eparation B oard (ASB) warrants consideration for an upgrade to H onorable.

Decision

Date: 20 1 1 1214             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’s record of service included NAVPERS 1070/613 (Page 13) warning and two non-judicial punishments for violations o f the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ): Article 86 ( Unauthorized a bsence, 1 specification) and Article 112a (Wrongful use of a controlled substance, 1 specification) . It also included one civilian conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol. Based on the offenses committed by the Applicant, command administratively processed for separation for Pattern of Misconduct, Commission of a Serious Offense, Civilian Conviction, and Drug Abuse . Although the Article 112a violation requires mandatory processing for administrative separation for Misconduct - Drug Abuse , his command chose to discharge him for having a P attern of M isconduct instead. When notified of administrative separation processing using the procedure, the Applicant elected rights to consult with a qualified counsel , submit a written statement, and r equest an a dministrative board.

: (Nondecisional) The Applicant wants his discharge upgraded so he can use the GI Bill money for college. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) determines eligibility for post-service benefits, not the Naval Discharge Review Board. There is no requirement, or law, that grants re-characterization solely on the issue of obtaining v eterans benefits , and this issue does not serve to provide a foundation upon which the Board can grant relief. The Board has no authority to upgrade a discharge for the sole purpose of making a former service member eligible to receive the GI Bill or enhancing educational opportunities. Regulations limit the Board’s review to a determination of the propriety and equity of the discharge.

: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends his record of service as evidenced by evaluation reports and the positive outcome of the administrative board warrants consideration for an upgrade to H onorable. Despite a service member’s prior record of service, certain serious offenses warrant separation from the Navy to maintain proper order and discipline. The Applicant was discharged due to a pattern of misconduct, which included a violation of Article 112a of the UCMJ. Article 112a is one such offense requiring mandatory processing for administrative separation regardless of performance, grade, or time in service. Wrongful use of controlled substances or a pattern of misconduct usually results in an unfavorable characterization of discharge, or at a maximum, a punitive discharge and possible confinement if adjudicated and awarded as part of a sentence by a special or general court-martial. Even though the Applicant violated multiple Articles of the UCMJ, his command did not pursue a punitive discharge but opted instead for the more lenient administrative discharge . At the conclusion of an ASB, the board members found, by a vote of 3-0, that evidence supported a pattern of misconduct, commission of a serious offense, civilian conviction, and drug abuse. The board further recommended, by a vote of 3-0, that the Applicant be separated with a General (Under Honorable Conditions) characterization of service but that the separation be suspended for 9 months. The Applicant’s CO forwarded the recommendations to the Secretary of the Navy and concurred with all of them except suspending the separation for 9 months. The CO’s recommendations were subsequently approved, and the Applicant was discharged on 19 April 2001. After a thorough review of the Applicant’s records, the NDRB determined that the Applicant received leniency in being recommended for a General discharge. A Sailor with that much misconduct would typically have receive d an Under Other Than Honorable Conditions characterization of service. The NDRB determined the Applicant’s discharge was proper and equitable. Relief denied.

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 for additional information.

Pertinent Regulation/Law

 A. Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 22, effective 15 December 1998 until
21 August 2002, Article 1910-140, SEPARATION BY REASON OF MISCONDUCT - PATTERN OF 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 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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