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USMC | DRB | 2011_Marine | MD1100435
Original file (MD1100435.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-, USMC
Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request
Application Received: 20101213
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)       20070322 - 20070520     Active:  

Period of Service Under Review:
 Date of Current Enlistment: 20070521     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years Months
Date of Discharge: 20071023      H ighest Rank:
Length of Service : Y ea r ( s ) M on th ( s ) 03 D a y ( s )
Education Level:        AFQT: 89
MOS: 2600
Proficiency/Conduct M arks (# of occasions): /   Fitness Reports:

Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):      NONE

Periods of UA / CONF :

NJP:     SCM:     SPCM:    CC:      Retention Warning Counseling:

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 . The Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual, MCO P1900.16F), effective 1 September 2001 until Present, paragraph 6204, DEFECTIVE ENLISTMENT AND INDUCTION.
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 wants an upgrade to Honorable so she can receive v eterans medical benefits.
2.       The Applicant contends she did not begin suffering from headaches until after she was in the Marine Corps .
3.       The Applicant states that she was forced to sign discharge papers and denied acces s to a lawyer.
4.       The Applicant contends that she deserves an H onorable discharge.

Decision

Date: 20 1 2 0 214            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 did not include 6105 counseling warnings, non-judicial punishments, or trials by court-martial for violation s of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) . A qualified medical officer diagnosed the Applicant with chronic headaches and determined that the condition existed prior to entering the Marine Corps. Based on the diagnosis and recommendation of a qualified medical officer, her command administratively processed her for separation. The NDRB did not have the Applicant’s administrative separation package to determine whether the Applicant waived rights to consult with a qualified counsel, submit a written statement, and request a General Court-Martial Convening Authority review.

: (Non - decisional) The Applicant wants an upgrade to Honorable so she can receive v eterans medical benefits . T h e U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determines eligibility for post-service benefits, not the N DRB . 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 NDRB has no authority to upgrade a discharge for the sole purpose of enhancing a former service member’s eligibility to receive v eterans benefits. Regulations limit the Board’s review to a determination of the propriety and equity of the discharge.

: (Decisional) ( ) PARTIAL . The Applicant contends she did not begin suffering from headaches until after she was in the Marine Corps , therefore, her enlistment was not fraudulent. On 9 August 2007, while at recruit training, the Applicant received m edical attention for swelling in her arms and legs, which she noticed while hiking. While at the medical facility , she fell off the gurney and onto the floor . Medical documentation indicates she was diagnosed with Seizure Disorder. According to the Applicant, she suffered a concussion from the fall. After multiple visits to the medical treatment facility for various reasons since that date, on 20 August 2007, she was diagnosed with Headache Syndrome. On 3 October 2007, a qualified medical officer determined that her problem with headaches existed prior to her entering the service and that she failed to disclose her condition during the application process. This determination was made based on the Applicant’s admission. However, according to the Applicant, she only indicated that the condition existed prior to entering the service because the attending medical officer assured her that it would not be fraudulent and that she would be allowed to go home sooner. Her command determined that her admission to the problem indicated a deliberate failure to disclose her medical history, which constituted a fraudulent enlistment. The Applicant now asserts that her condition did not exist prior to entering the service. To support her claim , the Applicant provided a letter from her pre-service physician indicating that, while under her care, she did not suffer from headaches or any other neurological problems. The Applicant remained on active duty for more than 10 weeks following her initial visit to m edical, which suggests that there were questions as to whether the condition actually existed prior to entry or whether the condition was aggravated at some time after she was enlisted. The NDRB concluded that the unique circumstances surrounding this case did not make it fraudulent. The Board determined that relief based on this issue, as it pertains to the Narrative Reason for Separation, is warranted. Partial r elief granted .

: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant states that she was forced to sign discharge papers and denied acces s to a lawyer. The government enjoys a presumption of regularity in the conduct of its affairs. The Applicant bears the burden of overcoming this presumption through the presentation of substantial and credible evidence to support her claim. There is no evidence in the record, nor has the Applicant produced any evidence, to support her claim that s he was not afforded her right to consult with qualified legal counsel and forced to sign discharge papers. Her statement alone does not overcome the government’s presumption of regularity in this case. Therefore, the NDRB concluded that relief based on this issue is not warranted. Relief denied.

Issue 4: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends that she deserves an H onorable discharge. Marine Corps regulations direct that the Character of Service for members notified of intended recommendation for discharge while in an entry level status (within the first 180 days of enlistment) be Uncharacterized except in circumstances where service has been so meritorious that an Honorable is clearly warranted. In cases of misconduct, a less favorable characterization of service may be assigned following different separation procedures. The Applicant’s record showed no meritorious service that would warrant an Honorable characterization of service, and no misconduct that would warrant a less favorable characterization . The NDRB determined that relief based on this issue is not warranted. Relief denied.

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 but the N arrati ve R eason for S eparation shall change to . 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.


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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