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USMC | DRB | 2011_Marine | MD1100771
Original file (MD1100771.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-, USMC
Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request
Application Received: 20110203
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)       19910124 - 19911117     Active:  

Period of Service Under Review:
 Date of Current Enlistment: 19911118     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years Months
Date of Discharge: 19961106      H ighest Rank:
Length of Service : Y ea r ( s ) M on th ( s ) 19 D a y ( s )
Education Level:        AFQT: 82
MOS: 2621
Proficiency/Conduct M arks (# of occasions): ( ) / ( )    Fitness Reports:

Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):      Rifle (4th) Pistol (3rd) MM (w/1 star) LoA Lo C

Periods of UA / CONF :

NJP:

- 19960405 :      Article (Wrongful use, possession, etc ., of controlled substance, 2 specifications )
         Specification 1: Possession of steroids (Andriol and Deca-Durabolin) on or about 19960328
         Specification 2: Use of steroids (Andriol and Deca-Durabolin) during February and March 1996
         Article 1 2 1 (Steal five (5) syringes from medical department laboratory on or about February and March 1996 )
         Awarded: Suspended:

SCM:     SPCM:    CC:

Retention Warning Counseling:

- 19920915 :      For poor judgment, lack of integrity , and violation of the UCMJ.

NDRB Documentary Review Conducted (date):        19991018
NDRB Documentary Review Docket Number:   MD98-01194
NDRB Documentary Review Findings:                 Proper as issued and that no change is warranted.








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 P1900.16E), effective 18 August 1995 to 30 January 1997.

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 it is inequitable for him to continue to suffer the effects of a General (Under Honorable Conditions) discharge.
 2.       The Applicant requests that his post-service conduct be considered when determining whether to upgrade his discharge.

Decision

Date: 20 1 20416            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 warning and one non-judicial punishment for violations o f the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ): Article 112a ( Wrongful use, possession, etc of a controlled substance, 2 specifications) and Article 121 (Larceny, 1 specification). The Applicant did not require a pre-service drug waiver to enter the Marine Corps . He d acknowledged his complete understanding of the Marine Corps Policy Concerning Illegal Use of Drugs on 17 January 1991 . Based on the offenses committed by the Applicant, command administratively processed for separation. Based on the Article 112a violation , processing for administrative separation is mandatory . When notified of a dministrative separation processing using the procedure, the Applicant exercised rights to consult with a qualified counsel and request an administrative board. He waived his right to submit a written statement .

: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends that it is inequitable for him to continue to suffer the effects of a General (Under Honorable Conditions) discharge , and he requests that his post-service conduct be considered when determining whether to upgrade his discharge. The NDRB is authorized to consider post-service factors in the re-characterization of a discharge. However, there is no law, or regulation, that provides that an unfavorable discharge may be upgraded based solely on good conduct or achievements in civilian life subsequent to leaving the service. Normally, to permit relief, a procedural impropriety or inequity must have been found to exist during the period of enlistment in question. Along with his DD Form 293, the Applicant submitted substantial and credible documentary evidence and testimony reflecting outstanding post - service conduct. His documentary and testimonial evidence reflected a continuous employment record, an award for heroic actions as a firefighter, college attendance, and service in the Army National Guard ( during which he received two Bronze Star Medals for service in Iraq and Afghanistan and has been nominated to receive the Silver Star Medal ) . The Applicant’s record of service in the Marine Corps reflected consistently high proficiency and conduct markings and above average fitness reports prior to the misconduct that led to his discharge . It also reflected high proficiency and conduct markings after the misconduct. After considering the facts and circumstance s unique to this case, to include the Administrative Separation Board’s recommendation for retention ( even though it was not approved), the Applicant’s record of service, and his post-service conduct, the NDRB concluded that his post-service conduct demonstrates his in-service misconduct, which was clearly an isolated incident, was an aberration and not indicative of his overall character. The NDRB voted unanimously to change the C haracter of S ervice to Honorable and the N arrative R eason for S eparation to Secretarial Authority. Relief granted.

Summary: After a thorough review of the available evidence and testimony , 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 change to .


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), 701 South Courthouse Road, Suite 1001, Arlington, VA 22204-2490 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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