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USMC | DRB | 2011_Marine | MD1101564

Original file (MD1101564.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-, USMC

Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request

Application Received: 20110610

Characterization of Service Received:

Narrative Reason for Discharge:
Authority for Discharge: MARCORSEPMAN

Applicant’s Request:      Characterization change to:
         Narrative Reason change to: S ECRETARIAL AUTHORITY

Summary of Service
Prior Service:
Inactive:         USMCR (DEP)       19980618 - 19981102     Active:

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Current Enlistment: 19981103     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years Months
Date of Discharge: 20021101      H ighest Rank:
Length of Service : Y ea r ( s ) M on th ( s ) 29 D a y ( s )
Education Level:        AFQT: 47
MOS: 6672
Proficiency/Conduct M arks (# of occasions): ( ) / ( )    Fitness Reports:

Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):      Rifle CoC LoA

Periods of UA / CONF :

NJP:

- 20020820 :      Article 109 (Property other than military property of the United States - waste, spoilage, or destruction)
         Article (Wrongful use, possession, etc, of controlled substance, to wit: marijuana 50 ng/ml )
         Article (Assault)
         Article (General A rticle - act in a disorderly manner)
         Awarded: Suspended:

SCM:     SPCM:    CC: NFIR

CIVIL INCIDENT:

- 20020802 :      Offense: Harassment

- 20020802 :      Offense: Unlawful imprisonment, harassment, and menacing

Retention Warning Counseling:

- 19990126 :      For failure to report to your appointed place of duty, to wit: Avionics muster from 0700-0740, 19991230. Your action was not conducive to good order a nd discipline.

- 20010611 :      I received a safety brief from the Commanding Officer and the Aviation Supply Officer for the Memorial Day 96 hour pass. I was seen by GySgt M_ driving recklessly on Route 300, Newburgh and reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph in a 45 mph zone. Then confronted by the Avionics Supply Officer, Supply Chief and GySgt M_ I was less than truthful in providing information concerning the incident. I have been informally counseled on numerous occasions concerning my driving habits. I am pending three different driving violations with a court date of 20010816.

Administrative Corrections to the Applicant’s DD 214

The NDRB did note administrative error(s) on the original DD Form 214:

         “ UNDER OTHER THAN HONORABLE CONDITIONS ”

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:                  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 6210, 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 .

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
NAVAL DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD (NDRB)
DISCHARGE REVIEW DECISIONAL DOCUMENT

Applicant’s Issues

1.       The Applicant contends he did not knowingly consume marijuana.
2.       The Applicant contends his post-service medical injuries merit upgrading his discharge.

Decision

Date: 20 1 2 0921          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 warnings and for o f the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ): Article 109 ( Destruction of p roperty other than military property of the United States , ), Article ( Wrongful use, possession, etc, of controlled substance , ), Article ( Assault , ) , and Article ( General Article - Act in a dishonorable manner , 1 specification) . Documentation found in his service record also indicates he was involved in two incidents that resulted in the involvement of civilian authorities. The Applicant did not require a pre-service drug waiver for using illicit drugs prior to entering the Marine Corps . He acknowledged complete understanding of the Marine Corps Policy Concerning Illegal Use of Drugs on 11 June 1998 . Based on the Article 112a violation , processing for administ rative separation is mandatory . When notified of a dministrative separation processing , the Applicant rights to consult with a qualified coun sel, but waived his rights to submit a written statement and request an administrative board .

: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends he did not knowingly consume marijuana. 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 his claim. Documentary evidence found in the Applicant’s service record indicates h e tested positive for marijuana. Although the results were not confirmed through retesting, the presumptive positive result was sufficient for a guilty finding at NJP proceedings and subsequent administrative separation processing based on a preponderance of the evidence. The Applicant provided no documentary evidence to rebut this presumption of regularity, and his testimony was not sufficient to convince the Board that he unknowingly consumed marijuana. Therefore, the NDRB concluded that relief based on this issue was not warranted. Relief denied.

: ( D ecisional ) ( ) . The Applicant contends his post-service medical injuries merit upgrading his discharge. The NDRB does consider outstanding post-service conduct to the extent such matters provide a basis for a more thorough understanding of the Applicant’s conduct during the period of service under review . I njuries acquired post-service , however, do not provide such an understanding . Just as injuries acquired in service have no bearing on the characterization of service at the time of discharge, injuries acquired post-service have no relevance to a former service member’s in-service conduct, and no bearing on whether a discharge should be upgraded. Relief denied.

Summary: After a thorough review of the available evidence, to include the Applicant’s testimony, 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 remain . The Applicant is no longer eligible for additional reviews or hearings by the NDRB. He may petition the Board for Correction of Naval Records, 701 South Courthouse Road, Suite 1001, Arlington, VA 22204-2490, for further review using DD Form 149.

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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USMC | DRB | 2011_Marine | MD1101564

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