Upgrade.Vet

NAVY | DRB | 2011_Navy | ND1100004

Original file (ND1100004.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-FA, USN

Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request

Application Received: 20100930

Characterization of Service Received:

Narrative Reason for Discharge:
Authority for Discharge: MILPERSMAN 3620200 [PERSONALITY DISORDER]

Applicant’s Request:      Characterization change to:
         Narrative Reason change to:

Summary of Service
Prior Service:
Inactive:         US N R (DEP)        19950307 - 19950409     Active:

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Current Enlistment: 19950410     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years Extension
Date of Discharge: 19951205      Highest Rank/Rate: SN
Length of Service : Y ear ( s ) M onth ( s ) 06 D a y ( s )
Education Level:        AFQT: 81
Evaluation M arks:         Performance: NFIR         Behavior: NFIR OTA: NFIR

Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):

Period of UA/ CONF : UA   19950808 - 19950826 (18 days)    CONF     NONE

NJP :
- 19950912 :       Article (Unauthorized absence from 19950808-19950826 ) , 18 days
         Awarded : EPD (to E-2) Susp ended:

S CM :    SPCM:    C C :

Retention Warning Counseling :
- 19950912 :       For poor military performance as evidenced by unauthorized absence (UA) from organization.

Administrative Corrections to the Applicant’s DD 214

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

         “ 19950808-19950826 ”

The NDRB will recommend to the Commander, Navy Personnel Command, 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:                  Oth er Documentation:
                  Additional Statements :
         From Applicant:          From /To Representation:          From /To Congress m ember :

Pertinent Regulation/Law

A. Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 9, effective 22 July 1994 until 23 June 1996, Article 3620200, SEPARATION OF ENLISTED PERSONNEL BY REASON OF CONVENIENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT.

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.       Applicant seeks RE-code and SPD code change to re-en list in the U.S. Armed Forces.
2.       Applicant contends his post-service achievements warrant consideration for discharge upgrade.

Decision

Date: 20 1 1 08 25             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 did not identify any decisional issues for the Board ’s consideration . However, the Board did complete a thorough review of the circumstances that led to discharge and the discharge process to ensure discharge met the pertinent standards of equity and propriety. The Applicant’s record of service included NAVPERS 1070/613 (Page 13) retention warning for poor military performance (UA ) and for o f the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ): Article 86 ( Absence without leave , 8-26 Aug 2005, 18 days, terminated by his surrender ) . The record also revealed that while in boot camp the Applicant , after exhibiting suicide ideations due to flashbacks from an abusive father during childhood, was removed from the nuclear power field train ing pipeline and reassigned to I nternal C ommunications “ A ” school training. While in “ A ” school, the Applicant self-referred to medical for ongoing complaints of fatigue, depression, stress, loss of appetite, anxiety , and fear of losing control. The Applicant was evaluated on two additional occasions and diagnosed with AXIS I: Adjustment Disorder with mixed anxiety, depressed mood, and claustrophobia, and AXIS II: avoidant features. On 7 Aug 1995 (the day of his last psychological evaluation), the Applicant received a phone call notifying him that his mother had been involved in a serious car accident. The next day, the Applicant went UA until his return and surrender on 26 Aug 1995. In the meantime, the p sychologist report received by the Applicant’s command (dated 11 Aug 1995) noted the Applicant “was a current danger to himself and others . ” When notified of administrative separation processing using the procedure on 24 Oct 2005 , the Applicant waived rights to consult with a qualified counsel, submit a written statement , and request a General Court-Martial Convening Authority review. The A pplicant was separated from the Navy on 5 Dec 1995 with a General (Under Honorable Conditions) discharge due to Personality Disorder.

: (Nondecisional) The Applicant seeks RE-code and SPD code change to re-enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces. 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 B oard for Correction of Naval Records 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.

Issue 2: (Decisional) (Equity) RELIEF NOT WARRANTED. The Applicant contends his post-service achievements warrant consideration for discharge upgrade. The NDRB considers post-service conduct in order to determine if misconduct committed during active duty was indicative of the Applicant ’ s character or an aberration. However, there is no law or regulation that provides an unfavorable discharge may be upgraded based solely on the passage of time or good conduct in civilian life subsequent to leaving the service. Normally, to permit relief, a procedural impropriety or inequity must have been found to have existed during the period of enlistment in question. The Applicant submitted documentary evidence to include a resume, transcripts from post-secondary (AA and BA degree coursework ) and law school educational institutions, letters of reference, a letter of recommendation, and a personal letter to the NDRB. The Board conducted a thorough review of the Applicant’s service records to determine whether his discharge met the standards of propriety and equity at the time of discharge and whether his post-service achievements warrant a discharge upgrade. After detailed examination and thorough deliberation, the

B oard concluded that the discharge was proper and equitable at the time of his discharge, and in accordance with the applicable orders and directives in effect at the time of his discharge. Further, the Board determined that al though the Applicant’s post-service achievements are commendable, they do not overcome the misconduct (18 days of unauthorized abse nce from service “ A ” school within the first four months of active duty service) for which the Applicant was separated. Moreover, s ince the Applicant’s overall time in service was brief ( seven mont hs, six days), the Board could not establish whether the misconduct committed was an aberration from his normal character and conduct. Accordingly, the Board determined this issue did not provide a basis for which relief could be granted. 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 the administrative separation 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.

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 | 2011_Navy | ND1100004

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