Upgrade.Vet

USMC | DRB | 2012_Marine | MD1200719

Original file (MD1200719.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-, USMC

Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request

Application Received: 20120208

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)       20010711 - 20020624     Active:          20020625 - 20060308

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Current Enlistment: 20060309     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years Months
Date of Discharge: 20100317      H ighest Rank:
Length of Service : Y ea r ( s ) M on th ( s ) 09 D a y ( s )
Education Level:        AFQT: 57
MOS: 0121
Proficiency/Conduct M arks (# of occasions): ( ) / ( )    Fitness R eports:

Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):      Rifle (2) LoA (6) MM

Periods of UA / CONF :

NJP:
- 20090417 :       Article ( F ailure to obey order or regulation)
         (Extracted from CO’s disenrollment letter from BOOST program dated 20090505)

- 20090928 :      Article (Failure to obey order or regulation , 2 s pecifications )
         Specification 1: Operated a motor vehicle aboard a military installation with a suspended driver ’ s license on or about 0115, 20090730
         Specification 2: Failed to report to his chain of command that his driver’s license was suspended in the state of North Carolina
         Awarded: Suspended:

- 20091222 :      Article (Insubordinate conduct toward warrant officer , noncommissioned officer , or petty officer , 2 s pecifications )
         Specification 1: Received a lawful order from Sgt G____ to stop drinking alcohol and be squared away and ready to go to work the next morning at 0730 hours, on or about20091220 at 1800 hours willfully disobey the same
         Specification 2: On or about 20091221 at 0800 hours, was disrespectful in language toward Sgt L____
         Article (Assault, on or about 20091221 at 0800 hours, assaulted Sgt L____ by pushing him and throwing a punch at him)
         Article (General A rticle, drunkenness incapacitation for performance of duties through prior wrongful indulgence in intoxicating liquor)
         Awarded: Suspended:

- 20100112 :      Article (Failure to obey order or regulation, not to consume alcohol beverages while on restriction at B arracks 4167 from 20091222-20100204, an order which it was his duty to obey on or about 20100109, failed to obey the same by consuming alcohol)
         Article (General A rticle, restriction breaking)
         Awarded: Suspended:

- 20100122 :       Article (Disrespect toward a superior commissioned officer, on or about 20100118 Pvt Wilbon was disrespectful toward 1stLt M____ his superior commissioned officer then known by the said to be his superior commissioned officer, by saying to him , “ I f you are going to be an A****** to me then I swear to be an A****** to you” or words to that effect)
         Article (Assault, on or about 20100118 Pvt Wilbon aasaulted 1stLt M_____, who then was and was then known by the accused to be a commissioned officer of the United States Marine Corps, by grabbing onto his shirt and pulling him closer to him)
         Article (General A rticle, restriction breaking)
         Awarded: Suspended:

SCM:     SPCM:    CC:

Retention Warning Counseling :
- 20070411 :       For disobeying MCO 5100.19E and ASO P5560.3D by not wearing your seat belt

- 20091222 :       For insubordinate conduct toward warrant officer, noncommissioned officer, or petty officer, assault, drunkenness incapacitation for performance of duties through prior wrongful indulgence in intoxication liquor, on or about 20091220 you received an order to stop drinking alcohol and be squared away and ready to go to work the next day at 0730 hours, an order in which was your duty to obey but chose not to. On or about 20091221 you assaulted and were disrespectful in language toward a superior non-commissioned officer by pushing him and throwing a punch at him. On or about 20091221 you were incapacitated for the proper performance of duty from overindulgence in intoxicating liquor

Administrative Corrections to the Applicant’s DD 214

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

         “ CONTINUOUS HONORABLE ACTIVE SERVICE FROM 020625 UNTIL 060308 ”

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:                  Oth er Documentation:
                  Additional Statements :
         From Applicant:          From /To Representation:          From /To Congress m ember :

Pertinent Regulation/Law

A. Paragraph 6210, MISCONDUCT , of the Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual, (MCO P1900.16F), effective 1 September 2001 until Present.

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 to be eligible for Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits.
2.       The Applicant contends the deaths of family members and divorce led to alcohol abuse and contributed to his misconduct.
3. The Applicant contends his post-service conduct warrants consideration for an upgrade.

Decision

Date: 20 1 30117          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. T he 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 6105 counseling warnings and for o f the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ): Article 92 ( Failure to obey order or regulation , four specifications ), Article 134 ( General A rticle, three specifications ), Article 91 (Insubordinate conduct toward warrant officer , noncommissioned officer , or petty officer, two specifications), Article 89 (Disrespect toward a superior commissioned officer), and Article 128 ( Assault, two specifications) . Based on the offenses committed by the Applicant, command administratively processed for separation. The Applicant was notified of intent to administratively discharge him for M isconduct (P attern of M isconduct ) and for A lcohol Rehabilitation Failure. When notified of separation processing using the administrative board procedures, he waived his rights to consult with legal counsel, submit a written statement, a nd request a hearing before an administrative separation board.

: (Nondecisional) The Applicant wants to be eligible for V A benefits. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 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.

: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends the deaths of family members and divorce led to alcohol abuse and contributed to his misconduct. The Applicant received an Honorable discharge f o r his first enlistment from June 2002 to March 2006 . Each period of enlistment is an independent obligation and characterization is determined for that specific period of time. During his second enlistment, he met the requirements for administrative separation for a Pattern of Misconduct with his five NJPs and two retention counseling warnings. The NDRB recognizes that serving in the military is challenging. Most service members, however, serve honorably and therefore earn their Honorable or General discharges. Alcohol consumption is never a rationale or an acceptable excuse for inappropriate conduct, misconduct, or poor judgment. In fairness to those service members, commanders and separation authorities are tasked to ensure that undeserving service members receive no higher characterization than is due. There is no evidence in the record, nor did the Applicant provide any documentation, to indicate he attempted to use the numerous services available for service members who undergo personal problems during their enlistmen ts , such as the Navy Chaplain, Medical or Mental Health professionals, s ubstance a buse counseling, Navy Relief Society, Family Advocacy Programs, or even the Red Cross. The NDRB determined the Applicant’s personal problems were not mitigating factors in his misconduct and did not warrant an upgrade. Relief denied.

: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends his post-service conduct warrants consideration for an upgrade. 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 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 exist during the period of enlistment in question. Besides the Applicant’s statement on the DD Form 293, he failed to provide any documentary evidence on his behalf for post-service consideration. The Applicant could have provided documentation as detailed in the Post-Service Conduct paragraph in the Addendum with the recognition that completion of these items alone does not guarantee an upgrade from an unfavorable discharge as each discharge is reviewed by the Board on a case by case basis to determine if post-service conduct establishes that the in-service misconduct was an aberration. Without post-service documentary evidence, the Board determined the awarded characterization of service shall remain Under Other Than Honorable Conditions. 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 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 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 | 2012_Marine | MD1200719

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