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USMC | DRB | 2012_Marine | MD1201778
Original file (MD1201778.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-, USMC
Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request
Application Received: 20120815
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)       20040401 - 20041018     Active:  

Pre-Service Drug Waiver:

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Current Enlistment: 20041019     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years Months
Date of Discharge: 20060612      H ighest Rank:
Length of Service : Y ea r ( s ) M on th ( s ) 23 D a y ( s )
Education Level:        AFQT: 71
MOS: 0151
Proficiency/Conduct M arks (# of occasions): ( ) / ( )    Fitness R eports:

Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):      Rifle

Periods of UA :

NJP:

- 20050218 :      Article (Wrongful use, possession, etc. of controlled substances , a mphetamines 9 ,240 ng/ml and m ethamphetamines 3 , 087 ng/m l )
         Awarded : Susp ended:

SCM:

- 20060209 :       Art icle ( Wrongful use, possession, etc. of controlled substances , methamphetamine 4 , 914 ng/m l )
         Sentence : (20060209-20060304, 24 days)

SPCM:    CC:

Retention Warning Counseling :

- 20050308 :       For my administrative separation with an Under Other Than Honorable Conditions discharge by reason of misconduct due to drug abuse. I also understand per paragraph 6310 of MARCORSEPMAN that this separation is suspended for a period of 12 months beginning 20050307 at which time, unless the separation is sooner vacated, the separation will be remitted without further action.






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. 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 Department of Defense Directive 1010.1 states that a command - directed positive urinalysis cannot be used to determine characterization of service at discharge.
2.       The A pplicant contends other service members received more generous discharges.
3.       The Applicant contends his post-service conduct is worthy of an upgrade.

Decision

Date: 20 1 3 0530            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 , for o f the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ): Article (Wrongful use, possession, etc. of controlled substances, amphetamines 9,240 ng/ml and methamphetamines 3, 0 87 ng/ml) , and for of the UCMJ: Article ( Wrongful use, possession, etc. of controlled substances, methamphetamine 4,914 ng/ml). The Applicant a pre-service drug waiver for using marijuana 20 times prior to entering the Marine Corps . The Applicant entered into a pre-trial agreement to plead guilty to violating UCMJ Article ( Wrongful use, possession, etc. of controlled substances, methamphetamine ) at a S ummary C ourt- M artial and waive his administrative board if the C onvening A uthority withdrew the charges and specifications against him at a pending S pecial C ourt- M artial. When notified of a dministrative separation processing using the procedure, the Applicant rights to consult with a qualified coun sel and submit a written statement , but, per his pre-trial agreement, he waived his right to request an administrative board .

: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends Department of Defense Directive 1010.1 states that a command - directed positive urinalysis cannot be used to determine characterization of discharge. The Applicant refers to paragraphs 3.4.1.1.4 and 3.4.1.3. P aragraph 3.4.1.1.4 refers to self-referrals and paragraph 3.4.1.3 refers to command - directed urinalys e s to determine a service member’s competence for duty (i.e. , aberrant, bizarre, or uncharacteristic behavior; unauthorized absences; violations of safety regulations; breaches of discipline; or other similar behavior). There is no evidence in the record, nor did the Applicant provide any documentation, to indicate that he was a self-referral or that his command directed the urinalysis to determine his competence for duty. Further, the Applicant entered into a pre-trial agreement to plead guilty to violating UCMJ Article (Wrongful use, possession, etc. of controlled substances, methamphetamine) at a S ummary C ourt- M artial. If the Applicant believed his discharge was improper, it was his obligation to contest the discharge at the time he was notified . The Applicant submitted no evidence to support his contention that his situation falls under paragraphs 3.4.1.1.4 or 3.4.1.3, therefore, the NDRB must rely upon the presumption of regularity in the conduct of Government affairs. The NDRB determined he was properly discharged Under Other Than Honorable Conditions for Misconduct (Drug Abuse). Relief denied.
: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends other service members received more generous discharges. The NDRB reviews the propriety and equity of an Applicant’s discharge individually, on a case-by-case basis. If such a review reveals an impropriety or inequity, relief is in order. Regulations permit relief on equitable grounds if the Applicant’s discharge is inconsistent with standards of discipline of the Naval Service. Based upon available records, nothing indicates that the Applicant’s discharge was in any way inconsistent with the standards of discipline in the United States Marine Corps . In fact, it appears his command was lenient in how they dealt with the Applicant. After testing positive for controlled substances in February 2005, the Applicant’s separation was suspended, and he was allowed to continue his service. In February 2006, he again tested positive for a controlled substance and had charges referred to a Special Court-Martial. The

Marine Corps subsequently agreed to the lenient option of allowing the Applicant to plead guilty at a Summary Court-Martial to avoid possible confinement and a punitive discharge (i.e., Bad Conduct). A preponderance of the evidence reviewed supports the conclusion that the Marine Corps was lenient in their treatment of the Applicant despite his multiple drug abuse violations, and he warranted separation from the Naval Serv ice with an Under Other Than Honorable Conditions discharge. Relief denied.
: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends his post-service conduct is worthy of 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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