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USMC | DRB | 2012_Marine | MD1201926
Original file (MD1201926.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-, USMC
Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request
Application Received: 20120921
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)       20070531 - 20070812     Active:  

Pre-Service Drug Waiver:

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Current Enlistment: 20070813     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years Months
Date of Discharge: 20110512      H ighest Rank:
Length of Service : Y ea r ( s ) M on th ( s ) 00 D a y ( s )
Education Level:        AFQT: 34
MOS: 3381
Proficiency/Conduct M arks (# of occasions): ( ) / ( )    Fitness R eports:

Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):      Rifle ACM (2)

Periods of UA :

NJP:     SPCM:    CC:

SCM:

- 20101214 :       Art icle (Failure to obey order or regulation)
         Sentence : (20101214 - 20110106, 24 days)

Retention Warning Counseling :

- 20091109 :       For violation of Article 92 on 20091107. While on weekend liberty it was discovered that SNM had his tongue pi erced and was wearing a tongue r ing. When questioned, SNM admitted that he violated an order or regulation and has a visible puncture. This type of behavior is a blatant disregard for Marine Corps regulations, displays a total lack of judgment, and is not keeping with the Marine Corps C ore Values.

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 :        


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

Applicant’s Issues

 1.       The Applicant contends he was told his discharge could be upgraded after a few months.
2.       The Applicant contends his in-service conduct warrants an upgrade.
3.       The Applicant contends he thought S pice was legal.
4.       The Applicant contends he was denied substance abuse treatment.
5.       The Applicant contends his noncommissioned officer treated him unfairly.

Decision

Date: 20 1 3 0613            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 for of the UCMJ: Article (Failure to obey order or regulation). The Applicant a pre-service drug waiver for using illicit drugs prior to entering the Marine Corps. acknowledged complete understanding of the Marine Corps Policy Concerning Illegal Use of Drugs on 30 M ay 2007 . Based on the Marine Corps zero-tolerance drug policy violation , processing for administ rative separation is mandatory. The NDRB did not have the Applicant’s administrative separation package to determine whether or not the Applicant waived rights to consult with a qualified coun sel, submit a written statement , and request an administrative board or a General Court-Martial Convening Authority review . However, the Applicant has a separation code of HKK1 on his DD Form 214, which indicates he waive d his right to appear before an administrative board.

: (Nondecisional) The Applicant contends he was told his discharge could be upgraded after a few months. 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. While the Applicant has the right to have his discharge reviewed for propriety and equity, neither the Marine Corps nor the Naval Discharge Review Board automatically upgrade discharges after one leaves the service.

: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends his in-service conduct warrants an upgrade. During the Applicant’s 3 years and 9 months of service, he received a retention warning, was found guilty at a Summary Court-Martial of violating the Marine Corps’ zero-tolerance drug policy, and received below-average overall Proficiency and Conduct marks of 3.7/3.7. Based on the Applicant’s record of service, the NDRB determined the Applicant engaged in conduct involving one or more acts or omissions that constituted a significant departure from the conduct expected of members of the Naval Service, and the awarded characterization of service was warranted. Relief denied.
: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends he thought S pice was legal. Whether or not Spice was a legal substance when the Applicant used or possessed it, smoking or possessing it with the intention of getting high is a violation of SECNAVINST 5300.28D (Military Substance Abuse Prevention and Control) and the Marine Corps drug policy and is punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for violation of Article 92 (Failure to obey order or regulation) , which requires, at a minimum, mandatory processing for administrative separation. Further, the service record clearly shows the Applicant pled guilty at S ummary C ourt- M artial to violating Article 92. Relief denied.




4: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends he was denied substance abuse treatment. Since the NDRB did not have a complete discharge package, the NDRB presumed regularity of governmental affairs. As such, the NDRB presumed the Applicant was screened for drug dependency during the separation process, and, if found to be drug dependent, was offered treatment prior to separation. The intent of this treatment is for the benefit of the Applicant after discharge, not to rehabilitate the Applicant for continued service. If he was not drug dependent, he had no right to receive treatment, which was then at the discretion of the command as to whether to send the Applicant. The NDRB determined the Applicant’s discharge was proper based on his drug policy violation. Relief denied.
5: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends his noncommissioned officer treated him unfairly. 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 issue. There is no evidence in the record, nor has the Applicant produced any evidence, to support the contention that his chain of command treated him unfairly. The Applicant’s service included one retention warning , a S ummary C ourt- M artial conviction, and poor Proficiency and Conduct marks over his enlistment. He received what other Marines received for similar misconduct. The NDRB determined his discharge was warranted, proper, and equitable. 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.

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 .


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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