Upgrade.Vet

NAVY | DRB | 2012_Navy | ND1200869

Original file (ND1200869.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-AR, USN

Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request

Application Received: 20120306

Characterization of Service Received:

Narrative Reason for Discharge:
Authority for Discharge: MILPERSMAN

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

Summary of Service

Prior Service:
Inactive:         US N R (DEP)        20080328 - 20080928     Active:

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Current Enlistment: 20080929     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years Extension
Date of Discharge: 20101103      Highest Rank/Rate: AA
Length of Service: Y ear( s ) M onth( s ) 6 D a y ( s )
Education Level:        AFQT: 39
Evaluation M arks:         Performance: 2.3 ( 3 )      Behavior: 1.7 ( 3 )        OTA: 2.45

Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):

Periods of UA /C ONF :

NJP :

- 20100107 :      Article (Unauthorized absence , 9 specifications )
         Specification 1: 20091009 to 20091022, 3 days
         Specification 2: 20091025 to 20091026, 1 day
         Specification 3: 20091028 to 20091029, 1 day
         Specification 4: 20091204 to 20091205, 1 day
         Specification 5: 20091207 to 20091208, 1 day
         Specification 6: 20091211 to 20091214, 1 day
         Specification 7: 20091217 to 20091223, 6 days
         Specification 8: 20091226 to 20091230, 4 days
         Specification 9: 20100101 failed to go to appointed place of duty
         Awarded: Suspended:

- 20100113 :      Article (Unauthorized absence, failed to go at the time prescribed to his appointed place of duty, missed restriction musters on three occa sions : 20100108, 20100111,20100112)
         Awarded : 3 Days Bread and Water

- 20100204:      Article 86 (Unauthorized absence, failed to go at the time prescribed to his appointed place of duty, missed restriction musters on three occasions : 20100118, 20100122, 20100202)
         Awarded : 3 Days Bread and Water

- 20100917 : Article 86 (Unauthorized absence, 20100909 to 20100916, 7 days )
         Article 92 (Failure to obey order or regulation , 2 specifications )
         Specification 1: wrongful possession of drug abuse paraphernalia
         Specification 2: wrongful use of synthetic cannabanoid compounds
         Awarded: Suspended:

S CM :    SPCM:

CIVIL ARREST:

- 20100916 :       Apprehended by Virginia Beach Police Department while in a unauthorized absence status

Retention Warning Counseling :

- 20100517 :       For failure to disclose mental health treatment history during his enlistment process

- 20100107 :       For violation of the UCMJ, Article 86

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 29, effective 10 November 2009 until 17 August 2011, Article 1910-142, SEPARATION BY REASON OF MISCONDUCT - COMMISSION OF A SERIOUS OFFENSE.

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 .

C. The Manual for Courts-Martial authorizes the award of a punitive discharge if adjudged as part of the sentence upon conviction by a special or general court-martial for violation of the UCMJ, Article 92 .

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

Applicant’s Issues

1.        The Applicant seeks an upgrade to reenlist into the Armed Forces.
2.       The Applicant seeks an upgrade based on the passage of time since his discharge.
3 .       The Applicant contends President Obama announced that no servicemember shall be negatively discharged for using synthetic drugs.

Decision

Date: 20 1 3 0117             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. 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 sta ndards of equity and propriety. The Applicant’s record of service included NAVP ERS 1070/613 (Page 13) warnings and for o f the Uniform Code of Mil itary Justice (UCMJ): Article 86 (Unauthorized absence, 13 specifications) and Article 92 (Failure to obey an order or regulation , two specifications : W rongful possession of drug abuse paraphernalia and wrongful use of synthetic cannabanoid compounds ) . Based on the offenses committed by the Applicant, his command process ed him f or administ rative separation. When notified of administrative separation processing using the procedure, the Applicant waived rights to consult with a qualified counsel, submit a written statement, and request an administrative board .

: (Nondecisional) The Applicant seeks an upgrade to reenlist into the 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.

: (Nondecisional) The Applicant seeks an upgrade based on the passage of time since his discharge. 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. A former servicemember has 15 years from the date of his discharge to apply to the NDRB for an upgrade to an unfavorable discharge, however, the NDRB does not issue automatic upgrades based upon the passage of time since a discharge.

: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends President Obama announced that no servicemember shall be negatively discharged for using synthetic drugs. President Obama never made this announcement. Rather, o n 10 July 2012, President Obama signed the Synthetic Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 2012 into law. This new law makes the use, possession, or distribution of certain synthetic drugs illegal. Specifically, this Act added fifteen synthetic cannabinoids, which are commonly known as Spice, and eleven synthetic cathinones, commonly referred to as bath salts, to Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. Servicem embers caught using, distributing, or possessing these substances can be charged for a violation of UCMJ Article 112a (Wrongful use, possession, etc. of controlled substances). At the time of the Applicant’s violations, however, he could not be charged with violation of UCMJ Article 112a, but was found guilty of violating UCMJ Article 92 (Failure to obey order or regulation) for his violation of the Navy’s drug policy by using a synthetic cannabanoid compound . Per Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 29, effective 10 November 2009 until 17 August 2011, Article 1910-142, processing for separation is mandatory for the unlawful use of

controlled substance analogues (designer drugs), natural substances (e.g., fungi excretions), chemicals (e.g., chemicals wrongfully used as inhalants), propellants and or a prescribed drug, over-the-counter drug, or pharmaceutical compound with the intent to induce intoxication, excitement, stupefaction of the central nervous system. The NDRB found the Applicant ’ s claim to be without merit and determined the characterization of the Applicant ’ s discharge was proper and equitable. 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 d ischarge p rocess, the Board found T herefore, 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), 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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NAVY | DRB | 2012_Navy | ND1200869

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