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USMC | DRB | 2013_Marine | MD1300907
Original file (MD1300907.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-, USMC
Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request
Application Received: 20130405
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)       20080808 - 20080901     Active:  

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Current Enlistment: 200 8 0902     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years Months
Date of Discharge: 20120622      H ighest Rank:
Length of Service : Y ea r ( s ) M on th ( s ) 21 D a y ( s )
Education Level:        AFQT: 52
MOS: 6074
Proficiency/Conduct M arks (# of occasions):     Fitness R eports:

Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):      Rifle (3) Pistol MUC LoA (3) CoA

Periods of CONF :

NJP:             SCM:             SPCM:            CC:

Retention Warning Counseling :

- 20100716 :       For your assignment to the Marine Corps BCP. Your current weight/body fat is 208lbs/25 percent. Your max weight/body fat is 186lbs/18 percent.

- 20101008 :       While serving on detachment augmenting VMFA-224 in Australia, you wrongfully appropriated an Australian citizen’s bicycle and rode it from out in town to the main gate of the base where you abandoned the vehicle. This incident could have compromised the trust and confidence between the United States and Australia ’ s government s as well as the MOU and SOFA agreement in place between the two countries. Furthermore, you dishonored the Marine Corps, the command, VMFA-224 , and yourself.

- 20101116 :       For your unsatisfactory progress while assign ed to the Marine Corps BCP. Due to insufficient efforts, you have not made your weight/body composition reduction goals. Your max weight/body fat is 186lbs/ 1 8 percent. Your initial weight/body fat was 208lbs/25 percent. Your current weight/b ody fat is 206lbs/24 percent.

- 20110125 :       For your extension to the Marine Corps BCP. You have made reasonable progress but failed to comply with established weight/body composition while on your first assignment to the BCP. Therefore, you have been granted a one time extension to 6 months to meet the body composition standards set forth in MCO 6110.3. Your current weight/body fat is 205lbs/25 percent. Your max weight/body fat is 186lbs/18 percent.

- 20111130 :       For your assignment to the Marine Corps BCP.


- 20120217 :       For violation of Article 86 of the UCMJ, specifically , on 20120210 you were UA from Body Composition Program physical training.

- 20120221 :       For your failure to comply with established height and weight standards while assigned to the Marine Corps Body Composition Program. You were given your first assignment to the program on 20100716. At the end of your first assignment, 20110124, you failed to meet Marine Corps height/weight standards and were granted an extension on 20110125. During your extension, you came into Marine Corp s height/weight standards and were unassigned from the program on 20110426. You were assigned for a second time on 20111130, weighing in at 208lbs. During your second assignment, you have failed to make significant progress. You were recently weighted in at 219lbs on 20120215. Due to insufficient efforts, you have failed to meet your weight/body fat composition goals. Based on the medical evaluation completed by a Medical Officer , it is not due to an underlying cause or associated disease.

- 20120229 :       For violation of Article 86 of the UCMJ, specifically , on 20120228 you were UA from Body Composit ion Program physical training.

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 6206, UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE , 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 seeks an upgrade to enhance employment opportunities.
2.       The Applicant contends his discharge characterization is unjust , and his in-service conduct is worthy of an upgrade.
Decision

Date: 20 1 3 1204            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 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 6105 counseling warnings . Based on the A pplicant ’s lack of progress in the Body Composition Program , command administratively processed for separation. When notified of a dministrative separation processing using the procedure, the Applicant exercis ed rights to consult with a qualified counsel and submit a written statement .

: (Nondecisional) The Applicant seeks an upgrade to enhance employment 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.

: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends his discharge characterization is unjust , and his in-service conduct is worthy of an upgrade . Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual section 1004, paragraph 2 a states that if a Marine is being separated as a result of adverse conduct, unsatisfactory performance, or is requesting separation in lieu of court-martial, an H onorable characterization is appropriate only if the Marine’s service is otherwise so meritorious that any other characterization would clearly be inappropriate. The Applicant was separated for unsatisfactory performance due to insufficient effort, as indicated by eight 6105 counseling entries and his recommendation for administrative separation by the Commanding Officer, Ma rine Aviation Logistics Squadron 29 . 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. A preponderance of the evidence reviewed supports the conclusion that the Applicant consistently failed to maintain Marine Corps body composition standards and was given ample retention warning opportunities consisting of five retention warning counseling statements specifically addressing body composition progress with two additional retention warning counseling statements for unauthorized absences from body composition program remedial physical training . The NDRB determined his service was not otherwise so meritorious that any other characterization would be clearly inappropriate and further determined a General (Under Honorable Conditions) 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.


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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