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USMC | DRB | 2013_Marine | MD1301441
Original file (MD1301441.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-, USMC
Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request
Application Received: 20130625
Characterization of Service Received:
Narrative Reason for Discharge:
Authority for Discharge: MARCORSEPMAN

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

Summary of Service
Prior Service:
Inactive:         USMCR (DEP)       20060125 - 20060131     Active:  

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Current Enlistment: 20060201     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years Months
Date of Discharge: 20091006      H ighest Rank:
Length of Service : Y ea r ( s ) M on th ( s ) 06 D a y ( s )
Education Level:        AFQT: 75
MOS: 0311
Proficiency/Conduct M arks (# of occasions): ( ) / ( )    Fitness R eports:

Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):      Rifle

NJP:

- 20061201 :      Article ( Missing movement , on or about 1600, 20061126, through neglect miss the movement of the flight to your next duty station, Marine Corps Security Force Company Bahrain , which he was required in the course of duty to move)
         Awarded: Suspended:

- 20081006 :       Article (Absence without leave, absent from duty , 20080822/0630 to 20081002/1730, 41 days , SNM was apprehended by the local police department in Bristol County, MA and was transported back to this command via Marine Corps A bsentee Collection Unit)
         Awarded: Suspended:

SCM:     CC:

SPCM:

- 20090212 :       Art icle ( Larceny and wrongful appropriation , 5 specifications )
         Specification 1: SNM on or about 20071124, stole US currency, of value of about $250.00, the property of LCpl G_, US Marine Corps
         Specification 2: SNM on or about 20071124 and on or about 20080519, stole US currency, of a value of about $200.00, the property of LCpl G_, US Marine Corps
         Specification 3 : SNM on or about 20071209, stole US currency, of a value of about $350.00, the property of LCpl G_, US Marine Corps
         Specification 4 : SNM on or about 20071124 and on or about 20081119, stole US currency, of a value of about $350.00, the property of LCpl G_, US Marine Corps
         Specification 5 : SNM on or about 20080202, stole US currency, of a value of about $300.00, the property of LCpl G_, US Marine Corps
         Art icle (Forgery)
         Sentence : 5 months (20090212-20090307 24 days)

Retention Warning Counseling :

- 20061201 :       For your recent NJP held on 20061201 for violation of Article 87 of the UCMJ.

- 20070827 :       For my drug involvement identified through my written statement/interview with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service during an investigation conducted from 18 August to 24 August.

- 20081006 :       For your non-judicial punishment held on 20081006, for violation of the UCMJ , specifically , for your violation of Article 86 , Absence without leave.

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 1105, DISCHARGE ADJUDGED BY SENTENCE OF COURT-MARTIAL , 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 IV, Para 403m(7)(a), Presumption Concerning Court-Martial Specifications .

C . 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 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits.
2.       The Applicant contends his discharge was based on an isolated incident.
 3 .       The Applicant contends his two Iraq combat deployments and diagnos e s of P ost- T raumatic S tress D isorder (PTSD) and T raumatic B rain I njury (TBI) warrant consideration for clemency.

Decision

Date : 20 1 3 1016            Location: Washington D.C .         R epresentation :

By a vote of the Characterization shall .
 By a vote of the Narrative Reason shall .
Discussion

 As a result of the Applicant’s claim of PTSD and TBI, in accordance with U.S. Code, Title X, Section 1553 (d)(1), the Naval Discharge Review Board included a member who is a physician, clinical psychologist, or psychiatrist. In accordance with section 1553 (d)(2), the service secretary expedited a final decision and accorded the case sufficient priority to achieve an expedited resolution. The Applicant’s service record documents completion of a deployment in the Al-Anbar Province of Iraq from October 2007 to May 2008 , conducting combat operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
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. With respect to a discharge adjudged by a court-martial case, 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. In response to the Applicant’s clemency request, relevant and material facts stated in a court-martial specification are presumed by the NDRB to be established facts. The Applicant’s case was considered under the pertinent standards of equity to determine if any factors in this particular case merited clemency. The Applicant’s record of service included 6105 counseling warnings, for o f the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ): Article 87 ( Missing movement) and Article 86 ( Absence without leave , 41 days) , and for of the UCMJ: Article 121 ( Larceny and wrongful appropriation , 5 specifications , total of $14 5 0.00 ) and Article 123 (Forgery) . The court sentenced the Applicant to reduction in rank to Private (E-1), confinement for 5 months, and a Bad Conduct Discharge.

: (Nondecisional) The Applicant wants to be eligible for VA 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 re-characterization solely on the issue of facilitating access to VA benefits. Regulations limit the NDRB’s review solely to a determination of the propriety and the equity of a discharge. As such, this issue does not serve to provide a foundation upon which the NDRB can grant relief.
: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends his discharge was based on an isolated incident. During the Applicant’s 3 years and 8 months of service, he received three retention warnings, was found guilty of two serious offenses at two NJPs, and was found guilty of 6 specifications of two serious offenses at a Special Court-Martial that resulted in a punitive Bad Conduct Discharge. In accordance with Secretary of the Navy Instruction 5420.174D of 22 December 2004, relevant and material facts as stated in a court-martial are presumed by the NDRB to be established facts. As such, matters of propriety related to the conduct of a punitive court-martial (e.g., Special Court-Martial) are addressed through the appellate review process by the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals or through further petitioning for a review by the Court of Appeals of the Armed Forces. The Applicant’s appellate rights statement and certification of his acknowledgment of those rights, which detail this process, are appended to the verbatim record of trial by court-martial. In the Applicant’s case, the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals reviewed the case and affirmed the decision. Clemency denied.
: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends his two Iraq combat deployments and diagnoses of PTSD and TBI warrant consideration for clemency. The Applicant’s record shows he deployed to Iraq with 2d Battalion , 8 th Marines from October 2007 to May 2008; however, there is no evidence in the record of any other deployment to Iraq . While deployed, the Applicant’ s father committed suicide on 6 November 2007. The Applicant was granted emergency leave to attend his father’s funeral. After returning to his unit in Iraq, the Applicant referred himself to the Combat Stress Clinic, Ramadi for grief counseling. The Applicant states that while he was at home on leave, his wife told him she had been unfaithful, and he found out that one of his close friends had committed suicide. The Applicant was placed under suicide watch for a short time. The record shows the Applicant continued counseling for bereavement from 31 January 2008 to 1 9 March 2008. There is no evidence in the record that the Applicant was ever diagnosed with PTSD or TBI while in service. Furthermore, the Applicant ha d made conflicting statements to various counselors concerning other suicides of his aunt and his “ battle buddy ” in Iraq. After his Bad Conduct Discharge, the Applicant began a history of drug and alcohol abuse , homelessness , civilian arrest , and frequent hospitalizations for substance abuse, suicide attempts, and mental health problems. He has been diagnosed by civilian psychiatrists with PTSD , polysubstance abuse for cocaine, heroin, benzodiazepines, and opiates , and depressive disorder - not otherwise specified. Though the Applicant may feel that PTSD and TBI were the underlying cause s of his misconduct, the record reflects willful misconduct that demonstrated he was unfit for further service. The evidence of record did not show that the Applicant was either not responsible for his conduct or that he should not be held accountable for his actions. The NDRB determined PTSD and TBI did not mitigate his frequent and serious misconduct. Clemency 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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