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NAVY | DRB | 2013_Navy | ND1301654
Original file (ND1301654.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-ET3, USN
Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request
Application Received: 20130807
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)        19970117 - 19970310     Active:  

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Current Enlistment: 19970311     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years Extension
Date of Discharge: 20021004      Highest Rank/Rate: ET2
Length of Service: Y ear( s ) M onth( s ) 24 D a y ( s )
 Education Level:        AFQT: 84
Evaluation M arks:         Performance: 3.6 ( 5 )      Behavior: 2.8 ( 5 )        OTA: 3.37

Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):      Rifle (3)

Periods of UA /C ONF :

NJP :

- 19970709 :      Article (Larceny and wrongful appropriation ; stole one CD and three cassettes from the Navy E xchange)
         Awarded: Suspended:

- 20020315 :      Article (Drunken or reckless driving)
         Awarded : Susp ended:

S CM :    SPCM:    C C :

Retention Warning Counseling :

- 19970709 :      For Article 121 (Larceny and wrongful appropriation )

- 20010707 :      For failing the Physical Readiness Test

- 20020315 :       For Article 111 (Drunken or reckless driving)










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. Navy Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), re-issued October 2002, effective 22 August 2002 until 28 April 2005, Article 1910-152, SEPARATION BY REASON OF ALCOHOL REHABILITATION.

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 his discharge was based on an isolated alcohol incident in more than 66 months of service.
2.       The Applicant contends his Commanding Officer (CO) recommended him for retention just prior to his s eparation.

Decision

Date : 20 1 4 0312             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 discharg e 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 standards of equity and propriety. The Applicant’s record of service included NAVPERS 1070/613 (Page 13) retention warnings and nonjudicial punishments (NJPs) for o f the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ): Article 121 ( Larceny and wrongful appropriation ) and Article 111 ( Drunken or reckless driving ) . The Applicant was enrolled into a Level 2 intensive outpatient alcohol abuse treatment program, but he failed to complete the treatment. Based on the Applicant’s alcohol rehabilitation failure , command administratively processed for separation. When notified of administrative separation processing using the procedure, the Applicant waived rights to consult with a qualified counsel and submit a written statement . The Applicant was not entitled to an administrative board .

: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends his discharge was based on an isolated alcohol incident in more than 66 months of service. During the Applicant’s enlistment, he received three retention warnings and was found guilty at two NJPs of violating two serious UCMJ articles. Along with his failure to complete alcohol rehabilitation treatment, he met the requirements to be administratively separated for Misconduct (Serious Offense), Misconduct (Pattern of Misconduct), and Alcohol Rehabilitation Failure. Since he was administratively processed for separation and not separated upon expiration of enlistment or fulfillment of service obligation , t he characterization of service is determined by the quality of the member’s total performance of duty and conduct during the current enlistment, includ ing the reason for separation. A General (Under Honorable Conditions) discharge is warranted when the quality of the member’s service has been honest and faithful but significant negative aspects of the member’s conduct or performance of duty outweighed the positive aspects of the member’s service record. The NDRB determined the Applicant’s discharge was proper and very equitable. Relief denied.

: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends his CO r ecommended him for retention just prior to his administrative separation. The Applicant submitted an evaluation covering the period 16 June 2001 to 14 March 2002 where the Applicant’s CO recommended retention. Although the CO belatedly signed the evaluation on 11 September 2002, it still covered the period from June 2001 to March 2002. On 15 March 2002, the Applicant was found guilty at NJP for driving under the influence of alcohol and received a retention warning that further misconduct could result in administrative separation . On 11 June 2002, the Applicant received notification he was to be placed into formal aftercare for alcohol abuse following his return from completion of a Level 2 Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program for alcohol abuse. However, the Applicant’s record shows he was disenrolled from Level 2 treatment on 11 July 2002 as a treatment failure , because he “demonstrated an inability/refusal to participate and cooperate in the treatment program despite repeated counseling and feedback on the behavior(s) which eventually led to his termination as a treatment failure. ” On 29 July 2002, the Applicant’s command notified him of administrative separation processing for Alcohol Rehabilitation Failure. The Applicant subsequently received an evaluation covering the period 15 March 2002 to 19 August 2002 recommending non-retention. After a complete review of the records, the NDRB determined the Applicant was provided multiple opportunities to correct his behavior and was ultimately properly and very equitably discharged for Alcohol Rehabilitation Failure. 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 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 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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