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NAVY | DRB | 2013_Navy | ND1301811
Original file (ND1301811.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-SA, USN
Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request
Application Received: 20130911
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)        20051110 - 20061002     Active:  

Period of Service Under Review:
 Date of Current Enlistment: 20061003     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years Extension
Date of Discharge: 20081119      Highest Rank/Rate: SN
Length of Service: Year(s) Month(s) 17 D ay(s)
 Education Level:        AFQT: 70
Evaluation M arks:         Performance: 2.4 ( 5 )      Behavior: 2.2 ( 5 )        OTA: 2.27

Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):     

NJP :

- 20080723 :      Article (Failure to obey order or regulation; smoking in unauthorized space on board)
         Awarded: Suspended: (vacated on 20080910 due to continued misconduct)

- 20080910 :      Article (Failure to obey order or regulation, 2 specifications)
         Specification 1: Dereliction of duty by sleeping on watch on 20080829
         Specification 2: Dereliction of duty by sleeping on watch on 20080905
         Awarded: Suspended:

- 20080911 :      Article ( Failure to obey order or regulation ; dereliction of duty by sleeping on watch on 20080911 )
         Awarded: Suspended:

- 2008092 4 :      Article (Absence without leave; 3 specifications of missing restricted muster)
          Awarded: Suspended:

- 20081110 :      Article (Absence without leave, 5 specification s )
         Specification 1: 20081006 Unauthorized absence from restricted personnel muster
         Specification 2 : 20081009 Unauthorized absence from restricted personnel muster 
         Specification 3 : 20081010 Unauthorized absence from restricted personnel muster
         Specification 4 : 20081011 Unauthorized absence from restricted personnel muster
         Specification 5 : 20081016 Unauthorized absence from restricted personnel muster 
         Awarded: Suspended:

S CM :    SPCM:    C C :





Retention Warning Counseling:

- 20061023 :      For numerous negative entries on you r Recruit Personnel Data Record, to include: failure to adapt and conform to N avy standards, violation of hydration policy, lying to your Recruit Division Commander (RDC), excessive talking while in training, disrespect toward your RDC, failure to follow instruction from your RDC, failure to obey the rules and regulations at Recruit Training Command, sub-standard performance , and overall lack of military bearing

 - 20080723 :      For Article 92 (Failure to obey order or regulation; smoking in an unauthorized space)

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:                  Other Documentation:    
                  Additional Statements:
         From Applicant:           From/To Representation:           From/To Congress member:        

Pertinent Regulation/Law

 A. Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 23, effective 20 May 2008 until 9 November 2009, Article 1910-140, SEPARATION BY REASON OF MISCONDUCT - PATTERN OF 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 .




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

Applicant’s Issues

 1.       The Applicant contends a reduction in rank and forfeiture of pay would have been appropriate punishment for smoking in a restricted area, but instead, he was made an example of because of the fire on the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON.
2 .       The Applicant contends he had minor misconduct during his over 23 months of service that included participation in both Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

Decision

Date: 20 1 4 0403    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 standards of equity and propriety. The Applicant’s record of service included NAVPERS 1070/613 (Page 13) warnings and for o f the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ): Article 86 ( Absence without leave, 8 specifications ) and Article 92 ( Failure to obey order or regulation , 4 specifications) . Based on the offenses committed by the Applicant, command administratively processed for 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 a General Court-Mart ial Convening Authority review.

Issues 1 - 2: (Decisional) (Propriety/Equity) RELIEF NOT WARRANTED. The Applicant contends a reduction in rank and forfeiture of pay would have been appropriate punishment for smoking in a restricted area, but instead, he was made an example of because of the fire on the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON. He also contends he had minor misconduct during his over 23 months of service that included participation in both Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. During the Applicant’s 2 years, 1 month, and 17 days of service, he received two retention warnings and was found guilty of multiple offenses at five NJPs. His evaluation overall trait average during his enlistment was 2.27, which is reflective of below-average performance and conduct. He met the requirements to be administratively separated for Misconduct (Pattern of Misconduct) and Misconduct (Serious Offense). His poor behavior started at Recruit Training, where he received a retention warning for his inability to adapt, inability to follow orders, lying, substandard performance, and overall lack of military bearing. His poor behavior continued in the Fleet, where he went to Captain’s Mast five times for falling asleep on watch (3 specifications), missing restricted muster (8 specifications), and smoking in an unauthorized space onboard ship (1 specification). Smoking in an unauthorized space was his first offense onboard his ship, and his commanding officer suspended the reduction in rate and forfeiture of pay (punishments that were subsequently vacated when the Applicant continued his misconduct) in addition to retaining him in service. However, after the Applicant had four more appearances at Captain’s Mast, his command determined he was no longer fit to serve. Incredibly, despite this pattern of misconduct, his command leniently recommended him for a General discharge. Misconduct of this frequency and nature typically results in an Under Other Than Honorable Conditions discharge , particularly because he was on a deployed ship during wartime . The NDRB, however, is not authorized to change a discharge characterization to a more unfavorable level. After a complete review of the Applicant’s brief record of service, the NDRB determined his discharge was warranted, proper, and very 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 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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