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NAVY | DRB | 2014_Navy | ND1400842
Original file (ND1400842.rtf) Auto-classification: Denied

ex-MNSR, USN
Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request
Application Received: 20140324
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)        20020118 - 20020206     Active:  

Pre-Service Drug Waiver:

Period of Service Under Review:
 Date of Current Enlistment: 20020207     Age at Enlistment:
Period of E nlistment : Years Extension
Date of Discharge: 20050422      Highest Rank/Rate: MNSN
Length of Service : Y ear ( s ) M onth ( s ) 15 D a y ( s )
Education Level:        AFQT: 74
Evaluation M arks:         Performance: 3.5 ( 2 )      Behavior: 2.5 ( 2 )        OTA: 3.17

Awards and Decorations ( per DD 214):     

Periods of C ONF :

NJP:

- 20020604 :      Article (Failure to obey order or regulation , 3 specifications )
         Awarded: Suspended:

- 20020 71 8 :      Article ( False official statements )
          Awarded: Suspended:

- 20030124 :      Article (Failure to obey order or regulation ; having a lawful order to not consume alcohol during the Armed Sentry Course, did on or about 20030117, failed to obey the same and wrongfully consumed alcohol )
         Awarded: Suspended:

- 20030925 :      Article (Absence without leave)
         Article ( Missing movement )
         Awarded: Suspended:

- 20050127 :      Article (Failure to obey order or regulation)
         Awarded: Suspended:

- 20050325 :      Article 92 (Failure to obey order or regulation)
         Article (Wrongful use, possession of controlled substance , cocaine 140 ng/mL )
          Awarded: Suspended:

SCM:     SPCM:    C C :     

Retention Warning Counseling:

         - 20020930 :     For late duty section muster on 20020922
         - 200 5 0105 :     For Article 92 (Failure to obey an order or regulation)

Administrative Corrections to the Applicant’s DD 214

The NDRB did note administrative error(s) on the original DD Form 214:

          “ ”

The NDRB will recommend to the Commander, Navy Personnel Command, PERS- 312A, that the DD 214 be corrected as appropriate.
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. The Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 33, effective 22 August 2002 until 28 April 2005, Article 1910-146, SEPARATION BY REASON OF MISCONDUCT - DRUG ABUSE.

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 he developed a cocaine addiction while serving on his minesweeper, and there were no resou rces to address his addiction .
2. The Applicant contends the Navy’s zero - tolerance drug policy encouraged him to hide his addiction , and if there had been an open-door policy, he would have sought treatment for his addiction.
3.       The Applicant contends mental health issues contributed to his misconduct.

Decision

Date: 20 1 4 0826            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 nonjudicial punishments (NJPs) for o f the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ): Article ( Absence without leave , ), Article ( Missing movement , ), Article (Failure to obey an order or regulation, 6 specifications ), Article (False official statement, ), and Article ( Wrongful use, possession of controlled substance , cocaine ) . The Applicant a pre-service drug waiver prior to entering the Navy. Based on the Article 112a violation, processing for administ rative separation is mandatory. When notified of administrative separation processing using the procedure, the Applicant rights to consult with a qualified coun sel, submit a written statement , and request an administrative board.

: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends he developed a cocaine addiction while serving on his minesweeper, and there were no resou rces to address his addiction . Although resources may not have been available while underway, there is no evidence in the record, nor did the Applicant provide any documentation, to indicate he attempted to use the numerous services available for servicemembers who undergo personal problems during their enlistment s , such as the Navy Chaplain, Medical or Mental Health professionals, or even Family Advocacy Programs. The NDRB determined the Applicant’s contention that there was a lack of resources available to address his addiction did not mitigate his misconduct. Relief denied.

: (Decisional) ( ) . The Applicant contends the Navy’s zero - tolerance drug policy encouraged him to hide his addiction , and if there had been an open-door policy, he would have sought treatment for his addiction. Certain serious offenses warrant separation from the service to maintain proper order and discipline. Violation of Article 112a is one such offense requiring mandatory processing for administrative separation regardless of grade , performance, or time in service. This usually results in an unfavorable characterization of discharge or, at a maximum, a punitive discharge and possible confinement if adjudicated and awarded as part of a sentence by a special or general court-martial. The command did not pursue a punitive discharge but opted instead for the more lenient administrative discharge, even after he had five other NJPs before his final NJP for using cocaine. As for the Navy’s z e ro - tolerance drug policy, Secretary of the Navy Instruction 5300.28 (Military Substance Abuse Prevention and Control) provides for drug-dependent personnel to self-admit drug use to quali fied representative s such as drug counselors or medical personnel with the intent of acquiring treatment . Although the member would still be discharged for drug use, the member would not be punished for self-referral and would receive nothing worse than a General characterization of service. In addition to being notified of administrative discharge processing for Misconduct (Drug Abuse), the Applicant was also notified for Misconduct (Pattern of Misconduct) based on his two retention warnings and six NJPs. The NDRB determined his discharge was warranted, proper, and equitable. Relief denied.
Issue 3: (Decisional) (Propriety/Equity) RELIEF NOT WARRANTED. The Applicant contends mental health issues contributed to his misconduct. When reviewing a discharge, the NDRB does consider the extent to which a medical problem might affect an Applicant’s performance and ability to conform to the military’s standards of conduct and discipline. However, the NDRB does not consider the circumstances surrounding the Applicant’s stated condition or diagnosis to be of sufficient nature to excuse the Applicant’s misconduct. There is no evidence in the record, and the Applicant did not provide any evidence, to indicate that he was not responsible for his actions or should not be held accountable for his misconduct. 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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