DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF NAVAL RECORDS
				      2 NAVY ANNEX
WASHINGTON DC 20370-5100 

				TRG
                   Docket No: 8044-06 
                   22 February 2008

This is in reference to your application for correction of your naval record pursuant to the provisions of title 10 of the United States Code section 1552.

A three-member panel of the Board for Correction of Naval Records, sitting in executive session, considered your application on 12 February 2008. Your allegations of error and injustice were reviewed in accordance with administrative regulations and procedures applicable to the proceedings of this Board. Documentary material considered by the Board consisted of your application, together with all material submitted in support thereof, your naval record and applicable statutes, regulations and policies.

After careful and conscientious consideration of the entire record, the Board found that the evidence submitted was insufficient to establish the existence of probable material error or injustice.

You reenlisted in the Marine Corps on 22 April 1997 for four years, which was later extended for 15 months. Subsequently, incidents of physical child/spouse abuse and emotional spouse abuse were substantiated with you being named as the offender.

Beginning in July 2002, there are a series of short term extensions while your reenlistment request was being processed. On 17 June 2003 Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) disapproved your reenlistment request, but authorized a final 60 day extension and the payment of one half separation pay. You were honorably discharged on 17 June 2003 and were assigned an RE-4 reenlistment code. At that time, you had completed 17 years, 11 months and 26 days of active duty.

You point out in your application that if you had 18 years of service, the Marine Corps would have been forced to retain you on active duty until you qualified for retirement at the completion of 20 years of service. Since you were so close to having 18 years of active duty, you believe that an injustice has occurred and the record should be corrected to show that you were not discharged, but retained on active duty until you qualified for retirement. 

It is clear that HQMC is authorized to approve or deny reenlistments at its discretion. Since there is adverse matter in your record, the Board concluded that there was no abuse of discretion by HQMC. The Board noted that the numerous extensions were required so that your reenlistment request could be properly considered. Further, the final 60 day extension was only granted so that you could have a smooth transition to civilian life. In effect, the actions taken to extend your enlistment were to your advantage. Therefore, the Board concluded that the fact that you were only four days short of mandatory retention was not an injustice which would require that you be retained on active duty to qualify you for retirement.

Accordingly, your application has been denied. The names and votes of the members of the panel will be furnished upon request.

It is regretted that the circumstances of your case are such that favorable action cannot be taken. You are entitled to have the Board reconsider its decision upon submission of new and material evidence or other matter not previously considered by the Board. In this regard, it is important to keep in mind that a presumption of regularity attaches to all official records. Consequently, when applying for a correction of an official naval record, the burden is on the applicant to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.

		Sincerely,

W. DEAN PFEIFFER
Executive Director