Docket No: 1953-20  
Ref: Signature Date  
From: Chairman, Board for Correction of Naval Records  
To:   Secretary of the Navy  


Ref: (a) Title 10 U.S.C. 1552 
Encl:(1) DD Form 149 w/attachments 

1.  Pursuant to the reference, Subject, hereinafter referred to as Petitioner, filed the enclosure 
with the Board for Correction of Naval Records (Board), requesting that Petitioner’s naval record 
be corrected to upgrade his characterization of service to honorable. 

2.  The Board, consisting of , reviewed Petitioner’s allegations of error and injustice on 23 April 2020 and, pursuant to its regulations, determined that the corrective action indicated below should be taken on the available evidence of record.  Documentary material considered by the Board consisted of the enclosures, relevant portions of naval records, and applicable statutes, regulations and policies. 

3.  The Board, having reviewed all the facts of record pertaining to Petitioner’s allegations of error and injustice, finds as follows: 

a.  Before applying to this Board, Petitioner exhausted all administrative remedies available under existing law and regulations within the Department of the Navy. 

b.  Petitioner entered active duty with the Navy on 18 October 1974.  On 11 March 1975, he was diagnosed with an Immature Personality and recommended for administrative separation.  He was also dropped from Basic Electricity and Electronics School for academic inaptitude and counselled on 25 March 1975 for adverse performance traits based on multiple orders violations and unauthorized absences.  As a result, Petitioner was notified of administrative separation processing for unsuitability on 27 March 1975 due to his Immature Personality diagnosis.  On 2 April 1975, Petitioner was discharged for unsuitability and assigned a general characterization of service based on his performance trait average.  Post-discharge, his medical provider asserted that Petitioner was receiving medical treatment for a condition that Petitioner believes originated while he was on active duty. 


CONCLUSION 

Upon review and consideration of all the evidence of record, the Board finds the existence of an injustice warranting partial relief.  Specifically, the Board determined that Petitioner’s narrative reason for separation creates a stigma due to the reference to his mental health diagnosis.  Accordingly, the Board felt it appropriate to change it to Secretarial Authority. 

Regarding Petitioner’s request for an upgrade to his characterization of service, the Board concluded that the preponderance of the evidence does not support relief.  The Board considered Petitioner’s brief period of active duty and his multiple incidents of documented misconduct to 
find that negative aspects associated with his misconduct outweighed the positive aspects of his service.  Further, the Board noted Petitioner’s documented 2.0 trait average for conduct did not qualify him for an honorable characterization of service.  Finally, the Board concluded Petitioner was appropriately discharged for unsuitability based on his immature personality diagnosis and documented inability to adapt to the military environment. 

RECOMMENDATION 

In view of the above, the Board directs the following corrective action. 

Petitioner’s naval record be corrected by changing his narrative reason for separation to 

Secretarial Authority with associated changes to his record consistent with the new narrative reason.  Petitioner will be issued a new DD Form 214 reflecting the change to his record. 

4.  It is certified that a quorum was present at the Board’s review and deliberations, and that the foregoing is a true and complete record of the Board’s proceedings in the above-entitled matter. 

5.  Pursuant to the delegation of authority set out in Section 6(e) of the revised Procedures of the Board for Correction of Naval Records (32 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 723.6(e)) and having assured compliance with its provisions, it is hereby announced that the foregoing corrective action, taken under the authority of the reference, has been approved by the Board on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy.