Docket No: 3567-20  
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 

1.  Pursuant to the provisions of reference (a), Subject, hereinafter referred to as Petitioner, filed enclosure (1) with the Board for Correction of Naval Records (Board), requesting that Petitioner’s naval record be corrected to change her narrative reason for separation to disability and upgrade her characterization of service. 

2.  The Board, consisting of , reviewed Petitioner's allegations of error and injustice on 18 June 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 the 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 Marine Corps in February 2013.  She was counselled on 24 March 2014 for violating liberty distance limits in January 2014.  In September 2014, Petitioner was diagnosed with acute adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood resulting in a recommendation for administrative separation.  Consequently, Petitioner was notified of administrative separation processing on 9 September 2014 for condition not a disability.  After acknowledging her rights, Petitioner was eventually discharged on 4 November 2014 with a General characterization of service for condition not a disability.  Her average marks for her enlistment were 4.2/4.3 (Proficiency/Conduct).  Post-discharge, Petitioner was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety in December 2017. 

CONCLUSION 

Upon review and consideration of all the evidence of record, the Board finds the existence of an injustice warranting relief.  Specifically, the Board determined that the preponderance of the evidence supports upgrading Petitioner’s characterization of service to Honorable based on her average proficiency and conduct marks and the minor nature of her January 2014 misconduct.  The Board concluded that Petitioner’s honorable service during her enlistment was not outweighed by her misconduct.  

Despite this finding, the Board also concluded that Petitioner’s narrative reason for separation was supported by the preponderance of theevidence.  
The Board considered Petitioner’s post-discharge diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety but felt it was too distant in time from her Marine Corps discharge date to be probative on the issue of unfitness for continued naval service.  Additionally, the Board determined that her mental health diagnosis of acute adjustment disorder was a more reliable indicator of her mental health condition in 2014 since it was issued contemporaneously with her active duty service and near her discharge date.  

Therefore, the Board found no error or injustice to warrant a change to Petitioner’s narrative reason for separation. 

RECOMMENDATION 

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

Petitioner’s naval record be corrected by changing Petitioner’s characterization of service to Honorable.  Petitioner will be issued a new DD Form 214. 

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 Regulation, 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 reference (a), has been approved by the Board on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy.