Docket No: 3851-20   
Ref: Signature Date  
 
 
From:  Chairman, Board for Correction of Naval Records 
To:      Secretary of the Navy 
  
Subj:   REVIEW OF NAVAL RECORD OF  
            
 
Ref:    (a) 10 U.S.C. 1552   
  
Encl:  (1) DD Form 149 (NR20200003851) 
    (2) Case summary 
 
1.  Pursuant to the provisions of reference (a), Petitioner, a former enlisted member of the Navy, filed enclosure (1) with this Board requesting that his discharge characterization be upgraded from General to Honorable. 
 
2.  The Board, consisting of  reviewed Petitioner's allegations of error and injustice on 23 November 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 his naval service 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.  Although enclosure (1) was not filed in a timely manner, it is in the interest of justice to waive the statute of limitations and review the application on its merits.   
 
    c.  Petitioner enlisted in the Navy and started a period of active duty on 17 September 1984.  On 26 October 1984, he was notified of administrative separation proceedings for Erroneous Enlistment.  On 26 October 1984, he waived counsel and an administrative board.  On 2 November 1984, he was administratively separated with an Entry-Level separation.  Petitioner reenlisted in the Navy and started a second period of active duty on 16 August 1985.  On 10 August 1990, nonjudicial punishment (NJP) was imposed on Petitioner for a two-day unauthorized absence (UA) and he was issued a retention warning.  On 30 September 1993, he was diagnosed with a personality disorder so severe as to interfere with his ability to serve in the Navy.  Subsequently, administrative separation action by reason of Personality Disorder was initiated against him.  On 4 October 1993, he waived counsel and an administrative board and stated he did not object to the administrative separation.  On 29 October 1993, the Separation Authority directed he be administratively separated with a General discharge.  On 3 November 1993, he was administratively separated with a General discharge. 
 
    d.  Petitioner contends he has served as a firefighter in his town for 22 years, has held the position of Lieutenant, and served as an EMT for 9 years post-discharge.  Petitioner also contends he has been under the care of a Department of Veterans Affairs physician for several years with total success. 
 
    e.  The Board considered Petitioner’s request for a change to his discharge characterization and reviewed the available records pertaining to the allegations against Petitioner.  The Board found Petitioner’s Overall Trait Averages merited an Honorable characterization of service and that the command did not discharge Petitioner with the proper characterization as warranted by his service record.   
    
CONCLUSION: 
 
Upon review and consideration of all the evidence of record, the Board concluded that Petitioner’s request warrants corrective action to include a change of the discharge characterization to Honorable, the narrative reason be charged to Secretarial Authority, and the separation code be changed to “JFF.” 
 
 In view of the above, the Board directs the following corrective action. 
 
RECOMMENDATION: 
 
That Petitioner’s naval record be corrected to show that on 3 November 1993 Petitioner was issued an Honorable discharge with a narrative reason of Secretarial Authority and a separation code of “JFF.”   
 
That Petitioner be issued a DD Form 215.   
 
That a copy of this report of proceedings be filed in Petitioner’s naval record. 
 
That, upon request, the Department of Veterans Affairs be informed that Petitioner's application was received by the Board on 26 May 2020. 
 
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.