DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
 NAVAL DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD (NDRB)
                     DISCHARGE REVIEW
                   DECISIONAL DOCUMENT

 ex-PNSN, USN
Docket No. ND99-01136

Applicant’s Request

The application for discharge review, received 990825, requested that the characterization of service on the discharge be changed to honorable.  The applicant requested a documentary record discharge review.  The applicant did not list any representative on the DD Form 293.

Decision

A documentary discharge review was conducted in Washington, D.C. on 000616.  After a thorough review of the records, supporting documents, facts, and circumstances unique to this case, NDRB discerned no impropriety or inequity in the characterization of the applicant’s service.  The Board’s vote was 4-1 that the character of the discharge shall not change.  The discharge shall remain: UNDER OTHER THAN HONORABLE CONDITIONS/PATTERN OF MISCONDUCT, authority: NAVMILPERSMAN, Article 3630600.

PART I - APPLICANT’S ISSUES AND DOCUMENTATION

Issues

1.  I feel the punishment awarded was not fair.  I strongly believe that while in the Navy I suffered from a mental disorder.  The mental disorder was not detected by the Navy. Shortly after discharge from the military, I seeked help at the local Community Mental Health Clinic.  I believe because of my mental illness, that illness was part of why I went UA from the Navy, plus among other things.  It appears that from Documents 1 and 2, Veterans L_ Medical illness could very well have contributed to his behavior while in the Navy.

Documentation

In addition to the service record, the following additional documentation, submitted by the applicant, was considered:

Statement from Day Rehabilitation Specialist dated August 20, 1999
Twenty-two pages of Physician's orders and progress notes from Douglas County Hospital dated from June 11, 1997 to July 19, 1999
Psychiatric Evaluation dated November 25, 1998
Psychiatric Evaluation dated May 13, 1997
Ltr from Orchard House dtd 25 Apr 00
Additional Documents from applicant’s service 

PART II - SUMMARY OF SERVICE

Prior Service (component, dates of service, type of discharge):

	Active:   USN 		890417 - 930409	HON
	Inactive: USNR (DEP)	890214 - 890416	COG

Period of Service Under Review:

Date of Enlistment:  930410		Date of Discharge:  970207

Length of Service (years, months, days):

	Active:    03  09  28
	Inactive:  None

Age at Entry:  22			Years Contracted:  5

Education Level:  10 GED		AFQT:  35

Highest Rate:  PN2

Final Enlisted Performance Evaluation Averages (number of marks):

Performance:  3.90 (4)	Behavior:  4.00 (4)		OTA:  3.95	4.0 evals
Performance:  1.80 (5)	Behavior:  2.72 (5)		OTA:  2.05	5.0 evals

Military Decorations:  None

Unit/Campaign/Service Awards:  AFEM, NDSM, SSDR, GCM (2), JMU

Days of Unauthorized Absence:  30 

Character, Narrative Reason, and Authority of Discharge (at time of issuance):

UNDER OTHER THAN HONORABLE CONDITIONS/PATTERN OF MISCONDUCT, authority:  NAVMILPERSMAN, Article 3630600.

Chronological Listing of Significant Service Events:

961122:	Applicant to unauthorized absence 0001, 22Nov96.

961211:	Applicant from unauthorized absence 1714, 11Dec96 (19 days/surrendered).

961216:	Applicant to unauthorized absence 0700, 16Dec96.

961227:	Applicant from unauthorized absence 1830, 27Dec86 (11 days/surrendered).

961230:	NJP for violation of UCMJ, Article 86 (2 specs): Unauthorized absence (Total of 30 days).
	Award:  Forfeiture of $735 per month for 2 months, restriction and extra duty for 45 days, reduction to PN3.  Forfeiture for 1 months suspended for 6 months.  No indication of appeal in the record.

970103:	Retention Warning:  Advised of deficiency (Unauthorized absence (2 specs)), notified of corrective actions and assistance available, advised of consequences of further deficiencies, and issued discharge warning. 

970116:	Intern Outpatient Note: Impression: Axis I: Adjustment disorder with marked stressors.

970124:	Vacated suspended forfeiture awarded at CO's NJP dated 30Dec96 due to continued misconduct.

970124:	NJP for violation of UCMJ, Article 112A: Wrongful use of controlled substance.
	Award:  Forfeiture of $589.05 per month for 2 months, restriction and extra duty for 45 days, reduction to PNSN.  No indication of appeal in the record.

Discharge package missing from service record.

PART III – RATIONALE FOR DECISION AND PERTINENT REGULATION/LAW

Discussion

The applicant was discharged on 970207 under other than honorable conditions for misconduct due to a pattern of misconduct (A).  The Board presumed regularity in the conduct of governmental affairs (B).  After a thorough review of the records, supporting documents, facts, and circumstances unique to this case, the Board found that the discharge was proper and equitable (C and D).

The NDRB reviewed the applicant’s issue and found that the reason for discharge was the applicant’s documented misconduct.  The NDRB considered the applicant’s post service medical condition and found that it did not mitigate the applicant’s misconduct while on active duty.

Pertinent Regulation/Law (at time of discharge)

A.  Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C, Change 14, effective 03 Oct 96 until 11 Dec 97), Article 3630600, SEPARATION OF ENLISTED PERSONNEL BY REASON OF MISCONDUCT – A PATTERN OF MISCONDUCT. 

B.  Secretary of the Navy Instruction 5420.174C of 22 August 1984 (Manual for Discharge Review, 1984), enclosure (1), Chapter 2, AUTHORITY/POLICY FOR DEPARTMENTAL DISCHARGE REVIEW.  

C.  Secretary of the Navy Instruction 5420.174C of 22 August 1984 (Manual for Discharge Review, 1984), enclosure (1), Chapter 9, paragraph 9.2, PROPRIETY OF THE DISCHARGE.

D.  Secretary of the Navy Instruction 5420.174C of 22 August 1984 (Manual for Discharge Review, 1984), enclosure (1), Chapter 9, paragraph 9.3, EQUITY OF THE DISCHARGE.

PART IV - INFORMATION FOR THE APPLICANT

If you believe that 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 Directive 1332.28, you may submit a complaint in accordance with Enclosure (5) of that Directive.  You should read Enclosure (5) of the Directive 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 obtain a copy of DoD Directive 1332.28 by writing to:

		DA Military Review Boards Agency
		Management Information and Support Directorate
		Armed Forces Reading Room
		Washington, D.C.  20310-1809

The names, and votes of the members of the Board are recorded on the original of this document and may be obtained from the service records by writing to:

		Naval Council of Personnel Boards
		Attn:  Naval Discharge Review Board
		Washington Navy Yard
		720 Kennon St SE Rm 309
		Washington, D.C.  20374-5023