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

 ex-HA, USN
Docket No. ND99-01157

Applicant’s Request

The application for discharge review, received 990826, 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 designate representative on the DD Form 293.

Decision

A documentary discharge review was conducted in Washington, D.C. on 000727.  After a thorough review of the records, supporting documents, facts, and circumstances unique to this case, NDRB discerned  an inequity, but no impropriety in the characterization of the applicant’s service.  The Board’s vote was unanimous that the character of the discharge shall change to: Honorable/Misconduct, authority:  NAVMILPERSMAN, Article 1910 - 142 (formerly 3630605).

PART I - APPLICANT’S ISSUES AND DOCUMENTATION

Issues (verbatim)

1.  I respectfully request that the General Under Honorable Conditions Discharge be upgraded to an Honorable discharge as per enclosure four (4), Notification of Separation from Commander, Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth VA.  I also request reinstatement of all Veterans Benefits, to include educational benefits which I paid into via Montgomery G.I. Bill.  I would also like release of salary and wage information to the Virginia Unemployment office in pursuant of Unemployment Compensation Benefits.  

Documentation

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

Copy of DD Form 214
Letter to Applicant from BCNR dtd 21 Jan 99
Applicant's letter to BCNR dtd Nov 27, 1998
COMNAVMEDCEN Portsmouth's ltr to Applicant dtd 22 Jul 98
Applicant's ltr to CO, Sewells Pt Branch Medical Clinic, Norfolk, dtd 29 May 98
COMNAVMEDCEN Portsmouth's Separation Authority ltr dtd 8 Sep 98
Virginia Employment Commission Determination ltr of 2 Oct 98

PART II - SUMMARY OF SERVICE

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

	Active:   None
	Inactive: USNR (DEP)	950608 - 950613	HON
		   USNR (DEP)	940804 - 950403	ELS (Med Disqualified)

Period of Service Under Review:

Date of Enlistment:  950614		Date of Discharge:  980918

Length of Service (years, months, days):

	Active:    03  03  05
	Inactive:  None

Age at Entry:  21			Years Contracted:  4 

Education Level:  12			AFQT:  70

Highest Rate:  HN (E-3)

Final Enlisted Performance Evaluation Averages (number of marks):

Performance:  NMF		Behavior:  NMF		OTA:  NMF

Military Decorations:  None

Unit/Campaign/Service Awards:  None

Days of Unauthorized Absence:  None 

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

GENERAL (UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS)/MISCONDUCT, authority:  NAVMILPERSMAN, Article 1910-142 (formerly 3630605). [Administratively corrected.]

Chronological Listing of Significant Service Events:

940614:	Pre-enlistment physical exam indicated HT -60 3/4", WT - 142 lbs, Build - heavy.  Re-evaluated 8JUN95 WT-134, 14JUN95 WT-133 with BF as 34%. 
950614:	Applicant enters military.

980512:	Applicant notified of intended recommendation for discharge with least favorable characterization of service as general (under honorable conditions) by reason of Failure to comply with Physical Readiness Test/ Body Composition Standards as evidenced by your PRT folder and service record entries.  [SIGNED BUT NOT ACKNOWLEDGED BY APPLICANT.]

980529:	Applicant acknowledged that she failed to attend remedial PRT from on or about 11 May to 22 May 1998 and requested additional remedial PRT in lieu of nonjudicial punishment.

980529:	NJP for violation of UCMJ - Article unknown.
	Award:  Unknown [EXTRACTED FROM COMNAVMEDCEN Portsmouth's ltr of 22 JUL 98.]

980722:	Applicant notified of intended recommendation for discharge with the least favorable characterization of service as general (under honorable conditions) by reason of misconduct due to the Commission of a Serious Offense and Physical Readiness Test Failure as evidenced by Non-Judicial Punishment of 29 May 1998, service record entries, and Physical Readiness Test folder.  [UNSIGNED]

[APPLICANT'S STATEMENT OF AWARENESS, RIGHTS NOT IN SERVICE RECORD.]

980817:	Separation physical reflects HT - 61", WT - 172 pounds.

980908:	COMNAVMEDCEN Portsmouth directed the applicant's discharge with a characterization of service as Honorable by reason of misconduct due to the commission of a serious offense and physical readiness test failure.

PART III – RATIONALE FOR DECISION AND PERTINENT REGULATION/LAW

Discussion

The applicant was discharged on 980918 with a General (Under Honorable Conditions) for misconduct due to commission of a serious offense (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).

In the applicant’s issue 1, the Board found 

Pertinent Regulation/Law (at time of discharge)

A.  Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 18, effective 
12 Dec 97 until Present, Article 1910-142  [formerly 3630605]. SEPARATION BY REASON OF MISCONDUCT- COMMISSION OF A SERIOUS OFFENSE.

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 view DoD Directive 1332.28 and other Decisional Documents by going online at "afls14.jag.af.mil".

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
		720 Kennon Street SE Rm 309
		Washington Navy Yard DC  20374-5023