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

  ex-AR, USN
Docket No. ND04-01054

Applicant’s Request

The application for discharge review was received on 20040615.  The Applicant requests the characterization of service received at the time of discharge be changed to honorable.  The Applicant requests a documentary record review.  The Applicant listed the American Legion as the representative on the DD Form 293.

Decision

A documentary review was conducted in Washington, D.C. on 20050201.  After a thorough review of the records, supporting documents, facts, and circumstances unique to this case, no impropriety or inequity in the characterization of the Applicant’s service was discovered by the NDRB.  The Board’s vote was unanimous that the character of the discharge shall not change.  The discharge shall remain:  UNCHARACTERIZED (ENTRY LEVEL SEPARATION)/ERRONEOUS ENTRY (OTHER), authority: NAVMILPERSMAN, Article 1910-130.

PART I - APPLICANT’S ISSUES AND DOCUMENTATION

Issues, as stated

Applicant’s issues, as stated on the application:

1.  “I had some personal problems at home that came up when I started boot camp at Great Lakes, Il.  I was waiting to see the Chaplain, as was promised by my Petty Officer, but nothing came of it.  It got to the point I was getting very frustrated.  As a means of getting my superiors attention, I staged a suicide attempt.  I told a fellow recruit to go and tell the Petty Officer that I was about to hang myself.  I then tipped over a garbage can as if I was going to jump off of it.  This was all an act, but it backfired on me and I was released from service with an uncharacterized discharge.  This was not my intent.  I only wanted to talk to the chaplain about my personal problem.  If nothing else, would have been able to get it off my chest and confided in someone that I felt would understand the situation.”

The American Legion did not provide any issues.

Documentation

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

Applicant’s DD Form 214
Character reference, dated March 12, 2003
Character reference, dated March 14, 2003
Character reference, dated March 14, 2003
Character reference, dated March 3, 2003
Character reference, dated March 14, 2003
Character reference, dated March 12, 2003
Letter to American Legion from the Applicant, dated May 25, 2004

PART II - SUMMARY OF SERVICE

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

	Inactive: USNR (DEP)	001229 - 010117	COG
	Active:   None

Period of Service Under Review:

Date of Enlistment:  010118		Date of Discharge:  010226

Length of Service (years, months, days):

	Active:    00  01  09
	Inactive:  None

Age at Entry:  18			Years Contracted:  4

Education Level:  10			AFQT:  78

Highest Rate:  AR

Final Enlisted Performance Evaluation Averages (number of marks):

Performance:  NMA*		Behavior:  NMA		OTA:  NMA

Military Decorations:  None

Unit/Campaign/Service Awards:  None

Days of Unauthorized Absence:  None

*No marks assigned.

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

UNCHARACTERIZED (ENTRY LEVEL SEPARATION)/ERRONEOUS ENTRY (OTHER), authority: NAVMILPERSMAN, Article 1910-130.

Chronological Listing of Significant Service Events:

010206:	Psychiatric evaluation:  Applicant referred because of a suicide attempt.  Diagnosis: AXIS I: Adjustment disorder with depressed mood and suicide attempt.  Strongly recommend an entry level separation.  If allowed to continue on active duty, this servicemember represents a continuing risk of harm to self and/or others.

010213:	Applicant notified of intended recommendation for discharge with a least favorable characterization of general (under honorable conditions) by reason of defective enlistment and induction due to erroneous enlistment as evidenced by an adjustment disorder.

010213:	Applicant advised of rights and having elected not to consult with counsel certified under UCMJ Article 27(b), elected to waive all rights except the right to obtain copies of the documents used to support the basis for the separation.

010222:	Commanding Officer directed Applicant’s discharge with an uncharacterized service by reason of defective enlistment and induction due to erroneous enlistment.

PART III – RATIONALE FOR DECISION AND PERTINENT REGULATION/LAW

Discussion

The Applicant was discharged on 20010226 with an uncharacterized service for defective enlistment and induction due to erroneous enlistment (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).

Issue 1:  Normally, to permit relief, an impropriety or inequity must have existed during the period of enlistment in question.  No such impropriety or inequity is evident during the Applicant’s enlistment.  The documentation and statements provided by the Applicant were not sufficient to overturn the presumption that the Applicant was properly diagnosed with an adjustment disorder that disqualified him from military service.  The Applicant was diagnosed with an adjustment disorder with depressed mood and suicide attempt by a competent medical authority on 010206.  The Applicant’s statement that his suicide attempt was merely staged so that he might speak with a Chaplain does not refute the diagnosis of a disqualifying psychiatric disorder by competent medical authority.  As such, the evidence reviewed did not persuade the Board that this diagnosis and subsequent administrative separation was improper or inequitable.  Relief denied.

By regulation, members discharged within the first 180 days of enlistment are given characterization of service uncharacterized or entry-level separation unless there were unusual circumstances regarding performance or conduct, which would merit an honorable characterization.  The Applicant's service record did not contain any unusual circumstances during his less than two months in the military to warrant a change of discharge to honorable.  

Since the NDRB has no jurisdiction over reenlistment, reentry, or reinstatement into the Navy, Marine Corps, or any other of the Armed Forces, NDRB is not authorized to change a reenlistment code.  An unfavorable “RE” code is, in itself, not a bar to reenlistment.  A request for a waiver can be submitted during the processing of a formal application for reenlistment through a recruiter.  Only the Board for Correction of Naval Records (BCNR) can make changes to reenlistment codes.

The Applicant remains eligible for a personal appearance hearing, provided an application is received, at the NDRB, within 15 years from the date of discharge.  The Applicant can provide documentation to support any claims of post-service accomplishments or any other evidence related to his discharge at that time.  Representation at a personal appearance hearing is recommended but not required.

Pertinent Regulation/Law (at time of discharge)

A.  The Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 18, effective 12 Dec 97 until 12 Jun 01, Article 1910-130 (formerly 3620280), Separation by Reason of Defective Enlistments and Inductions - Erroneous Enlistment.

B.  Secretary of the Navy Instruction 5420.174D of 22 December 2004, Naval Discharge Review Board (NDRB) Procedures and Standards, Part II, AUTHORITY/POLICY FOR DEPARTMENTAL DISCHARGE REVIEW.

C.  Secretary of the Navy Instruction 5420.174D of 22 December 2004, Naval Discharge Review Board (NDRB) Procedures and Standards, Part V, Para 502, Propriety.

D Secretary of the Navy Instruction 5420.174D of 22 December 2004, Naval Discharge Review Board (NDRB) Procedures and Standards, Part V, Para 503, Equity.

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 “http://Boards.law.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:

		Secretary of the Navy Council of Review Boards
		Attn:  Naval Discharge Review Board
		720 Kennon Street SE Rm 309
		Washington Navy Yard DC  20374-5023