ex-MMFN, USN
ND06-00987

Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request:

Application Received:  			               20060719     
Characterization of Service:			
Narrative Reason for Separation:			
Discharge Authority:				MILPERSMAN 1910-146
Last Duty Assignment/Command at Discharge:	COMSUBGRU TEN OTHERS, NSB KINGS BAY, GA

Applicant’s Request:	
	Characterization change to:		
	Narrative Reason change to: 		
	Review Requested:			
	Representation:				

Decision:

Date of Decision:					20070608
Location of Board:				Washington D.C.
Complete Service Record:				
Complete Medical Record:			
Complete Discharge Package:			

Regarding propriety, the Board found the discharge:	
Regarding equity, the Board found the discharge:	
 (BCD only) The Board found that clemency was: 	

By a vote of  the Characterization shall  .	
By a vote of  the Narrative Reason shall  .

.

Summary of Service:

Prior Service:
Inactive: USNR (DEP)				19970612-19971029 COG
Active:        		               		19971030-19991104
Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Enlistment:  				19991105
Years Contracted:  				;        
Date of Discharge:				20020626
Length of Service:				02  Yrs  07  Mos  21  Days
Time Lost During This Period:			      
						NONE        
			
Education Level:  				
Age at this Enlistment:  				
AFQT:  						76
Highest Rate/Rank:				MM2

Performance Evaluation Averages (number of marks):
Performance/Behavior/OTA:			4.0 (3)  3.7 (3)  3.91
	
Awards and Decorations (as listed on the DD Form 214):*
MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION, FIRST GOOD CONDUCT AWARD FOR PERIOD ENDING 00OCT29, NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, LETTER OF COMMENDATION (4).

*Service record also indicates 4 Letters of Commendation

Service Record Entries Related to Characterization of Service or Narrative Reason for Separation

20020327:	Applicant administered fitness for duty examination.  BAC of .063 at approximately 1130.

20020408:	NJP for violation(s) of UCMJ:
	Article 86:  Absence without leave.
	Article 134:  Drunkenness-Incapacitation for performance of duties through prior wrongful indulgence in intoxicating liquor or any drug.  
	Award:  Forfeiture of $150 for 1 month, reduction to E-4 (suspended for 6 months).
   	No indication of appeal in the record.

20020506:	NAVDRUGLAB, San Diego, CA, reported Applicant’s urine sample, received 20020430, tested positive for Cocaine.

20020507:	Reduction in pay grade awarded and suspended at NJP on 20020408 vacated due to continued misconduct.

20020507:	NJP for violation(s) of UCMJ:
	Article 112a:  Wrongfully used cocaine.
	Award:  Forfeiture of $734 for 2 months, reduction to E-3.
   	No indication of appeal in the record.

Medical Record Entries Related to Characterization of Service or Narrative Reason for Separation

None.

Elements of Discharge:  [INVOLUNTARY]

Discharge Process:				
Date Notified:					20020504
Reason for Discharge				  due to:  
Least Favorable Characterization:			
Record Supports Narrative Reason:			
Date Applicant Responded to Notification:		20020528
Rights Elected at Notification:
Consult with Counsel			
Administrative Board			
Obtain Copies	  			
Submit Statement(s) (date)			       

Recommendation of Commanding Officer (date):	  (20020605)
Separation Authority (date):	COMMANDER, SUBMARINE GROUP 10 (20020613)
Reason for discharge directed:			MISCONDUCT 
Characterization directed:	
Date Applicant Discharged:		               2020626

Additional Information Considered by Board

Type of documentation submitted by the Applicant and considered by the Board
       
       	Document Type					#Pages
       Related to Period of Service:
	Service/Medical Record:				8
	Other Period of Service:				     
       Related to Post-Service Period:
	Community Service:				     
	Education:					3
	Employment:					     
	Health/Medical:					     
	Character Statements:				6
	Criminal Records Checks:				1
	Additional Statements from Applicant:		1
        Other Documentation	 (Describe Below)		1

        Total Number of Pages:				20

       Description of Other Documentation:
       Certification of Birth 

Applicant’s Issues as Summarized by the Board:
1.  Would like Reentry into Military service. 
2.  My overall good service outweighs my misconduct.  
3.  Since being discharged, have worked hard and pursued higher education.

Issue 1:  The Board determined that  which can form the basis of relief for the Applicant or that the Board did not have the authority to grant the relief for which the Applicant petitioned.  The Applicant is directed to the Addendum regarding .  

Decisional Issues:

Issue 2 ():  When the service of a member of the U.S. Navy has been honest and faithful, it is appropriate to characterize that service as honorable.  An under other than honorable discharge is warranted when significant negative aspects of a member’s conduct or performance of duty outweigh the positive aspects of the member’s military record.  The Applicant’s service was marred by 2 nonjudicial punishment proceedings for violation of Articles 86 (unauthorized absence), 112a (Wrongful use of a controlled substance) and 134 (Drunkenness-Incapacitation for performance of duties) of the UCMJ.  The Applicant’s conduct, which forms the primary basis for determining the character of his service, reflects his willful failure to meet the requirements of his contract with the U.S. Navy and falls far short of that required for an upgrade of his characterization of service.  Relief is not warranted. 

Issue 2 ():  Normally, to permit relief, a procedural impropriety or inequity must have occurred during the discharge process for the period of enlistment in question.  The Board discovered no impropriety after a review of Applicant’s case.  There is no law or regulation which provides that an unfavorable discharge may be upgraded based solely on the passage of time or good conduct in civilian life subsequent to leaving Naval service.  The NDRB is authorized to consider post-service factors in the recharacterization of a discharge to the extent such matters provide a basis for a more thorough understanding of the Applicant’s performance and conduct during the period of service under review.  Examples of documentation that should be provided to the board include proof of educational pursuits, verifiable employment records, documentation of community service, evidence of drug free existence, and certification of non- involvement with civil authorities.  The Board determined that the documentation provided by the applicant did not mitigate the misconduct that resulted in the characterization of discharge.  Therefore, no relief will be granted.

In reviewing discharges, the Board presumes regularity in the conduct of Government affairs unless there is substantial credible evidence to rebut the presumption, to include evidence submitted by the Applicant.  After a thorough review of the available evidence, to include the Applicant’s Summary of Service, Service Record Entries, Medical Record Entries, Elements of Discharge and evidence submitted by the Applicant, the Board found the Applicant’s discharge proper and equitable.

Pertinent Regulation/Law

A.  The Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 33, effective 16 Jul 2001 until 21 Aug 2002, Article 1910-146 (formerly 3630620), Separation by Reason of Misconduct - Drug Abuse.

B.   Secretary of the Navy Instruction 5420.174D of 22 December 2004, Naval Discharge Review Board (NDRB) Procedures and Standards, Part II, Para 211, Regularity of Government Affairs,  Part V, Para 502, Propriety  and  Para 503, Equity.

C.  The Manual for Courts-Martial authorizes the award of a punitive discharge if adjudged as part of the sentence upon conviction by a special or general court-martial for violation of the UCMJ, Article 112a (Wrongful use, possession, etc., of controlled substances) and 134 (Drunkenness - Incapacitation for performance of duties). 

ADDENDUM:  Information for the Applicant

Complaint Procedures:  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 Instruction 1332.28, you may submit a complaint in accordance with Enclosure (5) of that Instruction.  You should read Enclosure (5) of the Instruction 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 Instruction 1332.28 and other Decisional Documents by going online at “http://Boards.law.af.mil.”

Additional Reviews:  Subsequent to a document review, former members are eligible for a personal appearance hearing, provided the 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 additional evidence related to this discharge.  Representation at a personal appearance hearing is recommended but not required.  If a former member has been discharged for more than 15 years, has already been granted a personal appearance hearing or has otherwise exhausted his opportunities before the NDRB, the Applicant may petition the Board for Correction of Naval Records (BCNR), 2 Navy Annex, Washington, DC 20370-5100 for further review.

Service Benefits:  The Veterans Administration determines eligibility for post-service benefits, not the Naval Discharge Review Board.  There is no requirement or law that grants recharacterization solely on the issue of obtaining Veterans' benefits and this issue does not serve to provide a foundation upon which the Board can grant relief.

Employment/Educational Opportunities:  The Board has no authority to upgrade a discharge for the sole purpose of enhancing employment or educational opportunities.  Regulations limit the Board’s review to a determination of the propriety and equity of the discharge.  

Reenlistment/RE-code:  Since the NDRB has no jurisdiction over reenlistment, reentry, or reinstatement into the Navy, Marine Corps, or any other of the Armed Forces, the NDRB is not authorized to change a reenlistment code.  Only the Board for Correction of Naval Records (BCNR) can make changes to reenlistment codes.  Additionally, the Board has no authority to upgrade a discharge for the sole purpose of enhancing reenlistment opportunities.  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.

Medical Conditions and Misconduct:  DoD disability regulations do not preclude a disciplinary separation.  Appropriate regulations stipulate that separations for misconduct take precedence over potential separations for other reasons.  Whenever a member is being processed through the Physical Evaluation Board, and subsequently is processed for an administrative involuntary separation for misconduct, the disability evaluation is suspended.  The Physical Evaluation Board case remains in suspense pending the outcome of the non-disability proceedings.  If the action includes either a punitive or administrative discharge for misconduct, the medical board report is filed in the member’s terminated health record.  Additionally, the NDRB does not have the authority to change a narrative reason for separation to one indicating a medical disability or “PTSD.”  Only the Board for Correction of Naval Records can grant this type of narrative reason change.  

Automatic Upgrades - There is no law or regulation, which provides that an unfavorable discharge may be upgraded based solely on the passage of time or good conduct in civilian life subsequent to leaving Naval service.  The NDRB is authorized to consider post-service factors in the recharacterization of a discharge to the extent such matters provide a basis for a more thorough understanding of the Applicant’s performance and conduct during the period of service under review.  Examples of documentation that may be provided to the Board include proof of educational pursuits, verifiable employment records, documentation of community service, credible evidence of a substance free lifestyle and certification of non-involvement with civil authorities.  

Issues Concerning Bad-Conduct Discharges (BCD) – Because relevant and material facts stated in a court-martial specification are presumed by the NDRB to be established facts, issues relating to the Applicant’s innocence of charges for which he was found guilty cannot form a basis for relief.  With respect to a discharge adjudged by a court-martial, the action of the NDRB is restricted to upgrades based on clemency.  Clemency is an act of leniency that reduces the severity of the punishment imposed.  

Board Membership:  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