ex-HR, USN
ND06-01198

Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request:

Application Received:  				20060920
Characterization of Service:			
Narrative Reason for Separation:			
Discharge Authority:				MILPERSMAN 1910-122
Last Duty Assignment/Command at Discharge:	nhcs great lakes, il

Applicant’s Request:	
	Characterization change to:		
	Narrative Reason change to: 		
	Review Requested:			
	Representation:				
	Issues as Summarized by the Board		1. Equity - In service Performance
						2. Equity - Post service

Decision:

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

Date of Decision:					20070809
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:	

Issue I (Equity).  The Applicant states that his characterization should be upgraded because it is inequitable.  In support of his argument he provides documentation of in-service performance.  The government enjoys a presumption of regularity in the conduct of its affairs.  The Applicant bears the burden of overcoming this presumption through the presentation of substantial and credible evidence to support his issue.  In the Applicant’s case, the characterization of service was “type warranted by service record.” In the absence of the Applicant’s performance evaluations, the Board presumed regularity and found the discharge proper and equitable.  The documentation provided by the Applicant was not found to overcome the government’s presumption of regularity.

Issue 2 (Equity).  The Applicant mentions post-service conduct in support of his request for upgrade of his characterization of discharge.  The Applicant mentions post-service conduct in support of his request for upgrade of his discharge.  The following is provided for the edification of the Applicant.  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 re-characterization 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.  As of this time, the Applicant has not provided any post-service documentation to consider for mitigating the misconduct that resulted in the characterization of discharge.

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.

Summary of Service:

Prior Service:
Inactive: NONE
Active:   

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Enlistment:  				20040615
Years Contracted:  				
Date of Discharge:				20050613
Length of Service
	Active:					00  Yrs  09  Mths  18  Dys  (does not exclude lost time)
	Inactive:					00  Yrs  02  Mths  11  Dys  

Time Lost During This Period:			

Education Level:  				
Age at this Enlistment:  				
AFQT:  						64
Highest Rate/Rank:				HR

Performance Evaluation Averages (number of marks):
				Performance: N/A  Behavior: N/A  OTA: N/A

Awards and Decorations (as listed on the DD Form 214):  NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL

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

20040826:	Applicant commenced active duty this date.

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

20050428:	DoD-VA Psychiatric Liaison, Mental Health Department, Naval Hospital, Great Lakes, IL.  Applicant was hospitalized on 20050427 because he had suicidal thoughts because his preexisting alcohol dependence is out of control and he wants to go home.  Applicant acted depressed on day of admission, but when examined by psychiatrist on 20050428, the applicant had no anxiety or depression.  He has orders to go to Camp Lejeune tomorrow.  He does not want to be with the Marines in IRAQ, but agrees to work in PT where has been assigned until his orders came through.  Applicant has been on legal hold because of his immature, oppositional and passive aggressive behavior.  Applicant feels he does not have to follow what he perceives to be “dumb” orders.  Applicant lied to the recruiter about his past psychiatric treatment when the patient cut his chest with a pair of scissors after an argument with his parents.  Applicant was psychiatrically hospitalized and subsequently treated by a psychiatrist.  The applicant reported he did not want treatment and received no benefit from seeing the therapist just as he failed to benefit from psychotherapy at age nine years old after his parents divorced.  The applicant changes his psychiatric history from one psychiatrist to another.  He is an unreliable historian.  The following risks are associated with retention in service: he is a threat to himself or others.

Diagnosis:	-
AXIS I: Alcohol dependence.
AXIS II: Personality disorder not otherwise specified with borderline, passive aggressive, oppositional and
narcissistic behavioral patterns, severe, EPTE, NSA.
Recommend administrative separation for erroneous enlistment.

Elements of Discharge:  [INVOLUNTARY]

Discharge Process:				
Date Notified:					20050531
Reason for Discharge	 due to:  
Least Favorable Characterization Authorized:	

Date Applicant Responded to Notification:		20050531
Rights Elected at Notification:
Consult with Counsel			
Administrative Board			
Obtain Copies				
Submit Statement(s) (date)			
GCMCA Review				

Commanding Officer Recommendation (date):	
Separation Authority (date):	COMMANDING OFFICER, NAVAL HOSPITAL CORPS SCHOOL (20050606)
	Narrative reason directed:			
	Characterization directed:			
Date Applicant Discharged:			20050606

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 Under Review:
	Service/Medical Record:				5
	Other Period of Service:				0
       Related to Post-Service Period:
	Community Service:				0
	Education:					0
	Employment:					0
	Health/Medical:					0
	Character Statements:				0
	Criminal Records Checks:				0
	Additional Statements from Applicant:		0
        Other Documentation	 (Describe Below)		0

        Total Number of Pages:				5

Pertinent Regulation/Law

A.  Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), re-issued October 2002, effective 22 August 2002 until 19 June 2005, Article 1910-122, Separation By Reason of Convenience of the Government - Personality Disorder(s).

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.

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