ex-SR, USN
ND07-00024

Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request:

Application Received:  				20061012
	Characterization of Service:		
	Reason for Discharge:			PERSONALITY DISORDER
	Discharge Authority:			MILPERSMAN 36202200
	Duty Assignment/Command at Discharge:	RTC GLAKES, IL

Applicant’s Request:	
	Characterization change to:		
	Narrative Reason change to: 		Other-Convenience of gov’t or Erroneous Enlistment
	Review Requested:			
	Representation:				
	Issues (as summarized by NDRB):		1:  Equity – Post-service
						2.  Propriety/Equity – Evaluated by neuropsychiatric technician
						3.  Equity – RE Code

Decision:

By a vote of  the Characterization shall  .	
By a vote of  the Reason for Discharge shall   - .

Date of Decision:					20070816
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:	

Discussion

Under its responsibility to examine the propriety and equity of an Applicant's discharge, the Board will change the characterization of service and/or the reason for discharge if an error or inequity exists within the separation process.  The Board found error in the Applicant’s discharge process.  The Applicant’s Narrative Reason for discharge does not accurately reflect the reason for his processing.  The Applicant was diagnosed with a personality disorder that rendered him unsuitable for service.  The Applicant’s Commanding Officer initiated separation processing on the basis of defective enlistment and induction into the Naval service due to erroneous enlistment.  Unfortunately the letter forwarded to the Personnel Support Detachment was ambiguous as to the reason for the Applicant’s discharge.  The letter mentioned both erroneous enlistment and personality disorder in its text, but did not state a Narrative Reason for discharge.  As a result, the Applicant was erroneously discharged for personality disorder.  Therefore, the NDRB determined that the Narrative Reason for the Applicant’s discharge shall change to ERRONEOUS ENLISTMENT- OTHER, authority: NAVMILPERSMAN, Article 3620280, Separation Code “JFF.”

Issue 1 ().  The Applicant provides evidence of post-service conduct in support of his request for a change to his Narrative Reason for discharge.  Because of the relief granted above, the Applicant’s request on the basis of Post-service equity is considered moot.

Issue 2 ().  The Applicant contends that his diagnosis of personality disorder was improper because he was seen by a neuro-psychiatric technician rather than a psychiatrist.  The documentation and statements provided by the Applicant were not sufficient to overturn the presumption that the Applicant was properly diagnosed with a personality disorder.  The Applicant was diagnosed with a personality disorder by a competent medical authority on 19970723.  The evidence reviewed did not persuade the Board that this diagnosis and subsequent administrative separation based on that diagnosis were improper or inequitable.  

Issue(s) 3:   either  which the Board cannot form the basis of relief for the Applicant, or  the Board does not have the authority to grant the relief for which the Applicant petitioned.  The Applicant is directed to the Addendum regarding .

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 error in the Applicant’s discharge and granted relief.

Summary of Service:

Prior Service:
Inactive: USNR (DEP)				19961121 - 19970721  
Active:   

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Enlistment:  				19970722
Years Contracted:  				
Date of Discharge:				19970801
Length of Service
	Active:					00  Yrs  00  Mths  10  Dys  (does not exclude lost time)
	Inactive:					00  Yrs  00  Mths  00  Dys
	Time Lost During This Period:		

Education Level:  				
Age at this Enlistment:  				18
AFQT:  						42
Highest Rate/Rank:				SR

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):  NONE

Medical Record Entries Related to Characterization of Service or Reason for Discharge

19970723:	Recruit Evaluation Unit.
	Applicant 
	Diagnosis:
	AXIS I: No diagnosis.
	AXIS II: Borderline personality disorder, EPTE.
	It is strongly recommended that an entry level separation be effected because of the AXIS II diagnosis.

19970723:	Moment of Truth Evaluation and Recommendations:
	On Process Arrival day of training the applicant was referred to REU by the Recruit Quality Assurance Team as a result of revealing to a Moment of Truth interviewer a previously undisclosed history of suicidal ideations.

Elements of Discharge:

Date Notified:					19970728
Reason for Discharge	 - 
Least Favorable Characterization Authorized:	

Date Applicant Responded to Notification:		19970728
Rights Elected at Notification:
Consult with Counsel			
Obtain Copies of Documents		
Submit Statement(s) (date)			
Administrative Board			
GCMCA Review				

Commanding Officer Recommendation (date):	
Separation Authority (date):	COMMANDING OFFICER, RECRUIT TRAINING COMMAND (19970728)
	Reason for discharge directed:		 - 
	
	Characterization directed:			ENTRY LEVEL SEPARATION
Date Applicant Discharged:			19970801

Additional Documents Submitted by Applicant and Considered By Board

Total Number of Pages:				57
       
Related to Period of Service Under Review:
	From Service and/or Medical Record:		Other Records:	

Related to Other Period(s) of Service:
	From Service and/or Medical Record:		Other Records:	
       
Related to Post-Service Period:
	Employment:					Finances:	
	Health/Medical Records:				Substance Abuse:	
	Family/Personal Status:				Education:	
 	Community Service Efforts:			References:	
	Criminal Records:			

Other:
	Additional Statements From Applicant:		From Representative:	
        	Other Documentation (Describe)		

Pertinent Regulation/Law

A.  Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 14, effective 03 October 1996 until 11 December 1997, Article 3620225, SEPARATION OF ENLISTED PERSONNEL BY REASON OF CONVENIENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT - PERSONALITY DISORDER.

B.  Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 14, effective 03 Oct 96 until 11 Dec 97, Article 3620280, SEPARATION OF ENLISTED PERSONNEL BY REASON OF DEFECTIVE ENLISTMENT AND INDUCTIONS – ERRONEOUS ENLISTMENT.

C.  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