FOR
 ex-FN, USN
ND07-00033

Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request:

Application Received:  				20061004
	Characterization of Service:		 (ENTRY LEVEL SEPARATION)
	Reason for Discharge:			ERRONEOUS ENTRY (OTHER)
	Discharge Authority:			MILPERSMAN 1910-130
	Duty Assignment/Command at Discharge:	RECRUIT TRAINING COMMAND GREAT LAKES, IL

Applicant’s Request:	
	Characterization change to:		
	Narrative Reason change to: 		
	Review Requested:			
	Representation:				
	
Applicant’s Issues:
1. Reenlistment 
2. Improper discharge based on incorrect diagnosis
3. Inequitable characterization of discharge.
	
Decision:

By a vote of  the Characterization shall   ENTRY LEVEL SEPARATION.	
By a vote of  the Reason for Discharge shall  ERRONEOUS ENTRY (OTHER).

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:	

Issue 1: The Board does not have the authority to grant the relief for which the Applicant petitioned.  The Applicant is directed to the Addendum regarding reenlistment.

Issue 2 (Propriety):  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.  
The Applicant contends that the diagnosis made by the military medical authorities was incorrect.  The medical evaluation report of 20050620 and mental health examination report of 20060117 provided by the Applicant do not invalidate the earlier diagnosis made by military medical authorities while the Applicant was on active duty.  Normally, to permit relief, an error or inequity must have existed during the period of enlistment in question.  No such error or inequity is evident during the Applicant’s enlistment.  The Board found that the documentation and statements provided by the Applicant did not refute the presumption of regularity in Government affairs.   Therefore, relief is not warranted in this case.

Issue 3 (Equity):  The Applicant requested an upgrade of characterization to HONORABLE.  When a member’s service has been honest and faithful, it is appropriate to characterize that service as under honorable conditions.  However, when a member is separated while still in Entry Level Status  (normally the first 180 days of active duty) for reasons other than misconduct, the service is normally uncharacterized.   The Board found no evidence of special circumstances that would suggest inequity in the Applicant’s service being uncharacterized.  Therefore, relief is not warranted in this case.

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: USNR (DEP)				20040911 – 20050124  
Active:   					

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Enlistment:  				20050125
Years Contracted:  				; Extension:  
Date of Discharge:				20050317
Length of Service
	Active:					0-  Yrs  01  Mths  23  Dys  (does not exclude lost time)
	Inactive:					NONE
	Time Lost During This Period:		  Days UA:    Days Confinement:  

Education Level:  				
Age at this Enlistment:  				
AFQT:  						93
Highest Rate/Rank:				FN

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

Elements of Discharge:  [INVOLUNTARY]

Date Notified:					20050310
Reason for Discharge	ERRONEOUS ENTRY (OTHER)
	
Least Favorable Characterization Authorized:	NOT FOUND IN RECORD

Date Applicant Responded to Notification:		NOT FOUND IN RECORD
Rights Elected at Notification:
Consult with Counsel			NOT FOUND IN RECORD
Obtain Copies of Documents		NOT FOUND IN RECORD
Submit Statement(s) (date)			NOT FOUND IN RECORD
Administrative Board			NOT FOUND IN RECORD
GCMCA Review				NOT APPLICABLE

Commanding Officer Recommendation (date):	 
Separation Authority (date):	COMMANDING OFFICER, RECRUIT TRAINING COMMAND
	Reason for discharge directed:		DEFECTIVE ENLISTMENT AND INDUCTION-ERRONEOUS							ENLISTMENT
	Characterization directed:			UNCHARACTERIZED ENTRY LEVEL SEPARATION
Date Applicant Discharged:			20050317

Additional Documents Submitted by Applicant and Considered By Board

Total Number of Pages:				73
       
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)		 Court Transcript 

Pertinent Regulation/Law

A.  The Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), re-issued October 2002, effective 22 Aug 02 until 19 June 2005, 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, 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