ex-DCFN, USN
ND07-00960

Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request

Application Received:  20070628 	Characterization Received:  
Narrative Reason: UNSATISFACTORY PARTICIPATION IN THE READY RESERVE Authority:   MILPERSMAN 1910-158

Applicant’s Request:	Characterization change to:  
			Narrative Reason change to: 
Applicant’s Issues:	1. Desire to join Army 
			2. Absence excused by Senior Chief Petty Officer

Decision

By a vote of  the Characterization shall  .
By a vote of  the Narrative Reason shall  UNSATISFACTORY PARTICIPATION IN THE READY RESERVE.

Date:  20080103		Location:  Washington D.C	 Representation:  

Discussion

Issue 1:   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 .

Issue 2 ().  The Applicant claims that he missed drills due to having to take care of his daughter; that he called his unit in January and March and received permission to miss drills from a Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO); and that the SCPO scheduled equivalent training (ET) dates for him.  The record indicates that the Applicant missed 4 drills each month in January, March and April.  There is no indication in the record that the Applicant performed ET for those missed drills, and the Applicant does not claim that he actually performed the ET drills.  Further, the record indicates that the Applicant did not respond to the notice of proposed administrative separation.  While the Board did not dispute the Applicant’s claim of child care needs, neither did it find a reason to change the 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, Medical and Service Record Entries, Discharge Process and evidence submitted by the Applicant, the Board found that 

Summary of Service

Prior Service:  ARNG 20011116(sic) – 20030908, Discharged from ARNG Sep 2003 failure to ship for AIT (uncharacterized).  
Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Enlistment: 20050613			Years Contracted:  ; Extension:  	Date of Discharge:  20070706
Length of Service:  UNABLE TO DETERMINE			Lost Time:  UNABLE TO DETERMINE 
Education Level:  		Age at Enlistment:  		AFQT:  47	Highest Rank/Rate:  DCFN
Evaluation marks:  NOT FOUND IN RECORD	Awards and Decorations (per DD 214):  NOT FOUND IN RECORD

Medical/Service Record Entries Related to Characterization of Service or Basis for Discharge

20050613:	Accession waiver granted for RE Code.

20050709:	Applicant acknowledged requirements for satisfactory participation for Naval Reservists; requirements for excuse of missed Inactive Duty Training (IDT) periods and equivalent training IDTs; possible consequences for failure to maintain satisfactory participation and failure to receipt for or respond to official mail.

20060107:	Applicant unexcused from 2 drills.

20060108:	Applicant unexcused from 2 drills.

20060311:	Applicant unexcused from 2 drills.

20060312:	Applicant unexcused from 2 drills.

20060408:	Applicant unexcused from 2 drills.

20060409:	Applicant unexcused from 2 drills.

Discharge Process

Date Notified:					20060421 (VIA CERTIFIED MAIL)
Reason for Discharge:	 
Least Favorable Characterization:	

Date Applicant Received Notification:		20060501 (VIA CERTIFIED MAIL)
Rights Elected at Notification:			NO ELECTION FOUND IN RECORD

Commanding Officer Recommendation (date):	 (20070615)
Separation Authority (date):	COMNAVPERSCOM (20070706)
              Reason for discharge directed:	 
              Characterization directed:	
Date Applicant Discharged:	20070706

Types of Documents Submitted by Applicant and Considered By Board

Related to Military Service:	Service and/or Medical Record:  		Other Records:  

Related to Post-Service Period:  	
	Employment:  			Finances:  			Education: 		
	Health/Medical Records:  		Substance Abuse:			Criminal Records:  	
	Family/Personal Status: 		Community Service:  		References:  		
	
Additional Statements From Applicant:  	From Representative:    
Other Documentation (Describe)  Daughter’s health records

Pertinent Regulation/Law

A.  The Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 12, effective 5 Aug 2005 until Present, MILPERSMAN Article 1910-158, SEPARATION BY REASON OF UNSATISFACTORY PARTICIPATION IN THE READY RESERVE.

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 to the Joint Service Review Activity, OUSD (P&R) PI-LP, The Pentagon, Washington, DC  20301-4000.  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