ex-SR, USN  

Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request

Application Received:  20081001
Characterization of Service Received:   (ENTRY LEVEL SEPARATION)
Narrative Reason for Discharge: ERRONEOUS ENTRY (OTHER)
Authority for Discharge:  MILPERSMAN 

Applicant’s Request:  Characterization change to:  
		       Narrative Reason change to:  NOT QUALIFIED (NQ)

Summary of Service

Prior Service:
Inactive: USNR (DEP)	20070629 - 20070819  	Active:	

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Enlistment:  20070820	Age at Enlistment:  
Period of Enlistment:   Years   Extension
Date of Discharge:  20071108	Highest Rank/Rate:  SR (E-1)
Length of Service:   Years     Months   19 Days
Education Level:  	AFQT:  49
Evaluation Marks:  Performance:  NONE.

Awards and Decorations (per DD 214):	NONE 

Periods of UA/CONF:  

NJP:            SCM:            SPCM:            CC:            

Retention Warning Counseling:  
- 20071018:	For numerous negative entries on her Recruit Personnel Data Record, including difficulty in passing her final Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) and swimming qualification.

Types of Documents Submitted/reviewed
Related to Military Service:	
                                         DD 214:  	 Service/Medical Record:  		  Other Records:  

Related to Post-Service Period:	
	Employment:			Finances:			Education/Training:	
	Health/Medical Records:		Substance Abuse:			Criminal Records:	
	Family/Personal Status:		Community Service:		References:		
              Additional Statements:
                             From Applicant:  	From Representation:         	From Congress member:    

                    Other Documentation:   DD214, Health record entry from Dr. John Dalton, dtd 22OCT07

Pertinent Regulation/Law

A.  The Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 11, effective  20 June 2005 until Present, Article 1910-130, 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.

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
NAVAL DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD (NDRB)
DISCHARGE REVIEW DECISIONAL DOCUMENT

Applicant’s Issues

1.  Reenlistment opportunity.
2.  Discharge unjust.

Decision

Date:  20090205		Location:  Washington D.C.	Representation:  

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

Discussion

:   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, specifically the paragraph concerning s, regarding .

:  ()  .  The Applicant contends she was unjustly discharged from the Navy due to a biased opinion by the civilian physician from the Psychology clinic who saw her during her Boot Camp training at Great Lakes.  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.  Besides the Applicants statement on the DD Form 293, she provided medical documentation from the Psychology department at Great Lakes, Illinois.  The Applicant was diagnosed on 22 October 2007 with a Personality Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified, with passive-aggressive features existing prior to service.  The physician’s diagnosis is based on information the Applicant revealed about herself at the Psychology clinic and her short history of training at Great Lakes.  Upon enlistment, the Navy gave the Applicant a chance to step-up and prove herself, although she exceeded the standards for weight based on her height (58 3/4”, 146 lbs and 35% body fat).  The Applicant failed the Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) multiple times, resulting in a transfer into the FIT division of training.  She also continued to fail the swim qualification, to include refusing to jump off the platform.  The Applicant told the psychiatric technician; “I don’t want to jump off the platform.  At first I was scared, but now I don’t want to be in the Navy any longer so I am not going to jump.  I just woke up one day and realized I don’t want to be here.”  The Applicant’s Recruit Personnel Data Record states she lacks military discipline and any motivation to get tasks done that are assigned to her.  In addition, it states the Applicant has no desire to be here, she constantly stands around doing nothing.  

The Applicant has requested an upgrade to her discharge characterization to “General (Under Honorable Conditions)”.  A “General (Under Honorable Conditions)” is appropriate if the member’s service has been honest and faithful but significant negative aspects of the member’s conduct or performance outweighs positive aspects of the member’s military record.  For the edification of the Applicant, an “Uncharacterized” description shall be used when a member is separated during an entry level status which is defined as the first 180 days of continuous active duty service unless separation for misconduct, fraudulent enlistment, or homosexual conduct is authorized and when characterization under other than honorable conditions is warranted.
The Board determined the awarded discharge characterization was appropriate in light of the limited length of service and the circumstances surrounding the discharge.  With respect to non-service related administrative matters, i.e., Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) benefits, civilian employment, etc., an uncharacterized separation shall be considered as the equivalent of an Honorable or General (Under Honorable Conditions) characterization.  

After a thorough review of the available evidence, to include the Applicant’s Summary of Service,   Record Entries, Discharge Process and evidence submitted by the Applicant, the Board found   

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 or is referred to a court martial 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 or for any basis wherein an Other Than Honorable Discharge is authorized, 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 other medical related reasons.  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 special 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.  The NDRB does not have the jurisdictional authority to review a discharge or dismissal resulting from a general court-martial.

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