ex-GMG3, USN 

Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request

Application Received: 20081110
Characterization of Service Received:  
Narrative Reason for Discharge:  - DRUG ABUSE
Authority for Discharge:  MILPERSMAN 3630600 misconduct DUE TO A PATTERN OF MISCONDUCT

Applicant’s Request:  Characterization change to:  
		       Narrative Reason change to:  

Summary of Service

Prior Service:
Inactive: USNR (DEP)	19930716 - 19931004  	Active:	  19931005 – 19960630  HON

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Enlistment:  19960701	Age at Enlistment:  
Period of Enlistment:   Years   Extension
Date of Discharge:  19970617	Highest Rank/Rate:  GMG3
Length of Service:   Year(s)     Month(s)   16 Day(s)
Education Level:  	AFQT:  73
Evaluation Marks:	Performance:  3.5 (2)	Behavior:  2.0 (2)	OTA:  3.08

Awards and Decorations (per DD 214):	NDSM NAVY”E” Rifle  Pistol    

Periods of UA/CONF:    NJP:     SCM:     SPCM:     CC:  

Retention Warning Counseling:  

Administrative Corrections to the Applicant’s DD 214

The NDRB did note administrative error(s) on the original DD Form 214:

	  “CONTINUOUS HONORABLE ACTIVE SERVICE FROM 19931005 TO 19960630”
	  “MILPERSMAN 3630620”
  “MISCONDUCT”

The NDRB will recommend to the Commander, Navy Personnel Command, that the DD 214 be corrected as appropriate.

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:  

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

Applicant’s Issues

1.  Reenlist in the National Guard.
2.  Post-service conduct.
Decision

Date:  20090416		Location:  Washington D.C.	Representation:  

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

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 for the past eleven years he has “worked and kept clean” but provided no documentation to support his claim.  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’s DD-214 listed “MILPERSMAN 3630600” in block 25, Separation Authority, but “MISCONDUCT-DRUG ABUSE” in block 28, Narrative Reason for Separation.  MILPERSMAN 3630600 is Separation of Enlisted Personnel by Reason of Misconduct – Pattern of Misconduct.  The Board found no record of misconduct during the current enlistment in review.  The record of evidence does show the Applicant voluntary referred himself to a Drug and Alcohol Program Advisor (DAPA) for his marijuana use and was found to be drug dependent.  Per then MILPERSMAN 3630620, “Personnel screened as drug dependent who conform to the other requirements for self-referral (encl 5 of OPNAVINST 5350.4B) shall be considered exempt from any disciplinary action; however, they shall be processed for administrative separation.  If separation processing is based solely on drug abuse divulged through the Voluntary Self-Referral Program under OPNAVINST 5353.4B, the characterization shall be Honorable, unless…(2) characterization of service as General is warranted in paragraph 2b of MILPERSMAN 3610250 on the basis of the Enlisted Performance Evaluation System.”  Per then MILPERSMAN 3610250, an Honorable characterization is appropriate if the final individual trait average is 2.0 or greater; the Applicant’s final overall trait average was 3.08.  Furthermore, the following statement was found in the Applicant’s record of service, “Service member will be separated [from] Naval Service upon completion of in-patient treatment for drug dependency.  Service member self-referred to DAPA on 04 May 97.  SVM will be discharged under an Honorable discharge.  SVM was separated for wrongful use of marijuana, a scheduled 1 controlled substance.”  

The Board determined an upgrade to “Honorable” is warranted based on his self-referral, drug dependency, individual trait average greater than 2.0, and no misconduct during this enlistment period.  The Board will recommend corrections on the Applicant’s DD Form 214.  Although the Applicant provided no post-service documentation, post-service conduct does not have to be taken into consideration based on the NDRB’s review of the case.

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

Pertinent Regulation/Law

A.  Navy Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), Change 14, effective 3 October 1996 until 
11 December 1997, Article 3630620, SEPARATION OF ENLISTED PERSONNEL BY REASON OF MISCONDUCT - DRUG ABUSE.

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 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