ex-ATAA, USN

Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request

Application Received: 20100330
Characterization of Service Received:  
Narrative Reason for Discharge:  
Authority for Discharge:  MILPERSMAN 

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

Summary of Service

Prior Service:
Inactive:	USNR (DEP)	20070430 - 20071008  	Active:	

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Current Enlistment:  20071009	Age at Enlistment:  
Period of Enlistment:   Years   Extension
Date of Discharge:  20081010	Highest Rank/Rate:  ATAA
Length of Service:   Year(s)     Month(s)   02 Day(s)
Education Level:  	AFQT:  88
Evaluation Marks:	Performance:  NFIR	Behavior:  NFIR	OTA:  NFIR

Awards and Decorations (per DD 214):  Pistol , 

Periods of UA/CONF:  

NJP:  	SCM:  	SPCM:  	  CC:  

Retention Warning Counseling:  

- 20080722:	For being diagnosed by medical authorities as having an adjustment disorder with depressed mood and occupational problems. 

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:		Rehabilitation/Treatment:		Criminal Records:	
	Personal Documentation:		Community Service:		References:	
	Department of VA letter:		Other Documentation:	
		Additional Statements:
	From Applicant:		From/To Representation:		From/To Congress member:	

Pertinent Regulation/Law

A.  Naval Military Personnel Manual, (NAVPERS 15560C), change 24 effective 28 July 2008 until Present, Article 1910-120, SEPARATION BY REASON OF CONVENIENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT - PHYSICAL OR MENTAL CONDITIONS.

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.	The Applicant contends that he was separated involuntarily due to a medical condition, not a disability and that his service was honorable throughout his enlistment; as such, he warrants consideration for an upgrade in the characterization of his service at discharge to Honorable.  

Decision

Date:  20110513		Location:  Washington D.C.	Representation:  

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

Discussion

The NDRB, under its responsibility to examine the propriety and equity of an Applicant’s discharge, is authorized to change the character of service and the reason for discharge if such change is warranted.  In reviewing discharges, the Board presumes regularity in the conduct of governmental affairs unless there is substantial credible evidence to rebut the presumption, to include evidence submitted by the Applicant.  The Applicant identified one decisional issue for the Board’s consideration.  In addition to reviewing the Applicant’s stated issue, the NDRB completed a thorough review of the circumstances that led to the discharge, and the discharge process, to ensure the Applicant’s discharge met the pertinent standards of equity and propriety.  The Applicant did not provide the NDRB with any documentation that was not already included in his official military file.  

The Applicant enlisted at age 19, without any moral waiver, but with a medical waiver for questionable Asthma post age 13, on a 4-year enlistment with a 24-month extension.  The Applicant completed basic recruit training and was assigned to the Naval Air Technical Training Center at the time of discharge.  The Applicant’s record of service includes one NAVPERS 1070/613 retention-counseling warning with no judicial or nonjudicial punishments for violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

The NDRB reviewed the Applicant’s administrative separation package to determine whether the Applicant elected his right to consult with a qualified counsel or to submit a written statement to the separation authority.  The Applicant was notified of the command’s intent to separate him involuntarily, by reason of Convenience of the Government - Condition Not a Disability pursuant to a mental health diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder with depressed mood, non-resolving, which would likely continue with deteriorating performance, conduct, reliability, and judgment.  The command determined that the Applicant had no potential for future useful naval service; therefore, separation was warranted.  The Applicant was notified that the least favorable characterization of his service at discharge was General (Under Honorable Conditions) and that the commander recommended that he receive a General (Under Honorable Conditions) characterization of his service upon discharge.  The Applicant was advised of this, and his rights, in writing; he elected to waive his right to consult with qualified legal counsel and elected to not submit written matters for the Separation Authority’s consideration.

The Applicant’s service record documents that he was evaluated by an appropriately credentialed mental health care provider on 11 July 2008 who recommended the command administratively separate the Applicant due to an Adjustment Disorder; no recommendation for expeditious separation was made.  The Applicant received a formal written counseling by the Command on 22 July 2008 via a NAVPERS 1070/613 written retention-counseling warning; he was provided recommended corrective actions to undertake and was afforded an opportunity to undertake those corrective actions prior to being recommended for separation.  On 12 August 2008, the Applicant was re-evaluated by mental health professionals, who reported no improvement in the Applicant’s overall mental health status and re-affirmed their recommendation for routine separation pursuant to an Adjustment Disorder.  On 19 August 2008, the Applicant was notified of the proposed recommendation for administrative discharge and was advised on his rights.  On 10 Oct 2008, the Separation Authority approved the separation action, directing the Applicant be discharged pursuant to Article 1910-120 of the Naval Military Personnel Manual (MILPERSMAN), Convenience of the Government - Physical or Mental Condition, Not a Disability.  The Separation Authority further directed the Applicant’s characterization of service at discharge be General (Under Honorable Conditions) and that he be assigned a reentry code of RE-3P.  The Applicant was discharged from the active duty service on 10 Oct 2008.   

(Decisional Issue) ()  .  The Applicant contends that he was separated involuntarily due to a medical condition, not a disability and that his service was honorable throughout his enlistment; as such, he warrants consideration for an upgrade in the characterization of his service at discharge to Honorable.  The Applicant was separated involuntarily pursuant to a Convenience of the Government - Condition not a Disability; he was not discharged for misconduct based on a single incident, a pattern of misconduct, or minor disciplinary infractions.  The separation authority for the Applicant’s discharge was Article 1910-120 of the MILPERSMAN, which addresses physical or behavioral conditions that impair a member’s performance, but do not amount to a physical disability.  Though these conditions do not amount to a disability, they affect the member’s ability to serve, or the potential for continued naval service.  Based on the appropriately credentialed medical health care provider’s diagnosis, coupled with the formal retention counseling, the NDRB determined the Applicant met the requirements for separation by reason of Convenience of the Government – Condition Not a Disability due to a physical or mental condition.  The NDRB determined that the separation was proper as issued and no change to the narrative reason for separation is warranted; relief based on issues of propriety is denied.    

In accordance with the guidance provided for separation for a Condition Not a Disability, an Honorable characterization of service is directed, unless a General (Under Honorable Conditions) characterization of service is warranted.  An Honorable characterization of service is warranted when the quality of a member’s service generally meets the standard of acceptable conduct and performance for naval personnel, or is otherwise so meritorious that any other characterization of service would be clearly inappropriate.  A General (Under Honorable Conditions) discharge is warranted when the quality of the member’s service has been honest and faithful but significant negative aspects of the member’s conduct or performance of duty outweighed the positive aspects of the member’s service record.  A particular circumstance of interest was the lack of any negative information in the Applicant’s service record that would prevent a characterization of service as honorable.  The NDRB reviewed all of the available records, supporting documents, facts, elements of the discharge, and the medical circumstances unique to this case.  The NDRB determined that the Applicant’s conduct of record was both honest and faithful and did meet the standards of acceptable conduct and performance for naval personnel.  After a thorough review of the records, supporting documents, facts, and circumstances unique to this case, the NDRB concluded that there was an inequity in the Applicant’s discharge action, is convinced that this was prejudicial to the Applicant, and therefore, an inequity in the characterization did occur.  By a vote of 5-0, the NDRB determined that an upgrade is appropriate; as such, relief based on equity is warranted.  

Summary:  After a thorough review of the available evidence, to include the Applicant’s summary of service,  record entries, and discharge process, the Board found   Therefore, the awarded characterization of service shall  ; however, the narrative reason for separation shall remain CONDITION NOT A DISABILITY.  The Applicant remains eligible for a personal appearance hearing for a period of 15 years from the date of his discharge.  The Applicant is directed to the Addendum, specifically the paragraphs titled Additional Reviews and Post-Service Conduct.

ADDENDUM:  Information for the Applicant

Complaint Procedures:  If you believe 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:  After a document review has been conducted, former members are eligible for a personal appearance hearing, provided the application is received at the NDRB within 15 years of the Applicant’s 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.  There are veterans organizations such as the American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans that are willing to provide guidance to former service members in their efforts to obtain a discharge upgrade.  If a former member has been discharged for more than 15 years, has already been granted a personal appearance hearing or has otherwise exhausted their 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 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) determines eligibility for post-service benefits, not the NDRB.  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 NDRB has no authority to upgrade a discharge for the sole purpose of enhancing employment or educational opportunities.  Regulations limit the NDRB’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 BCNR can make changes to reenlistment codes.  Additionally, the NDRB 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 is processed subsequently for an administrative involuntary separation or is referred to a court martial for misconduct, the disability evaluation is suspended 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 BCNR can grant this type of narrative reason change.

Automatic Upgrades - There is no law or regulation that provides for an unfavorable discharge to be upgraded based solely on the passage of time or good conduct subsequent to leaving naval service.

Post-Service Conduct:  The NDRB is authorized to consider post-service factors in the recharacterization of a discharge.  Outstanding post-service conduct, 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, is considered during Board reviews.  Documentation to support a post-service conduct upgrade includes, but is not limited to: a verifiable continuous employment record; marriage and children’s birth certificates (if applicable); character witness statements; documentation of community or church service; certification of non-involvement with civil authorities; evidence of financial stability or letters of good standing from banks, credit card companies, or other financial institutions; attendance at or completion of higher education (official transcripts); and documentation of a drug-free lifestyle.   The Applicant is advised that completion of these items alone does not guarantee the upgrade of an unfavorable discharge, as each discharge is reviewed by the Board on a case-by-case basis to determine if post-service accomplishments help demonstrate  in-service misconduct was an aberration and not indicative of the member’s overall character.

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 NDRB 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