ex-CTT2, USN

Current Discharge and Applicant’s Request

Application Received: 20100811
Characterization of Service Received:  
Narrative Reason for Discharge:  
Authority for Discharge:  MILPERSMAN 

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

Summary of Service

Prior Service:
Inactive:	USNR (DEP)	19950927 - 19951225  	Active:	 19951226 - 19990421 HON

Period of Service Under Review:
Date of Current Enlistment:  19990422	Age at Enlistment:  
Period of Enlistment:   Years   Extension
Date of Discharge:  20010119	Highest Rank/Rate:  CTT2
Length of Service:   Year     Months   29 Days
Education Level:  	AFQT:  87
Evaluation Marks:	Performance:  3.5 (2)	Behavior:  3.5 (2)	OTA:  3.63

Awards and Decorations (per DD 214):	AFEM MUC NUC GCM NMCAM

Period of Time Lost per DD Form 214:  20000929 - 20001022, 24 days

NJP:  NFIR	SCM:  NONE	SPCM:  	CC:  	Retention Warning Counseling:  NFIR

Administrative Corrections to the Applicant’s DD 214

The NDRB did note administrative errors on the original DD Form 214:

	 Date Entered AD This Period, should read:  “95 DEC 26”
	  “CONTINUOUS HONORABLE ACTIVE SERVICE FROM 19951226 TO 19990421”
	  “UNDER OTHER THAN HONORABLE CONDITIONS”
	
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:		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 29, effective 11 July 2000 until 21 August 2002, Article 1910-106, SEPARATION IN LIEU OF TRIAL BY COURT-MARTIAL.

B.  Secretary of the Navy Instruction 5420.174D of 22 December 2004, Naval Discharge Review Board (NDRB) Procedures and Standards, Part IV, Para 403m(7)(b), Presumption Concerning Court-Martial Specifications.

C.  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

Nondecisional Issues:  The Applicant seeks a change in his characterization of service to General (Under Honorable Conditions) and a change to his reenlistment code (RE-Code) in order to facilitate re-enlistment in the armed forces and improve his opportunities for employment.

Decisional Issues:  The Applicant seeks an upgrade in the characterization of his service at discharge to General (Under Honorable Conditions), contending that his discharge was inequitable in light of the circumstances and the character of his service.  Additionally, the Applicant contends that his post-service conduct is worthy of consideration.

Decision

Date:  20111117	          	Location:  Washington D.C.	Representation:  none

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 NDRB 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 indentified one decisional issue for the NDRB’s consideration; additionally, the NDRB conducted a thorough review of the circumstances that led to the Applicant’s discharge, and the discharge process, to ensure the discharge met the pertinent standards of both equity and propriety.

The Applicant was serving on his second enlistment with the Navy, having completed one 4-year enlistment contract under Honorable conditions in April 1999.  After three and a half years of service, the Applicant had executed an immediate reenlistment for a five-year enlistment period, commencing on 22 April 1999.  The Applicant’s record of service included no NAVPERS 1070/613 (Page 13) retention-counseling warnings and no judicial or non-judicial proceedings during his current enlistment; however, the record of service documents a period of unauthorized absence from 29 September 2000 to 22 October 2000 (24 days) in violation of Article 86 of the UCMJ.

The Applicant’s military service record does not contain a copy of the separation proceedings.  However, in order to warrant separation in lieu of trial by court martial, the Applicant must request separation - in writing - for the good of the service in order to escape charges that have been preferred against the Applicant and referred to trial by a Special Court-Martial or above. This request for separation must contain certain basic requirements - which must be satisfied - before receiving approval by the Separation Authority.  In the request, the Applicant must clearly affirm that his rights were explained to him thoroughly - to include his right to consult with qualified counsel.  Furthermore, the Applicant must admit his guilt to the charges as preferred against him and further certify that he has a complete understanding of the negative consequences of his actions, the narrative reason for his separation, and the likely characterization of service upon separation - Under Other Than Honorable Conditions.  The respondent must also acknowledge that, if discharged with an OTH, it may deprive him of virtually all veterans benefits and that he might expect to encounter substantial prejudice in civilian life in situations wherein the type of service rendered, or the character of discharge received, may have a bearing.

(Nondecisional Issues).  The Applicant seeks a change in his characterization of service to General (Under Honorable Conditions) and a change to his reenlistment code in order to facilitate re-enlistment in the armed forces and improve his opportunities for employment.  The NDRB has no jurisdiction over reenlistment, reentry, or reinstatement into the Navy, Marine Corps, or any other of the armed forces, and is not authorized to change a reentry code.  Additionally, there is no requirement, or law, that grants re-characterization solely on the issue of facilitating employment opportunities or enhancing educational opportunities or access to Veterans Affairs benefits.  Regulations limit the NDRB’s review solely to a determination of the propriety and the equity of a discharge.  As such, this issue does not serve to provide a foundation upon which the Board can grant relief.  

The NDRB is not authorized to change the reentry code as requested.  The Applicant should petition the Board for Correction of Naval Records (BCNR) using standard DD Form-149.  When requesting a change, the Applicant should provide as much documentation regarding the justification for change as possible.  The address is:  Board for Correction of Naval Records (BCNR), 2 Navy Annex, Washington, DC 20370-5100.  Further information may be found online at http://www.donhq.navy.mil/bcnr/bcnr.htm.  

(Decisional Issues) ()  .  The Applicant seeks an upgrade in the characterization of his service at discharge to General (Under Honorable Conditions), contending that his discharge was inequitable in light of the circumstances and the character of his service.  Additionally, the Applicant contends that his post-service conduct is worthy of consideration.

Propriety - The Applicant absented himself from his unit, without authority, and remained so absent until surrendering himself to military authority on 22 January 2001.  The Applicant requested administrative separation for the good of the service in order to avoid the punitive effects of a trial by Special Court-Martial.  The command accepted the Applicant’s request; as such, the Applicant was separated properly from the Service in accordance with chapter 1910-106 and 1910-230 of the Naval Military Personnel Manual.  Accordingly, relief based on propriety is not warranted.

Equity - Despite a servicemember’s prior record of service, certain serious offenses, even though isolated, warrant separation from the Navy to maintain proper order and discipline.  At the time of his misconduct of record, the Applicant was a CTT2 who was undergoing a divorce and suffering financial irregularities and hardships, ultimately leading to the loss of his security clearance.  Moreover, the Applicant’s problems were further exacerbated with an extended period of unauthorized absence for 24 days.  The Applicant’s command determined that his conduct as a CTT2 was detrimental to the good order and discipline of the command and brought discredit upon the service; as such, they determined that the misconduct warranted punitive action via trial by court-martial.  Facing the punitive actions of a Special Court-Martial, the Applicant requested administrative discharge.  Relief not warranted.

Characterization of service at discharge is based on recognition of a Sailor’s performance and conduct and is not necessarily dependent upon the narrative reason for separation.  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.  An Under Other Than Honorable Conditions discharge, however, is warranted when a member engages in conduct involving one or more acts or omissions that constitute a significant departure from the conduct expected of members of the Naval Service.  The NDRB determined the Applicant’s conduct, which forms the primary basis for determining the character of his service, did reflect an act or omission, which was a significant departure from the conduct expected of a service member.  As such, the awarded characterization of service upon discharge was both equitable and consistent with the characterization of discharge given others in similar circumstances.  The NDRB determined that the Applicant’s characterization of service at discharge was appropriate; an upgrade would be inappropriate.  Accordingly, relief is denied. 

The Applicant presented a statement attesting to his educational achievements, election as a Democratic county committeeman, and employment with the Government.  The Applicant could have provided documentation as detailed in the Post-Service Conduct paragraph in the Addendum, with the recognition that completion of these items alone, does not guarantee an upgrade from an unfavorable discharge.  Each discharge is reviewed by the Board, on a case-by-case basis, to determine if the post-service conduct establishes that the in-service misconduct was an aberration.  Without post-service documentary evidence, the Board determined the awarded characterization of service shall remain Under Other Than Honorable Conditions.  Relief denied.

Summary:  After a thorough review of the available evidence, to include the Applicant’s summary of service,  record entries, and discharge process, the NDRB determined that   Therefore, the awarded characterization of service shall   and the narrative reason for separation shall remain IN LIEU OF TRIAL BY COURT MARTIAL.  The Applicant remains eligible for a personal appearance hearing for a period of fifteen years from the date of her 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