DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF NAVAL RECORDS 701 S. COURTHOUSE ROAD, SUITE 1001 ARLINGTON, VA 22204-2490 Docket No: 7173-18 Ref: Signature date Dear This is in reference to your application for correction of your naval record pursuant to Title 10, United States Code, Section 1552. After careful and conscientious consideration of the entire record, the Board for Correction of Naval Records (Board) found the evidence submitted was insufficient to establish the existence of probable material error or injustice. Consequently, your application has been denied. Although your application was not filed in a timely manner, the Board found it in the interest of justice to waive the statute of limitations and consider your application on its merits. A three- member panel of the Board, sitting in executive session, considered your application on 25 July 2019. The names and votes of the members of the panel will be furnished upon request. Your allegations of error and injustice were reviewed in accordance with administrative regulations and procedures applicable to the proceedings of this Board. Documentary material considered by the Board consisted of your application, together with all material submitted in support thereof, relevant portions of your naval record, as well as applicable statutes, regulations, and policies. You enlisted in the Navy and began a period of active duty on 29 July 1961. You received an administrative remarks entry on 16 July 1965 notifying you that you were not recommended for reenlistment due to a pattern of failure to pay just debts after the command received numerous letters, dating back to January 1964, requesting assistance for payment of debts incurred by you. The entry stated you were counseled on receipt of each letter of indebtedness but made little effort to pay the debts. On 23 July 1965, you were released from active duty, transferred to the naval reserve, and assigned a general, under honorable conditions (GEN), characterization of service. At the time of discharge, your overall trait average was 3.32 with a military behavior mark of 2.96. The Board carefully reviewed your application, weighed all potentially mitigating factors, and considered your contention that you requested an “early out because of financial difficulties” then changed your mind and completed your active duty tour plus your mandatory reserve time. The Board noted a 3.0 mark in military behavior was required from 1959 to 1969 in order to warrant an honorable characterization of service. Based on your military behavior mark of 2.96, the Board determined you were assigned an appropriate characterization of service. Unfortunately, the Board did not find evidence of an error or injustice that warrants upgrading your characterization of service. It is regretted that the circumstances of your case are such that favorable action cannot be taken. You are entitled to have the Board reconsider its decision upon the submission of new matters, which will require you to complete and submit a new DD Form 149. New matters are those not previously presented to or considered by the Board. In this regard, it is important to keep in mind that a presumption of regularity attaches to all official records. Consequently, when applying for a correction of an official naval record, the burden is on the applicant to demonstrate the existence of probable material error or injustice.