From:  Chairman, Board for Correction of Naval Records 
To:      Secretary of the Navy 
 
Subj:   REVIEW OF NAVAL RECORD OF   
             
 
Ref:    (a) 10 U.S.C. § 1552 
 
Encl:   (1) DD Form 149 w/attachments 
 
1.  Pursuant to the reference, Petitioner, a former enlisted member of the Navy, filed the enclosure with the Board for Correction of Naval Records (Board), requesting an upgrade to her service characterization as reflected on her Report of Separation from Active Duty (DD Form 214) for her period of active duty service ending on 27 January 1988. 
 
2.  The Board, consisting of , reviewed Petitioner’s allegations of error and injustice on 30 September 2020 and pursuant to its regulations, determined that the corrective action indicated below should be taken on the available evidence of record.  Documentary material considered by the Board consisted of the enclosure, relevant portions of Petitioner’s naval service records, and applicable statutes, regulations, and policies. 
 
3.  The Board, having reviewed all the facts of record pertaining to Petitioner’s allegations of error and injustice, finds as follows: 
 
    a.  Before applying to this Board, Petitioner exhausted all administrative remedies available under existing law and regulation within the Department of the Navy. 
 
    b.  Although the enclosure was not filed in a timely manner, it is in the interest of justice to review the application on its merits. 
 
    c.  Petitioner enlisted in the Navy and began a period of active duty on 18 November 1985.  Petitioner’s record is incomplete.  Based on Petitioner’s DD Form 214 and a medical evaluation conducted on 8 January 1988 as part of her request for separation in lieu of trial by court martial, it appears Petitioner submitted a request for discharge for separation in lieu of trial by court martial.  On 20 January 1988, Petitioner was discharged with an other than honorable (OTH) characterization of service in lieu of trial by court martial.  A service record entry reflects that Petitioner’s final trait average was 3.0. 
 
    d.  Petitioner states she was discharged due to writing bad checks.  Further, Petitioner contends she was young with no financial experience at the time she wrote the checks but she now has a good understanding of how money works.  Petitioner provided five advocacy letters indicating she is an active and valued member of her community, her birth certificate, and her marriage license with her application. 
 
CONCLUSION 
 
The Board noted the Petitioner’s record reflects one incident of misconduct and that Petitioner stopped writing checks once notified by her commander that she was writing checks for money that was not there.  Further, the Board considered Petitioner’s service record and final performance marks, which were sufficient to receive a general characterization of service.  In view of the foregoing, the Board determined that Petitioner’s discharge was too severe.  As a matter of justice, the Board found that Petitioner is entitled to an upgrade of her discharge characterization to “general (under honorable conditions).”  The Board determined changing Petitioner’s narrative reason for separation to “Secretarial Authority” is now more appropriate.   
 
RECOMMENDATION 
 
In view of the above, the Board directs the following corrective action: 
 
That Petitioner be issued a new Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) indicating her characterization of service as “General (Under Honorable Conditions),” narrative reason for separation as “Secretarial Authority,” separation authority as “MILPERSMAN 1910-164,” and separation code as “JFF.” 
 
That a copy of this report of proceedings be filed in Petitioner’s naval record. 
 
That, upon request, the Department of Veterans Affairs be informed that Petitioner’s application was received by the Board on 13 November 2019. 
 
4.  It is certified that a quorum was present at the Board’s review and deliberations, and that the foregoing is a true and complete record of the Board’s proceedings in the above-entitled matter. 
 
5.  Pursuant to the delegation of authority set out in Section 6(e) of the revised Procedures of the Board for Correction of Naval Records (32 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 723.6(e)), and having assured compliance with its provisions, it is hereby announced that the foregoing corrective action, taken under the authority of the reference, has been approved by the Board on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy.