DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY 
BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF NAVAL RECORDS 
701 S. COURTHOUSE ROAD, SUITE 1001 
ARLINGTON, VA 22204-2490

Docket No: 2039-19
Ref:   Signature Date

From:  Chairman, Board for Correction of Naval Records 
To:    Secretary of the Navy   
 
Subj:  REVIEW OF NAVAL RECORD OF FORMER SA ., USN,    
             
Ref:  (a) 10 U.S.C. §1552   
 
Encl: (1) DD Form 149  
   
1.  Pursuant to the provisions of reference (a), Petitioner, filed enclosure (1) with this Board requesting that his General (under honorable conditions) discharge be upgraded to Honorable. 
He also impliedly requested that his narrative reason and authority be changed.  Enclosure (1) and (2) applies. 
 
2.  The Board, consisting of   reviewed Petitioner's allegations of error and injustice on 17 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 enclosures, relevant portions of his naval 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 regulations within the Department of the Navy.   
 
     b.  Petitioner enlisted in the Navy and began a period of active duty on 28 February 1972.  On 10 December 1973, medical personnel diagnosed Petitioner with Emotionally unstable personality with hysterical features.   
 
    c.  On 11 January 1974, Petitioner received nonjudicial punishment (NJP) for 43 days of unauthorized absence and missing ship’s movement. 
 
    d.  On 14 January 1974, Petitioner was notified of administrative discharge action by reason of unsuitability.  On 15 January 1974, Petitioner made a voluntary request for his early return to the civilian community.  One 16 January 1974, his case was forwarded to the separation authority with the recommendation that he be discharged due to unsuitability.  On 18 January 1974, Petitioner’s request to return to the civilian community was approved pending his administrative discharge proceedings becoming final.  At that time, he was discharged with General characterization of service.  On 23 January 1974, the separation authority directed that Petitioner be separated from the Navy, and that his characterization of service be the type warranted by his service record.  
 
     e.  Petitioner’s characterization of service should have been based on his conduct averages computed from marks assigned on a periodic basis.  His conduct average was 3.2, above the requirement to be considered for a fully honorable characterization of service.  At the time of his service, a conduct average of 3.0 was required for an honorable characterization of service.   
  
     f.  In his application, Petitioner stated that he believes he was going to receive an honorable discharge. 
  
CONCLUSION 
 
Upon review and consideration of all the evidence of record, the Board concludes that Petitioner's request warrants favorable action.   
 
In this regard, the Board considered Petitioner's overall record of military service, including his one NJP.  However, the Board notes that the discharge authority directed that Petitioner be separated by reason of unsuitability, with a characterization as warranted by his service record. Additionally, the discharge authority should have based Petitioner’s characterization of service on his overall individual trait average, which is high enough for a characterization of honorable. . 
  
In view of the foregoing, the Board finds the existence of an injustice warranting the following corrective action. 
 
RECOMMENDATION  
 
Petitioner’s naval record is corrected to show that on 18 January 1974, he received an “Honorable” discharge.   
 
Petitioner’s naval record is corrected to show that on 18 January 1974, the separation authority was “MILPERSMAN 1910-164.”   
 
Petitioner’s naval record is corrected to show that on 18 January 1974, the reason for discharge was “Secretarial Authority.”   
 
Petitioner’s naval record be further corrected to show that on 18 January 1974, the separation code was “JFF.”   
 
Petitioner be issued a new Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD 214).   
 
No further action be granted. 
 
A copy of this report of proceedings be filed in Petitioner’s naval record. 
 
Upon request, the Department of Veterans Affairs is informed that Petitioner’s application was received by the Board on 5 April 2019. 
   
4.  It is certified that 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 Section 6(c) of the revised Procedures of the Board for Correction of Naval Records (32 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 723.6(c)), 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.