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

Docket No: 3244-19  
Ref:   Signature Date  

From:  Chairman, Board for Correction of Naval Records  
To:    Secretary of the Navy  

Ref: (a) 10 U.S.C. § 1552 
  
Encl:  (1) DD Form 149 (NR20190003244) 

1.  Pursuant to the reference, Petitioner, a retired master chief of the Navy, filed the enclosure with this Board requesting a change to his naval record, specifically, to change his Certificate of Retirement from the Armed Forces of the United States of America to reflect his service a Command Master Chief vice a Master Chief Hospital Corpsman.  

2.  The Board, consisting of     , reviewed Petitioner's allegations of error and injustice on 26 May 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 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 regulations 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 served honorably until his retirement from the Navy Reserve on 1 December 1992.  Petitioner earned the rank of E-9/Master Chief Hospital Corpsman (HMCM) prior to his retirement. 

d. Petitioner was issued a Certificate of Retirement from the Armed Forces of the United States of America which reflects that he completed his U.S. Naval Reserve service in the rank of Master Chief Hospital Corpsman (HMCM). 

e.  Petitioner requests that his Certificate of Retirement be changed to reflect his service as a Command Master Chief (CMC).  In support of his request, Petitioner provides a letter dated 8 November 1991, from Naval Reserve Force Detachment Management School which confirms his completion of the Command Master Chief Course, along with his 10 November 1991 approved Application for Assignment of the Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) Code 9580 Command Master Chief.  His application notes that he served as             starting on October 1988.  Petitioner also provides a copy of his final evaluation in the Navy, which states he served as Command Master Chief    Fleet Hospital. 

CONCLUSION 

The Board considered that the available records indicate that Petitioner held the rank of E-9/HMCM while in the Navy Reserve and that he was retired in that rank.  Furthermore, Petitioner served as a Command Master Chief beginning in 1988, earned his NEC Code 9580, and completed his naval service as a Command Master Chief   Fleet Hospital.  Although Petitioner’s current Certificate of Retirement is not erroneous, theBoard found that as a matter of justice, Petitioner is entitled to a change to his record to reflect his achievement of serving as a Command Master Chief. 

The Board concluded that Petitioner’s Certificate of Retirement from the Armed Forces of the United States of America should be corrected to reflect his service a Command Master Chief. 

RECOMMENDATION 

In view of the above, the Board directs the following corrective action: 

That Petitioner be issued a new Certificate of Retirement from the Armed Forces of the United States of America which certifies that “               Command Master Chief, U.S. Naval Reserve” having served faithfully and honorably was retired from the United States Navy on the 1st day of December 1992.   

That no further changes be made to the record. 

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 on 19 March 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 Regulation, 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.