Docket No: 5919-19
Ref:   Signature Date

From:  Chairman, Board for Correction of Naval Records 
To:    Secretary of the Navy   
 
Subj:  REVIEW OF NAVAL RECORD OF FORMER  ,        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 the separation authority “MILPERSMAN 3620200,” narrative reason for separation “Other Physical/Mental Condition-Personality Disorder,” and separation code “JFX,” be changed.  Enclosure (1) applies. 
 
2.  The Board, consisting of    reviewed Petitioner's allegations of error and injustice on 19 October 2020, and pursuant to its regulations, determined that the partial 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 26 July 1988. On 27 January 1989, he received nonjudicial punishment (NJP) for two days unauthorized absence (UA).   
  
     c.  On 28 January 1989, Petitioner was diagnosed with a Personality Disorder, severe, that existed prior to his entry onto active duty. 
 
     d.  On 1 March 1989, Petitioner was notified of administrative discharge action by reason of convenience of the government due to a Personality Disorder.  He was informed that if the separation was approved, the least favorable characterization of service authorized in his case would be a general discharge.  On 10 March 1989, Petitioner was discharged from the Navy with a general (under honorable conditions) characterization of service.  On 15 March 1989, Petitioner’ case was forwarded to the separation authority stating that his Personality Disorder was of such a severity as to render him incapable of serving adequately in the Naval Service, and the medical personnel indicated he might harm himself or others if retained.   
 
     e.  Characterization of service is based in part on conduct marks assigned on a periodic basis.  Petitioner’s conduct average was 2.6.  At the time of his service, a conduct average of 3.0 was required to be considered for a fully honorable characterization of service based on narrative reason for his discharge.    
  
     f.  With his application, Petitioner stated that has never been arrested, has been employed, was 18 years old at the time, and his mother needed him due to her physical condition. 
 
CONCLUSION 
 
Upon review and consideration of all the evidence of record, the Board concludes that Petitioner’s request warrants partial favorable action.  Although he was diagnosed with a personality disorder, the Board concludes that, his Certificate of Release of Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) should be changed to read that the narrative reason for his discharge was “Secretarial Authority” to eliminate the possibilities of invasive questions or other adverse action.  The Board voted to leave the characterization of service as “General (under honorable conditions),” in part due to the Petitioner’s failure to attain the required average in conduct. 
  
In view of the foregoing, the Board finds the existence of an injustice warranting the following partial corrective action. 
 
RECOMMENDATION  
  
Petitioner be issued a new Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD 214) to show that on 10 March 1989, the separation authority was “MILPERSMAN 1910-164.”   
 
Petitioner’s naval record is corrected to show that on 10 March 1989, the reason for discharge was “Secretarial Authority.”   
 
Petitioner’s naval record be further corrected to show that on 10 March 1989, the separation code was “JFF.”   
  
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 12 June 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.