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

Docket No: 6437-19  
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 (NR20190006437) 

1.  Pursuant to the reference, Petitioner, a former enlisted United States Marine Corps, filed the enclosure with the Board for Correction of Naval Records (Board), requesting that his naval record be corrected to accurately reflect his honorable characterization of service on his Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214). 

2.  The Board, consisting of                   , reviewed Petitioner’s 
allegations of error and injustice on 21 October 2019, 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 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 enlisted and began a period of active duty on 20 October 1965.  On 5 September 1969, he was released from active duty and transferred to the Marine Corps Reserve.  At the time of his release, he was issued an Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge (DD 214 MC) that failed to indicated his character of service.   

    d.  Petitioner’s Record of Service contains a conduct mark average sufficient for an honorable characterization of service. 

    e.  Petitioner was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant while a member of the Marine Corps Reserve and honorably discharged at the end of his service obligation on 3 August 1971.  

CONCLUSION: 

The Board found that Petitioner’s record supports the addition of his honorable characterization of service to his DD Form 214 for the period of active duty from 20 October 1965 to 5 September 1969. 

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

RECOMMENDATION:
 
That Petitioner be issued a Correction to DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 215) which reflects his honorable characterization of service.
 
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 4 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 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. 


11/14/2019