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

Docket No: 883-19
  
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 w/attachments 

1.  Pursuant to the provisions of the reference, Petitioner, a former enlisted member of the Navy, filed enclosure (1) with the Board for Correction of Naval Records (Board), requesting that his Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) be corrected to reflect that his characterization of service was Honorable” rather than “General (Under Honorable Conditions),” and, implicitly, that his narrative reason for separation was “Secretarial Authority” rather than “PersonalityDisorder,”and his separation code was “JFF” rather than “JFX.” 

2.  The Board, consisting of , reviewed Petitioner’s allegations of error and injustice on 21 January 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 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 waive the statute of limitations and review the application on its merits. 

c.  Petitioner enlisted in the Navy on 3 October 1989. On 26 June 1990, Petitioner was referred to the naval medical health unit upon informing his command that, if he was forced to go on the upcoming deployment, he might “lose it.” During the evaluation, Petitioner—then 23 years old with a wife and newborn child living elsewhere, and relatively new to the Navy, with only about 8 months of service—reported that he was stressed due to financial difficulties.  Petitioner was diagnosed with a personality disorder with immature dependent traits.  The evaluating psychologist opined that, although Petitioner had no suicidal or homicidal thoughts, and was fit to return to duty, he posed a “potential” risk to himself or others, and recommended that he be immediately processed for administrative separation.  As a result, Petitioner’s commanding officer (CO) recommended that he be administratively separated due to a personality disorder.  Petitioner was notified of pending administrative separation action by reason of convenience of the government (COG) due to a personality disorder.  After Petitioner waived his rights, his CO recommended that he be discharged with a general (under honorable conditions) characterization of service due to a personality disorder.  The discharge authority approved this recommendation and directed that Petitioner be discharged with a general (under honorable conditions) characterization of service due to a personality disorder.  On 2 July 1990, Petitioner was so discharged, and he was assigned the separation code “JFX” and narrative reason for separation “PersonalityDisorder.” 

d.  Petitioner requests that his characterization of service be upgraded to Honorable, contending that a family crisis, the death of his father, and financial stress contributed to his difficulties and eventual separation. 

CONCLUSION: 

Upon review and consideration of all the evidence of record, the Board concluded that Petitioner’s request warrants partial favorable action.  The Board was sympathetic to the Petitioner medical condition and his desire to upgrade his discharge.  However, the Board concluded that these factors were not sufficient to warrant an upgrade given his performance marks and the recommendation of his commanding officer at the time.  The Board noted that Petitioner, although diagnosed with a personality disorder, deserves clemency and concluded that the narrative reason for separation and separation code should be changed. The Board concluded that the narrative reason for separation should be changed to “Secretarial Authority” and the separation code to “JFF.” 

In view of the foregoing, the Board finds the existence of an injustice warranting the following corrective action. 

RECOMMENDATION: 

That Petitioner’s naval record be corrected by changing the narrative reason for separation to “Secretarial Authority” and SPD code to “JFF.” 

That Petitioner be issued a new Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214). 

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 3 January 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. 





3