The Department of the Navy (DoN) Board for Correction of Naval Records (BCNR) completed a two-day training conference for current and new board members Aug. 2.

BCNR is the highest level of administration review within the DoN and its mission is to correct errors and remove injustices from naval records.

"We owe it to every petitioner to give their appeal our utmost diligence," said Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) Robert Woods to the attendees. "I would ask you to treat each case as if it were your own. Your work as board members is really important and your decisions will affect the lives of numerous serving and former Sailors and Marines."

The training focused on the board processes, with sections of the training dedicated to post-traumatic stress disorder, military sexual trauma and liberal considerations for bad conduct discharges.

Elizabeth Hill, BCNR executive director, emphasized the responsibilities and expectations for each board member.

"The cases that contain errors based on policy are rather straightforward; it's the cases due to injustices that require careful deliberation," she said. "We want to make sure that everyone is equitable and fair and has an open mind when considering these cases."

Other speakers for the conference included representatives from the Office of Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, DoN Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, Navy Office of the Judge Advocate General and Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General.

To learn more about the Board for Correction of Naval Records, visit www.secnav.navy.mil/mra/bcnr/Pages/default.aspx.

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