A correspondent on a list I read recently noted the following. Your conjecture and research may hold the answer to his query:
"...Then I looked at this document.
found at: http://www.johnkerry.com/pdf/jkmilservice/Service_Record.pdf
It shows the various dates Kerry served on active and reserve duty. It was prepared on January 25, 1985. Down at the bottom it shows that it is Enclosure (1) to something. What's the main document? It wasn't prepared by the National Archives Retired Records Section (as was the DD215 on March 12, 2001). It was prepared by the Naval Military Personnel Command, Office of Legal Counsel. Why would a lawyer have to prepare this sort of thing? Very odd."
Just throwing this out there from a search. I have no background in MIL
http://www.military.com/InstallationGuides/InstallationDetails?lb_installation_code=4330
The Bureau of Navigation was established in 1862 and three years later the office of Detail was placed under it. In 1889, The Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting transferred its enlisted personnel activities to the Bureau of Navigation as well. On 13 May 1942, the command's name changed to the Bureau of Naval Personnel, and in 1982 it changed to Naval Military Personnel Command. In 1991, the name changed back to the Bureau of Naval Personnel or "BUPERS" for short. BUPERS is led by the Chief of Naval Personnel. The organizational chart for Navy Personnel Command is as follows: NPC-00, Commander, Navy Personnel Command; NPC-01, Administrative Officer; NPC-02, Comptroller/Resources Management Office; NPC-03, Management & Organizational Services Office; NPC-05, Public Affairs Office; NPC-06, Office of Legal Counsel; NPC-3, Business Operations; NPC-4, Distribution; NPC-6, Personal Readiness & Community Support; NPC-8, Pers Progression, Performance & Security; and NPC-9, Reserve Personnel Management.