Is this normal"
NO! Not according to John O'Neill. He said that when a person signs a Form 180 - ANYONE can obtain access to those records. Since the Sun has been denied access .. it tells me that John is selectively releasing just enough - HE THINKS - to get by with saying he signed a Form 180.
I think O'Neill has mentioned that it's possible to release only portions of your records. If so .. this would appear to be what Kerry has done .. thereby restricting who gets the information to only media outlets who will be kind to Kerry.
I don't know Navy rules. I'm just going by what O'Neill said.
If you look at the form, he only releases his active duty records. He didn't fill in the section for reserve service. The monkey business about the discharge would have been during his reserve service.