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ARMY | DRB | CY2004 | AR20040005605
Original file (AR20040005605.doc) Auto-classification: Denied



                           DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
                         Army Discharge Review Board
                           1901 South Bell Street
                          Arlington, VA  22202-4508
                                8 April 2005


Office of the President




      After careful review of your application, military records and all
other available evidence, the Army Discharge Review Board determined that
you were properly and equitably discharged.  Accordingly, your request for
a change in the character and/or reason of your discharge is denied.

      You may reapply to the Army Discharge Review Board for a personal
appearance hearing and/or you may apply to the Army Board for Correction of
Military Records.  Enclosed are the necessary applications for requesting a
review from both boards.  If you choose to apply to the Army Board for
Correction of Military Records you must do so within three years from the
date of this letter.

      Be advised that the Army Discharge Review Board operates on a 15-year
statute of limitations from the date of discharge; therefore, you must
reapply within this time frame for a hearing.

      If you believe that the decision in your case is unclear, not
responsive to the issues raised, or does not otherwise agree with the
decisional document requirements of DoD Directive 1332.28, you may submit a
complaint in accordance with Enclosure 5 of that Directive.  The complaint
procedure does not permit you to challenge the merits of the decision, but
is designed solely to ensure that the decisional document meets applicable
requirements for clarity and responsiveness.  You may obtain a copy of DoD
Directive 1332.28 by writing to:  Army Review Board Agency, Attention:
(Reading Room), The Pentagon, Washington, DC 20310-1809.

                                  Sincerely,




                                  Robert L. House
                                  Colonel, U.S. Army
                                  President

Enclosure


                           MILITARY REVIEW BOARDS

                           Case Report & Directive


                        PART I - IDENTIFICATION DATA

NAME:       ADDRESS:



      PHONE:




COUNSEL:    ADDRESS:

      PHONE:




ALTERNATE PERSON(S) TO BE NOTIFIED:     ADDRESS:

RELATIONSHIP:                     PHONE:



TYPE REPORT:

   ( X ) Original
   (   ) Addendum




                                   REMARKS
                            Case Management Data

(   )  Response to other correspondence required upon completion of case.

(   )  DD Form 149 in file.  Send case to ABCMR.


















OSA FORM 172 (REVISED) 22 May 98     Cover Sheet
                         PART II - APPLICATION DATA

      (Note: Part I deleted under the Privacy Act on Reading Room copy)

1.  Character of Discharge:  Honorable

2.  Date of discharge (or REFRAD):  010605

3.  Authority for separation:

      a.  Regulation:  Chapter 15, Paragraph 15-3b, AR 635-200

      b.  Reason:  Homosexual Admission

4.  Prior review(s):  NONE



                         PART III - SERVICE HISTORY

                 SECTION A - Period of Service Under Review

1.    Service data:                              2.  Awards and
    decorations:
                                           ASR
    a.  Period entered for:  3 Years
    b.  Entry date:  000830
    c.  Age:  18 Years   DOB:  820514


    d.  Educational level:  HS Grad


    e.  Aptitude area score:
          GT:  87                                3.  Highest grade
achieved:
    f.  Length of Service:                         E2
          0 Year(s)  9 Month(s)  6 Day(s)

                                               4.  Performance evaluations:

                                                   NONE

                         PART III - SERVICE HISTORY
           SECTION A - Period of Service Under Review - Continued

5.  Periods of unauthorized absence:  NONE

    Status       Inclusive dates
      AWOL

      Mil conf

      Civil conf

      Other


6.  Nonjudicial punishment:  NONE

      Date  Offense(s)



7.  Court-Martial data:  NONE

      a.  SCM:
            Date   Offense(s)


      b.  SPCM:
            Date   Offense(s)


      c.  GCM:
            Date   Offense(s)


8.    Remarks:  NONE


                       SECTION B - Prior Service Data
                                    NONE

Other discharge(s):

      Service    From  To    Type Discharge





                         PART IV - PREHEARING REVIEW

                       SECTION A-ANALYST’S ASSESSMENT
l.  Facts and Circumstances:

      a.  Evidence of record shows that on 9 April 2001, the applicant
requested administrative separation after admitting that she was homosexual
and that she had a natural propensity to engage in sexual activity with
members of the same sex.  On 24 April 2001, the unit commander notified the
applicant of initiation of separation action under the provisions of
Chapter 15, AR 635-200, by reason of homosexual admission, with an
honorable discharge.  She was advised of her rights.  The applicant
consulted with legal counsel, was advised of the impact of the discharge
action, waived her right to appear before an administrative separation
board contingent upon receiving an honorable discharge, and did not submit
a statement in her own behalf.  The unit commander subsequently recommended
separation from the service.  The intermediate commander reviewed the
proposed discharge action and recommended approval of the separation action
with an honorable discharge.  On 16 May 2001, the separation authority
directed that the applicant be discharged with a characterization of
service of honorable. .

      b.  On 5 June 2001, the applicant was discharged.  At the time of
discharge, the applicant had completed 9 months and 6 days of active
military service in the period under review.

2.  Legal/Regulatory Basis for Separation Action:  Army Regulation 635-200
sets forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.
Chapter 15 of that regulation that active homosexuality is incompatible
with military service and provides, in pertinent part, for the separation
of members who actively engage in homosexual conduct or who, by their
statements, demonstrate a tendency to engage in homosexual conduct.  Army
regulation states that when the sole basis for separation is homosexuality,
a discharge under other than honorable conditions may be issued only if
such characterization is warranted in accordance with chapter 3, section
III, and if there is a finding that during the current term of service the
soldier attempted, solicited, or committed a homosexual act by using force,
coercion or intimidation; with a person under 16 years of age; with a
subordinate in circumstances that violate customary military superior
subordinate relationships; openly in public view; for compensation; aboard
a military vessel or aircraft; or in another location subject to military
control if the conduct had, or was likely to have had, an adverse impact on
discipline, good order, or morale due to the close proximity of other
soldiers of the Armed Forces.  In all other cases, the type of discharge
will reflect the character of the soldier’s overall record of service.



                      SECTION B-APPLICANT’S SUBMISSIONS


1.  Issue(s) of propriety and/or equity submitted by applicant or counsel.
    As stated on applicant’s DD Form 293.

2.  Exhibit(s) submitted:

      A-1:  DD Form 293, dated 040728, with two (2) enclosure(s).
      A-2:  Counsel Issues:  NONE
      B-l:  Other Documents: NONE


                   PART IV - PREHEARING REVIEW (CONTINUED)

              SECTION C - Medical and/or Legal Advisory Opinion


Referred to ( ) Medical Advisor      ( ) Legal Advisor



      a.  Medical prehearing comments (if applicable):


      b.  Legal prehearing comments (if applicable):











                         PART V - SUMMARY OF HEARING

                      SECTION A-Attendees and exhibits

1.  Review/hearing information:


      a. Type requested:
         ( X ) Records review             (   ) Hearing

      b. Type Held:
         ( X )Records review              (   ) Hearing
                                          (   ) Tender Offer

      c. Review/hearing location and date:  Washington, D.C. on 6 April
2005.

      d. Appearance by:
         Applicant                 (   ) Yes   ( X ) No
         Counsel                   (   ) Yes   ( X ) No

      e.  Applicant testified:     (   ) Yes   ( X ) No

      f.  Counsel presentation:    (   ) Yes   ( X ) No

      g.  Witness(es) testified:   (   ) Yes   ( X ) No

2.  Exhibit(s) submitted at hearing:
                        PART VI - ISSUES AND FINDINGS

1.  a.  Applicant's issue(s) of propriety and/or equity:

          ( X )  Same as those listed on DD Form 293 and Part IV, Section A
              of this case report and directive.
          (   )  Revised issue(s) furnished in writing by applicant as
              follows:
          (   )  Additional issue(s) identified during review/hearing as
              follows:

      b.  Request:  (   ) Recharacterization     ( X ) Change of Reason

2.  Finding(s), conclusion(s), and reason(s) for the Board's decision(s) on
issues of propriety and/or equity:

      a.  Propriety:   The applicant has not submitted an issue of
                   propriety and the ADRB has not otherwise relied upon an
                   issue of propriety to change the discharge.

      b.  Equity:      The parenthetical number(s) below correspond(s) to
                   the issue number(s) on the DD Form 293, or in Part VI,
                   Paragraph 1, above.

        (1)  The issue is rejected.  The Board carefully examined the
applicant’s record of service during the period of enlistment under review.
 The Board noted the applicant’s contentions; however, determined that her
contentions were not sufficiently mitigating to warrant a change in her
reason for discharge.  The evidence of record shows that the applicant, in
a signed sworn statement, admitted that she was homosexual and requested
discharge because she feared that she would be harassed if her sexual
orientation were known in the command.  She indicated under oath that her
statement was true and that she had no intention of changing her sexual
orientation to remain in the Army.  The applicant’s unit commander
conducted telephone interviews with her parents who confirmed the
applicant’s statements regarding her sexual orientation.  Based on the
applicant’s self-admission, the unit commander appropriately initiated
separation action under the provisions of Chapter l5, AR 635-200,
homosexual admission, and recommended issuance of an honorable
characterization of service.  The applicant was advised of her rights.  The
applicant consulted with legal counsel, was advised of the impact of the
discharge action, and waived her right to an appearance before an
administrative separation board contingent upon receiving an honorable
discharge.  The Board was satisfied that all requirements of law and
regulation were met and the rights of the applicant were fully protected
throughout the separation process.  The Board, being convinced that the
reason for discharge was both proper and equitable, voted to deny relief.

3.  Response(s) to item(s) not addressed as decisional issue(s):  NONE

                           PART VII - BOARD ACTION
                   SECTION A - Conclusions/Decisions/Vote

1.    Board conclusion(s):

      The discharge was:

      ( X ) Proper.
      (   ) Improper as to characterization.  Change characterization to
                                               .
      (   ) Improper as to reason.  Change reason to
                                   under                      .

      ( X ) Equitable.
      (   ) Inequitable as to characterization.  Change characterization to
                                         .
      (   ) Inequitable as to reason.  Change reason to
                                 
            under                                 .
      (   ) Both proper and equitable, but characterization/reason for
           separation cited was an administrative/clerical error and should
           be changed to                      under
                                   .

2.  Voting record:      Change   No Change
                  Reason       0         5
    Characterization       0         5

        The names and votes of the members of the Board are recorded in
Part IX of this document and can be obtained by writing to the address
below.  The request must contain the CASE NO. located in the upper right
corner of this document.

                  Department of the Army Review Boards Agency
                  ATTN:  Promulgation Team
                  1901 South Bell Street, 2nd Floor
                  Arlington, VA  22202-4508



3.  Minority views:  NONE
                           PART VII - BOARD ACTION
                 SECTION B - Verification and Authentication

Case report reviewed and verified

                          
Ms. McKim-Spilker

Case Reviewing Official

                     PART VIII - DIRECTIVE/CERTIFICATION
                            SECTION A - DIRECTIVE

                                    NONE

                          SECTION B - CERTIFICATION

Approval Authority:


ROBERT L. HOUSE
Colonel, U.S. Army
President, Army Discharge
   Review Board

Official:




MARY E. SHAW
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
Chief, Secretary Recorder

EXHIBITS:
A - Application for review of discharge                  C - Other
B - Material submitted by applicant

INDEX RECORD:

AR Number:  20040005605                   INDEX NUMBERS:  A9455
Date of Review:  050406                                   A0101
Character of Service:  HD
Date of Discharge:  010605
Authority:  AR 635-200 C15
Reason:  A4600
Results of Board Action/
Vote/Affirmation:  NC 5-0 A













                           PART IX - VOTING RECORD

    Name                                   Reason          Characterization
                                           CHANGE   NC     HON  UHC   NC
UNCHAR

    1.      Mbr          X                 X       

    2.      Mbr          X                 X       

    3.      Mbr          X                 X       

    4.      Mbr          X                 X       

    5.      PO           X                 X       






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