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ARMY | DRB | CY2004 | AR2004101009
Original file (AR2004101009.doc) Auto-classification: Approved


                         PART II - APPLICATION DATA

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

1.  Character of Discharge:  General, Under Honorable Conditions

2.  Date of discharge (or REFRAD):  030131

3.  Authority for separation:

      a.  Regulation:  Chapter 15, 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:
                                           NDSM
    a.  Period entered for:  4 Years               ASR
    b.  Entry date:  010830
    c.  Age:  19 Years   DOB:  820806
    d.  Educational level:  HS Grad
    e.  Aptitude area score:
          GT:  114                               3.  Highest grade
achieved:
    f.  Length of Service:                         E3
          1 Year  5 Months  31 Days

                                               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:

      Date  Offense(s)
      030115     Article 15 – violation of Article 87 (missing movement)
                 (Field Grade) (Not in File).

7.  Court-Martial data:  NONE

      a.  SCM:
            Date   Offense(s)


      b.  SPCM:
            Date   Offense(s)


      c.  GCM:
            Date   Offense(s)


8.    Remarks:  The applicant’s Personnel Qualification Record, Section
III, Item 18 indicates he was reduced from PFC (E-3) to PV2 (E-2).  The
commander indicated that the applicant received a Field Grade Article 15 on
030115 for violation of Article 87 (missing movement).


                       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 3 January 2003, the applicant
requested administrative separation after admitting that he was bisexual
and that he had a natural propensity to engage in sexual activity with
members of the same sex.  On 21 January 2003, 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 a general,
under honorable conditions discharge.  He was advised of his rights.  The
applicant’s rights election memorandum is not in the available records.
The unit commander subsequently recommended separation from the service.
The intermediate commander recommended approval with a general discharge.
On 22 January 2003, the separation authority directed that the applicant be
discharged with a characterization of service of general, under honorable
conditions.

      b.  On 31 January 2003, the applicant was discharged.  At the time of
discharge, the applicant had completed 1 year, 5 months, and 1 day 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 states 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 031217, with no enclosures.
      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, DC on 1 September
2004.

      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:
          ( X )  Additional issue(s) identified during review/hearing as
              follows:

        Board Issue:  (2)  The characterization of service is too harsh.

      b.  Request:  ( X ) Recharacterization     (   ) 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.

        (2)  The issue is accepted.  The Board carefully examined the
applicant’s record of service during the period of enlistment under review.
 There was a full consideration of all faithful and honorable service as
well as the infraction of discipline, the extent thereof, and the
seriousness of the offense.  The Board noted that the applicant was
separated from service under the provisions of Chapter 15, AR 635-200, by
reason of homosexual admission.  However, because the applicant received
nonjudicial punishment for missing movement, it appears that the separation
authority directed a general, under honorable conditions discharge.  While
the Board does not condone the applicant’s misconduct, it determined that
his infraction was an isolated incident and the characterization of service
is too harsh.  Further, the applicant's misconduct was mitigated by service
of sufficient merit to warrant an upgrade of the discharge being reviewed.
Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade of
characterization of service to fully honorable.  The Board determined that
the reason for discharge was both proper and equitable and voted not to
change it.

        (2)  See Paragraph 3, below.

3.  Response(s) to item(s) not addressed as decisional issue(s):

    Inasmuch as the Board voted to grant the full relief requested,
response to the remaining issue is neither required nor rendered.


                           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                      .

      (   ) Equitable.
      ( X ) Inequitable as to characterization.  Change characterization to
           Honorable.
      (   ) 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       5         0

        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

TO: ARBA Support Division-St Louis      Date:  3 September 2004

     The Army Discharge Review Board, established under the provisions of
Section 30, Public Law 346, 78th Congress, 22 June 1944 and codified as
Title 10, United States Code, Section 1553, in the case of the applicant
named in Part I directs that the ARBA Support Division-St Louis issue a new
DD Form 2l4 to the applicant which reflects the following directed
change(s):

           ( X ) Change characterization of discharge to Honorable.

                          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:  2004101009                    INDEX NUMBERS:  A9406
Date of Review:  040901                                   A9218
Character of Service:  GD                                 A0100
Date of Discharge:  030131
Authority:  AR 635-200 C15
Reason:  A4600
Results of Board Action/
Vote/Affirmation:  HD 5-0 A









                           PART IX - VOTING RECORD

    Name                                   Reason          Characterization
                                           CHANGE   NC     HON  UHC   NC
UNCHAR

    1. LTC PROCTOR, ESMERALDA G.  Mbr          X       X                 

    2.      Mbr          X       X                 

    3.      Mbr          X       X                 

    4.      Mbr          X       X                 

    5.      PO           X       X                 






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