DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
                         Army Discharge Review Board
                        1941 Jefferson Davis Highway
                          Arlington, VA  22202-4508
                              16 September 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:




      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:  Uncharacterized

2.  Date of discharge (or REFRAD):  970307

3.  Authority for separation:

      a.  Regulation:  Chapter 15, AR 635-200

      b.  Reason:  Homosexual Admission

4.  Prior review(s):  011006



                         PART III - SERVICE HISTORY

                 SECTION A - Period of Service Under Review

1.    Service data:                              2.  Awards and
    decorations:
                                           NONE
    a.  Period entered for:  4  Years
    b.  Entry date:  970122
    c.  Age:  18  Years   DOB:  780927


    d.  Educational level:  HS Grad


    e.  Aptitude area score:
          GT:  113                               3.  Highest grade
achieved:
    f.  Length of Service:                         E1
          0  Year(s)  1 Month  16 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 14 February 1997, the unit
commander notified the applicant of initiation of separation action under
the provisions of Chapter l5, AR 635-200, by reason of homosexuality, with
an uncharacterized discharge.  He was advised of his rights.  The applicant
consulted with legal counsel, was advised of the impact of the discharge
action, and did not submit a statement in his 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 uncharacterized
discharge.  On 5 March 1997, the separation authority directed that the
applicant be discharged with a characterization of service of
uncharacterized.

      b.  On 7 March 1997, the applicant was discharged.  At the time of
discharge, the applicant had completed 1 month and 16 days of active
military service.

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 050322, with multiple 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:
         (   ) Records review             ( X ) Hearing

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

      c. Review/hearing location and date:  Washington, DC on 12 September
2005.

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

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

      f.  Counsel presentation:    ( X ) Yes   (   ) 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:  ( X ) 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
and heard his testimony.  The applicant’s record shows that, based on a
voluntary sworn statement admitting to being a homosexual, he was separated
while in entry level status under the provisions of Chapter 15, AR 635-200,
by reason of a homosexual admission with an uncharacterized discharge.  A
soldier is in entry level status for the first 180 days of continuous
active duty.  The purpose of the entry level status is to provide the
soldier a probationary period.  Any individual who has served for less than
l80 days at the time his or her commander initiated separation action, and
is not being separated for serious misconduct, will be given an
uncharacterized discharge.  An uncharacterized separation denotes only that
the individual had less than l80 days on active duty.  The Board noted the
applicant’s contention that he only admitted to being a homosexual for the
purpose of obtaining a discharge from the service; even if true, the
applicant does not meet the regulatory requirements to have his service
characterized.  Further, admitting that he was lying in the past to obtain
a benefit (discharge from the Army) does not form the bases upon which to
grant the relief requested.  The Board, being convinced that the
characterization of service and the reason for discharge were 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
                  1941 Jefferson Davis Highway, 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:




ESMERALDA G. PROCTOR
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:  20050005819                   INDEX NUMBERS:  A9421
Date of Review:  050912                                   A0113
Character of Service:  EL
Date of Discharge:  970307
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