Applicant Name:  ?????

Application Receipt Date: 2012/03/29	Prior Review:     Prior Review Date: NA     

I.  Applicant Request:  Upgrade     Reason Change     RE Code Change    

Issues: The applicant states, "Due to the repeal of “don’t ask don’t tell” I strongly believe that my discharge characterization should be upgraded to honorable because my time in service was that of honor.  Section 28 of DD form 214, narrative reason for separation, should also be changed accordingly.  At no time during my service was I involved in any bad conduct.  My apologies for the lack of information in section 2.  Thank you for your time."

II.  Were Proper Discharge and Separation Authority procedures followed?	     
Tender Offer:   NA

See Attachments:  Legal     Medical     Minority Opinion     Exhibits 

III.  Discharge Under Review
Unit CDR Recommended Discharge: 	   Date: 980826
Discharge Received: 			   Date: 980930   Chapter: 15-3b      AR: 635-200
Reason: Homosexual Admission	   RE:     SPD: JRB   Unit/Location: Detachment C, 510th Personnel Services Battalion, Army Europe, Germany 

Time Lost: None

Article 15s (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None

Courts-Martial (Charges/Dates/Punishment): None

Counseling Records Available: Yes    No 

IV.  Soldier’s Overall Record
Age at current enlistment:  18
Current ENL Date: 961123    Current ENL Term: 4 Years  ?????
Current ENL Service: 	1  Yrs, 8  Mos, 8  Days ?????
Total Service:  		1  Yrs, 8  Mos, 8  Days ?????
Previous Discharges: 	None
Highest Grade: E-3		Performance Ratings Available: Yes    No 
MOS: 75H10 Personnel Services Specialist   GT: 97   EDU: HS Grad   Overseas: Germany   Combat: None
Decorations/Awards: NDSM, ASR, OSR

V.  Post-Discharge Activity
City, State:  ?????
Post Service Accomplishments: None

VI.  Facts, Circumstances, and Legal Basis for Separation

       a.  Facts and Circumstances:
       The evidence of record shows that on 26 August 1998, the unit commander notified the applicant of initiation of separation action under the provisions of Chapter 15, paragraph 15-3b, AR 635-200, by reason of homosexual admission with a general, under honorable conditions discharge.  The applicant admitted to his company commander in a sworn statement that he was homosexual and had engaged or had the propensity to engage in homosexual/bisexual acts.  He was advised of his rights.  
       
       The applicant's election of rights is not contained in the available record and the analyst presumed government regularity in the discharge process.  The unit commander subsequently recommended separation from the Army and waiver of further rehabilitative efforts.  The intermediate commander reviewed the proposed action and recommended approval of the separation with a general, under honorable conditions discharge.  
       
       On 22 September 1998, the separation authority waived further rehabilitation and directed the applicant’s discharge with a general, under honorable conditions characterization of service.  

       b.  Legal Basis for Separation:  
       Army Regulation 635-200, in effect at the time, set forth the basic authority for the separation of enlisted personnel.  Chapter 15 of that regulation stated that active homosexuality was incompatible with military service and provided, in pertinent part, for the separation of members who actively engaged in homosexual conduct or who, by their statements, demonstrated a tendency to engage in homosexual conduct.  The Army regulation stated that when the sole basis for separation was homosexuality, a discharge under other than honorable conditions may be issued only if such characterization was warranted in accordance with Chapter 3, Section III, and if there was 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 where no aggravating factors are present, the type of discharge would reflect the character of the Soldier’s overall record of service. 

       c.  Response to Issues, Recommendation and Rationale:  
       After a careful review of all the applicant’s military records and the issues and documents submitted with the application, the analyst determined that the narrative reason for the applicant’s separation is now inequitable based on the current standard.
       
       The evidence of record shows that the applicant was discharged under the provisions of Chapter 15, paragraph 15-3b, AR 635-200, by reason of homosexual admission.  AR 635-200, in effect at the time, stipulated that an honorable discharge is a separation with honor. The honorable characterization is appropriate when the quality of the Soldier's service generally has met the standards of acceptable conduct and performance of duty for Army personnel or is otherwise so meritorious that any other characterization would be clearly inappropriate.  The analyst further noted that the applicant had completed almost two years of active military service, attained the grade of E-3, and had no other derogatory information in the service record.  
       
       Current law and regulations now allow Soldiers who are homosexual to serve openly.  Former Soldiers that were discharged under the old policy may request a change to the reason for their separation invoking the current standard.  The Board will consider any aggravating factors and in their absence, will change the narrative reason for the discharge to Secretarial Authority.  The applicant’s record does not indicate the presence of any aggravating factors.  
       
       In view of the foregoing, the analyst recommends and upgrade to honorabale and that the narrative reason of the applicant’s discharge be changed to “Secretarial Authority,” under the provisions of Chapter 5, AR 635-200, with a corresponding SPD Code of “JFF,” and a reentry code (RE) of “1.”

VII.  Summary of Army Discharge Review Board Hearing

Type of Hearing: 		Date: 12 September 2012         Location: Washington, DC

Did the Applicant Testify?  Yes     No  

Counsel: None

Witnesses/Observers: None 

Exhibits Submitted: DD Form 293 and a DD Form 214.

VIII.  Board Discussion, Determination, and Recommendation
After carefully examining the applicant’s record of service during the period of enlistment under review and considering the analyst’s recommendation and rationale, the Board determined that the narrative reason for the applicant’s discharge is now inequitable based on the current standard.   The evidence of record shows that the applicant was discharged for admitting to being homosexual with a general, under honorable conditions characterization of service.  The Board determined there were no aggravating factors as defined in AR 635-200 related to the applicant’s discharge.  Accordingly, the Board voted to grant relief in the form of an upgrade to honorable and a change to the narrative reason of the applicant’s discharge to “Secretarial Authority,” under the provisions of Chapter 5, AR 635-200, with a corresponding SPD Code of “JFF,” and a reentry code (RE) of “1.”
        
IX.  Board Decision						
Board Vote:
Character - Change 4    No change 1
Reason -     Change 5    No change 0
(Board member names available upon request)

X.  Board Action Directed
Issue a new DD Form 214  
Change Characterization to: 
Change Reason to: Change the narrative reason of the discharge to “Secretarial Authority,” under the provisions of Chapter 5, AR 635-200, with a corresponding SPD Code of “JFF,” and a reentry code (RE) of “1.”
Other: Change SPD to "JFF"
RE Code: 
Grade Restoration:   No   Yes   Grade: NA

XI.  Certification Signature
Approval Authority:




ARCHIE L. DAVIS III
Colonel, U.S. Army
President, Army Discharge Review Board




BONITA E. TROTMAN
Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Army
Secretary Recorder






Legend:
AWOL    	Absent Without Leave		GCM   General Court Martial	NA   Not applicable			SCM	Summary Court Martial
BCD   	Bad Conduct Discharge	GD      General Discharge	NIF   Not in the file			SPCM	Special Court Martial
CG 	Company Grade Article 15	HD      Honorable Discharge	OAD   Ordered to Active Duty		UNC	Uncharacterized Discharge  
DD 	Dishonorable Discharge	HS       High School Graduate	OMPF   Official Military Personnel File	UOTH  	Under Other Than Honorable 
FG	Field Grade Article 15		IADT   Initial Active Duty Training	RE     Reentry Code				Conditions 
ARMY DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD - CASE REPORT AND DIRECTIVE

Case Number AR20120006548
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