UNITED STATES COAST GUARD DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD 
Docket #: 2022-030 

Discharge Issued 
Character: Honorable 
Narrative Reason: Homosexual Admission 
SPD/RE Code: HRB / RE4 

Authority of Discharge: COMDTINST M1000.6 Art 12.E.6 

Date of Separation: 1/13/2009 

DRB Decision 
Character: No Change 
Narrative Reason: Secretarial Authority 
SPD/RE Code: JFF / RE1 

New Authority: COMDTINST M1000.6 Art 12.B.12 

Discharge Review Board Discussion and Decision: 

DISCUSSION: The applicant was discharged in January of 2010 for a homosexual admission after serving 
a total of 6 months and 16 days on active duty. The Board thoroughly reviewed all documentation 
including the applicant's statement. The applicant's Character of Service is Honorable and the separation 
authority listed on the DD-214 is COMDTINST M1000.6 Article 12.E.6. The SPD handbook prescribes an 
RE Code of RE4 for an SPD Code of HRB. The former member was discharged for a homosexual 
admission after making statements regarding their homosexuality. The applicant has no negative marks 
in their record and was discharged solely under the now obsolete DADT policy. The applicant is 
requesting to have the narrative reason, separation code, and RE code changed. After reviewing all 
exhibits and the applicant’s Personnel Data Record (PDR), the Board discussed the fact that applicant 
was an average performer with no negative marks. The Board finds the former member’s discharge was 
solely the result of DADT, which is no longer consistent with Coast Guard policy. Therefore, the 
notations on the members current DD214 are inequitable. While the Board finds no error in the original 
discharge, the repeal of 10 U.S.C. § 654 and its implementing regulations has made the applicant's 
separation, reentry codes, and narrative reason for separation inconsistent with current policies and 
procedures. The policies and procedures under which the applicant was discharged differ in material 
respect to the policies and procedures currently applicable on a service-wide basis. A discharge due to 
homosexuality is no longer an appropriate discharge under current policy. The current polices represent 
a substantial enhancement of the rights afforded to the applicant. 
The Board has substantial doubt that the applicant would have received the same discharge if relevant 
current policies and procedures had been available to the applicant at the time of discharge. The Board 
finds the former member should be issued a new DD-214 with the following corrections: the separation 
authority should be COMDTINST M1000.6 Article 12.B.12; the narrative reason for separation should be 
"Secretarial Authority"; the separation code should be "JFF"; and the reentry code should be RE1 
(eligible for reenlistment).Previously, an RE4 reentry code was authorized to be assigned for this type of 
separation. An RE4 reentry code signifies that the applicant is not recommended or is ineligible for 
reenlistment. Due to the repeal of DADT, an RE4 is no longer justified and should be upgraded to RE1. 

RECOMMENDATION: The Board members thoroughly reviewed the applicant’s record of service and all 
available documentation. The Board deemed that the applicant’s separation authority, separation code,
re-entry code, and reason for separation should be changed. The applicant has sustained an inequity, and
their records should be corrected accordingly. re-entry code, and reason for separation should be changed.
The applicant has sustained an inequity, and their records should be corrected accordingly. 

2 In reviewing discharges, the Board presumes regularity in the conduct of governmental affairs unless there is 
substantial credible evidence (to include evidence submitted by the Applicant) to rebut the presumption.