by Shaun Knittel - SGN Associate Editor

A Personnel Review Board (PRB) has unanimously determined that Midshipman Andrew Koch, aka Patrick Hunter, a FabScout model, be discharged from the U.S. Navy ROTC program for doing Gay pornography.

Koch, in the third year of a four-year scholarship service contract with the Navy, was informed that he would also be liable to return all tuition, fees, and educational expenses incurred during his tenure, which could total nearly $26,000.

According to military officials, Koch's porn shoots were grounds for severing his ties with the corps, as they were 'inconsistent with good order and discipline' and 'inconsistent with what the Navy deems morally acceptable.'

According to the South Florida Gay News, Koch was informed on July 27 by commanding officer T.M. Calabrese that he was being placed on an involuntary leave of absence while being investigated 'for an alleged serious moral offense that brings discredit upon the naval service,' which, Calabrese told him, could lead to his disenrollment from the program.

Koch is appealing the decision. Although the PRB says his actions were inconsistent with Navy standards, the board did note that his conduct was 'perfectly legal.'

NO LESS CAPABLE
In a letter to the PRB, Koch asked to remain in the program, writing that he 'never meant to disrespect the Navy, never appeared in uniform, and never associated his private work in pornography with the Navy in any way.'

Saying 'morality is a very subjective idea,' Koch attested that his conduct 'would not make me any less of a capable officer.'

When he learned of his termination from ROTC, Koch contacted South Florida Gay News publisher Norm Kent, a First Amendment and civil rights attorney who has previously represented Gay servicemembers discharged under the military's now-defunct 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy.

According to the paper, Kent has agreed to undertake a pro bono appeal of Koch's proposed discharge and has submitted a letter to program officials calling their action 'precipitous' and 'legally unwarranted,' since the board itself concluded Koch's conduct was legal. Kent also noted that the military service contract Koch signed with the corps was a civil contract with 'specific terms and conditions that have not been breached.' Kent indicated that the Navy has standards that may have been breached, but 'the legal issue is whether the midshipman was properly noticed of what those rules are.'

Koch says he went the route of Gay pornography to make some money because he was experiencing financial hardship after being placed on a leave of absence from ROTC for medical reasons.

'I was not at all ashamed of Gay sex,' he said. 'I just needed to support myself. It was never my intention to bring any discredit to the service. I never correlated my private conduct with my public service. I saw a disconnect between the two.'

Koch's appeal includes his appreciation for the guidance the staff has given him and 'the lessons that I have learned during my time here.'

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