Schlesinger abolishes prejudicial

WASHINGTON (SecSchlesinger decided that retary of Defense James R. Schlesinger yesterday abolished

a numerical code which permitted employers to identify military misfits, alcoholics and drug abusers even though they received honorable discharges from the service.

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At the request of Rep. F. Edward Hebert, D, La., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee,

hundreds of thousands of veterans discharged over the last two decades should be permitted a new set of discharge papers minus the code.

And discharge papers is sued from now on will carry no indication why the vet-

eran left the service.

Under the old system a commanding officer could choose from among 500 code numbers to indicate that a departing serviceman was considered financially irresponsible, a bed wetter, an alcoholic, a drug abuser, a homosexual or in some other

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way unsuitable for the Army, Navy or Air Force.

Pentagon officials say the prejudicial code numbers applied to about 12% of veterans about 35,000 last year.

Many employers were able by various means to ob-

codes on military discharges

tain copies of what the prejudicial numbers means, and thus would reject a job ap-

plicant, even though he had

undergone no formal or in charged under less than hon judicial reasons will have in

formal judicial action.

The change in policy does not affect servicemen dis-

orable conditions.

Under the new policy, servicemen discharged for pre-

their records only a written narrative to which only they will have access.