{"id":46519,"date":"2019-09-23T17:19:56","date_gmt":"2019-09-23T17:19:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/09\/23\/recruit-diagnosed-with-autism-returns-home-recruiter-removed-from-duty\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:15:48","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:15:48","slug":"recruit-diagnosed-with-autism-returns-home-recruiter-removed-from-duty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2019\/09\/23\/recruit-diagnosed-with-autism-returns-home-recruiter-removed-from-duty\/","title":{"rendered":"Recruit diagnosed with autism returns home, recruiter removed from duty"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An Army recruit<\/a> who had an autism diagnosis <\/a>and anxiety medication prescription but was still sent to basic training, possibly against Army policy, has been returned home, while his recruiter has been removed from duty pending the final outcome of an investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. Army Recruiting Command<\/a> confirmed that officials are conducting an investigation into whether the recruiter encouraged the recruit to conceal his autism diagnosis, which is considered high functioning, prior to arriving at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, on Aug. 20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The day after the original Army Times story was published, a letter was sent from Fort Jackson\u2019s reception battalion to Rep. Mike Simpson, R-ID, stating that the 19-year-old recruit, Garrison Horsley, was receiving an administrative separation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Horsley\u2019s father confirmed that his son has been returned to their hometown in Idaho, but does not intend to conduct any further interviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Army applicants with autism spectrum disorders are automatically disqualified, per Defense Department accession<\/a> policy, though sometimes medical enlistment waivers are granted after a visit to a DoD behavioral health consultant, according to Lisa Ferguson, the chief spokeswoman for the service\u2019s recruiting command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll waivers are considered on a case-by-case basis, but generally speaking, autism isn\u2019t something normally waived if the diagnosis was appropriately given,\u201d Ferguson previously told Army Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Horsley omitted his autism diagnosis and anxiety medication prescription during the enlistment process. But in a phone call with Army Times, he said that this is what his recruiter instructed him to do. The recruiter advised him that the more boxes you check, the more reasons you\u2019re giving the Army to reject you, Horsley said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Horsley also provided screenshots of text messages that appear to show him warning his recruiter that he was previously turned away from Navy recruiters because of his autism diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRecruiters are trained to prevent the disclosure of personally identifiable information,” Kelli Bland, USAREC public affairs director, said. “This means having conversations about an applicant\u2019s personal history over the phone or in person rather than over unsecure channels, such as texting and social media.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Garrison Horsley’s texts document him telling his recruiter about his autism diagnosis. (Courtesy photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The recruiter who is the subject of the investigation, Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Gaunya, has not responded to Army Times\u2019 repeated requests for comment. The unit he worked for while on recruiting duty, the Salt Lake City Recruiting Battalion, declined to comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The letter to the congressman notes that Horsley first arrived at Fort Jackson on Aug. 20, and was assigned to Alpha Company of the 120th Adjutant General Battalion before being given a psychological evaluation on Aug. 27. He was then given a status of \u201cDo Not Ship\u201d to basic combat training and received two more examinations in the following days, before being recommended a medical discharge.<\/p>\n\n\n\t