Dan Choi, Gay Ex-soldier, DADT Repeal Advocate Begins Process To Re-enlist

WASHINGTON -- A gay West Point graduate who was discharged from the Army for revealing his sexual orientation says he has begun the process of re-enlisting now that the "don't ask, don't tell" policy has been repealed.

Dan Choi said Friday he began the process of re-enlisting in New York on Sept. 22, two days after the end of the policy.

Since being discharged in 2010, Choi has spoken out against the policy and been arrested outside the White House during three "don't ask, don't tell" protests.

He was in Washington for a hearing in a case stemming from one of those arrests and says he's uncertain how it may affect his re-enlistment.

Comments

[knight7se7en]

10:34 PM on 10/10/2011

Why is there so much acrimony on HuffPo boards towards soldiers who were discharged under DADT who want to re-enlist or soldiers that quit under DADT who want to re-enlist? Am I the only person who thinks that's completely backwards?

[Driven23]

02:05 PM on 10/10/2011

No, Dan will not be an enlisted soldier. He went to West Point and was commissioned as an officer well before being kicked out under DADT. Your assertion that he will not be an officer is incorrect. If he comes back on active duty, he will be an officer.

[Consequence]

01:29 PM on 10/10/2011

Poor Dan, what is he going to do now that actual news agencies no longer hang on his every action?


Good luck re-enlisting. They will let you be an enlisted man, but your arrests for resisting arrest negate any chance you have of being an officer.

[MJJBunny]

09:14 AM on 10/10/2011

I wish you well Mr. Choi and thank you for all you did to help end DADT. There always needs to be people with courage to step up and take the heat for change to happen. You have that courage and would again be an asset to our country's military. Good Luck and thank you for your service.

[WOPR]

08:56 AM on 10/10/2011

You can't have it both ways. Be an activist, or a military officer, or both SEPARATELY.

He used his commission to further his political activism and make a name for himself; I have very little sympathy for him.

[Caroleeena]

11:51 AM on 10/10/2011

He was doing what his commander in chief asked of him. Barack Obama said, and I quote, "Make me do it." Dan Choi did what he could to do that. I am proud of him. I hope they let him re-enter. I am grateful for his service to our country, both in the field, and in working to repeal this repressive piece of legislation that hurt our combat readiness and our troops.

[JessCostello]

02:24 AM on 10/10/2011

I wonder if he'll regain his commission after those awkward arrest photos in front of the White House. He can probably re-enlist though.

[Volantiad]

11:59 AM on 10/10/2011

I think we'll have to wait and see what the results are of his brushes with the law. If he is punished for charges, I imagine it'd effect his enlistment (i.e. security clearance) options like it would anybody else. I think he'd be less keen to be an army cook, but I think he'd take it.

[Jerry Barry]

01:36 AM on 10/10/2011

Best of Luck Mr.Choi! You deserve to be reinstated into the military.
I served 23 years in the Air Force and I'm glad President Obama repealed DADT!

[wyldthings]

01:58 AM on 10/10/2011

I'll try one more time Yes I did serve. I receive a monthly compensation check for my service in Vietnam. I also know there is a code in any company, or profession you choose. Like the Blue wall of police. Show me a rehired whistle blower. I admire and respect Lt. Choi but it's over for him and he knows it or at least should.

[Ioan Lightoller]

02:01 AM on 10/10/2011

Fanning and faving you and thank you for your service.

[Ioan Lightoller]

01:12 AM on 10/10/2011

Good luck, Dan! Look forward to see you helping to defend and protect our country!

[eve mahar]

01:07 AM on 10/10/2011

Good for you Lt Dan! I'm so proud of you and all you did to make this dream a reality for yourself and so many others.

[Steve1976]

12:45 AM on 10/10/2011

Choi is trying to enlist and will never be an officer again. Commissioned Officers are requjired to have a minimum of a secret securitry clearance. Choi might as well throw his West Point ring away just like he did his career.. If the Army accepts him it will be as Private Dan.

[1logicalthinker]

01:52 AM on 10/10/2011

Steve1976 wrote, "Choi is trying to enlist and will never be an officer again. Commission­ed Officers are requjired to have a minimum of a secret securitry clearance. Choi might as well throw his West Point ring away just like he did his career.. If the Army accepts him it will be as Private Dan."

It's a shame that honorable people like Dan were asked to lie about who they were, in order to serve their country. The Army needs more courageous people like him. I wish him the best.

[knott wrench]

11:53 PM on 10/09/2011

Hope you're Successful in returning to Your Military Career.

[tnlcallen]

11:18 PM on 10/09/2011

His criminal record should preclude him from serving.

[standish]

11:54 PM on 10/09/2011

He's more of a man than you will ever hope to be. I suggest you grow a pair and stop whining.

[JessCostello]

02:25 AM on 10/10/2011

What a crazy response to a simple statement.

[VagabondBull]

12:23 AM on 10/10/2011

He hasn't been convicted yet as far as I'm aware although I could be wrong. His civil disobedience protest that he was arrested for is also only a misdemeanor and does not preclude him from serving in the military. That and the case may even possibly be dropped.

The military even waives felony convictions on a fairly regular basis for people looking to enlist. Add in the fact that Mr. Choi is a translator of which the military is in great need and his prospects increase. It's possible that he may be blackballed for being such a visible and outspoken figure in the debate to repeal DADT. If that happened I can't imagine the crapstorm that would follow.

[Brian A Benkle]

10:47 PM on 10/09/2011

I believe that sexuality should not be an issue in the military. The military does not handle the issue of sex and sexual conduct very well. There are number of instances of abuse. So the fact that,yay, people can declare that they either they engage in sexual contact with men or women, either opposite or same-sex, the issue is ridiculous. Military has nothing to do with sexual pride, sexual preference, or sexual identity. It has to do with how they conduct themselves as soldiers. Sex should not be an issue at all. Making sex an issue in the military makes our military weak. The military needs to stop being a social service agency, and protect our country. Let lifestyle and religious activists, human rights activists agree or disagree and debate about it, but keep the debate out of our military. Soldiers are not singular entities, but part of a group with a job to do. What they do on their leave or their down-time is their business. If individual soldiers need to a advertise a certain lifestyle, then maybe the service shouldn't be for them. As long as each soldier is kept safe from sexual harm, sexual harassment, rape, molestation, discrimination, then this " hey everyone" I am gay, or I am transgender, or straight, is just fodder for political and sexual activists and religious zealots both or against sexual identity politics.

[Carmeliggy]

11:40 PM on 10/09/2011

Your argument isn't clear. Since WWII, discriminatory bias was and has been the norm in the US Military. Gay people have been subjected to witch hunts and blackmail, hopefully, this is now ending. Describing their struggle as "sexual identity politics" only shows lack of thought.

[standish]

11:55 PM on 10/09/2011

Spoken like an American......who has never served a second in the military.

[wyldthings]

10:22 PM on 10/09/2011

It would make no difference if he reenlisted. His career is shot. The Military has a code. Don't rock the Boat. Those that followed DADT will benefit from his work but he will not.

[standish]

11:55 PM on 10/09/2011

And you have this on what authority? Please do share with us your personal knowledge.

[JessCostello]

02:29 AM on 10/10/2011

It's true. He won't regain his commission.

[eve mahar]

01:11 AM on 10/10/2011

Not true. The code has been changed, thanks in part to Dan Choi. He fought for this and he deserves a chance. he served our country before, and he is willing to do so again. Sounds like a braver person than most I know.

[wyldthings]

01:36 AM on 10/10/2011

I'll say the same to you. I admire and respect Lt. Choi but he violated the UCMJ. No matter what you want he can't be restored because of actions taken as an activists. You see unfortunately Lt. Choi by changing the law also violated his Oath to the Military.  So your heart says it's unfair but it's a fact of Military Law.

[wyldthings]

01:55 AM on 10/10/2011

I'll try again I admire and respect Lt.Choi but the fact is he will never get his commission back. No matter how hard you wish it can't happen. He violated his oath as a West Point Cadet and it's part of the Military

[anchises868]

10:21 PM on 10/09/2011

Not to nitpick, but "re-enlist" implies he was enlisted in the first place; he was not. He was a commissioned officer. I believe he should get his commission back.

[fortysixandtwo]

11:21 PM on 10/09/2011

Was going to point out the same thing...semantics I guess.

[Steve1976]

12:48 AM on 10/10/2011

Nope. He threw away his security clearance. That why Private Dan is trying to enlist.