Over the past two days, we have been treated to new evidence about the ever-mounting costs of "don't ask, don't tell." Yesterday, as reported in the Washington Post, the Palm Center released new Pentagon data which demonstrated the heavy burden that "don't ask, don't tell" places on women. What does this mean? It means a failed policy continues to fail us.
Although women comprise only 14% of the Army, the new data show that lesbians received 48% of the Army's "don't ask, don't tell" discharges last year. In the Marines, women comprise just 6% of the force, but received 23% of discharges under the policy. In the Air Force, women comprise 20% of the service but received 51% of "don't ask, don't tell" discharges last year. Women comprise 14% of the Navy but received 27% of the discharges.
The new data also show that the military continued to fire mission-critical specialists for being gay last year, including 8 linguists, 20 infantrymen, 16 medical aides, 7 combat engineers, 6 missile artillery operating crew members, and one member of the Special Forces, among others. This pattern is consistent with a long-term trend of firing badly-needed talent. A 2005 GAO Report found that the military fired 757 mission-critical specialists, including 322 linguists, in the first decade of "don't ask, don't tell."
As if that were not enough, a new study released today finds that "don't ask, don't tell" imposes no fewer than twelve different types of costs on the military, including financial waste and undermining morale and unit cohesion. The eloquent study, written by Dr. Nathaniel Frank, should be required reading for anyone who cares about military readiness.
So, to recap, we continue without reason to fire good troops who do a good job during a time of war.
The broader context here is that this season is do-or-die for "don't ask, don't tell." If this policy is to be put out of its misery, three things must happen over the next few months. First, the Senate must vote in September, over the objections of Senator John McCain, to pass the defense authorization bill which includes repeal language.
Second, the Pentagon Working Group now studying the issue must deliver a report to Secretary Gates on December 1 which recommends new regulations based on non-discrimination. This is not a negotiable point. As our NATO allies have demonstrated, writing non-discrimination regulations is quite simple. I have every reason to expect the Working Group to do a good job. But red-herring issues such as marriage and partnership benefits (which the Pentagon has no business addressing at this time) should not be allowed to delay an otherwise straightforward process. The Group must get back to business and focus on the (very simple) task at hand.
Finally, the President will have to resist the inevitable demand from Service Chiefs to delay the implementation of non-discrimination so that they can study, study, study beyond the year that they have been given already.
As a professor, I'm all for research. But "don't ask, don't tell" is making our troops less safe. JD Smith said of the new data that, "These discharges put our lives at risk...[I]t is the troops on the ground who will pay with their personal safety." Smith should know. He is Co-Director of OutServe, the first-ever organization of active duty gay troops.
When you consider the ongoing hemorrhage of talent and other burdens that follow from "don't ask, don't tell," you have to wonder if it isn't time for action.
problem has been discharging them for being gay. Housing, living quarters, association, these are
only sidelines to any controversy anywhere, any subject. Do what is right. Repeal this very archaic
and stupid law and allow anyone who wants to serve this country, do so without discrimination of ANY kind. If anyone in the military has a real problem with this, then they should resign from serving in the military and go home and get into the closet and do some serious soul searcing.
Just think about it, there would be no population with Adam & Steve.
If DADT were to be repealed then a military draft would be imminent. And what a great relief it would be to our currently-serving troops -- press exaggerations about the wonders of an all-voluntary U.S. military notwithstanding.
Obama not only demands a draft but he also has no objection to women serving in combat positions.
Barack Obama, Columbia University, 9/13/08 - "I think it is important for the president to say, this is an important obligation. If we are going into war then all of us will go, not just some of us."
Insofar as the much-needed military draft is concerned, well ... better late than never.
But rest assured, if and when DADT is repealed, everybody's spawn will be going. Because the minute there looks like any type of "special consideration" or questionable exemptions are being administered, sophisticated, attentive draftees, just looking for any excuse to avoid the draft themselves, will immediately voice protests that will be heard around the world.
Tough, combat-hardened drill sergeants will have lotsa fun with these forty-year-old flabby, teary-eyed, homesick, brokenhearted midlife draftees.
I'm almost tempted to rejoin myself if permitted to retain my former rank just to have a little boot-camp/basic-training fun with these multitude of out-of-shape bleeding-hearts libs.
A draft or conscripted service isn't likely anytime soon.
Uh-oh.
The biggest proponents of repealing DADT should be heterosexual people in the military and their families. This will save at least 10% of their lives and limbs if it is repealed and gays can join once again.
For now, I don't care if they repeal it or not. But until they do, all Gays, stay away.
Read Harv: http://theHARVview.blogspot.com
See my gift site: www.attitudejewelry.com
In the mean time, good people are being hurt and tossed out. This president does not, really, give a whit about this and it is obvious.
I am a veteran, and straight. I served 12 years and, not that it matters, have friends who are straight, gay, play the field, and celibate as monks. It is not my concern. It is not the military's convern as long as that person can do their job.
President Obama is moving this forward through the Pentagon and Congress. Change does not come easily when it has to be through either of those bodies. When you have to go through both, it's painfully slow.
I'm an Army vet, American Legion with an honorable discharge. With your pouty attitude, you wouldn't have lasted long serving under me. I would have had you transferred to Timbuktu or worse.