Recent DADT news:
More below the fold. Read more
According to the Department of Defense, Clifford Stanley, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, issued the plan to implement repeal of the policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” to the service secretaries (memo here). The plan reportedly follows the prior implementation plan closely. The Air Force says training will “soon begin,” while the Navy has already set its schedule.
The Air Force Times notes the training and logistical requirements of Read more
The Inspector General has reportedly determined that US Navy Ensign Steve Crowston faced reprisal in the form of an “unfavorable fitness report” after lodging complaints against his leadership.
Crowston was an “administration/legal officer” and had recently become an officer after previously serving as a petty officer. The aviators in his unit included him in the fighter pilot tradition of a Naming; Crowston lodged complaints as a result.
Crowston’s then-commander, Cmdr Liam Bruen, Read more
Below is an update on ongoing issues with respect to the planned repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
Included below:
The WorldNetDaily previously reported on the anonymous objection by an Army commander to the repeal of the policy known as “Don’t ask, don’t tell,” and his request to be reassigned rather than be an agent for that change.
The WND is now reporting that he was reassigned to a staff position in accordance with his wishes. Unfortunately, the officer may reveal a fault in his chosen course of action:
He said many of the men under his command share his views.
The men (formerly) under his command are now without his moral leadership. For their benefit, may another man of moral character take his place.
Via the Army Chaplaincy Blog.
Alan Sears of the Alliance Defense Fund has an interesting article at the Christian Post entitled Morality and the Military, covering much of the recent discussion on the policy most often known as “Don’t ask, don’t tell.”
The repeal of DADT was wrong not, primarily, because the changes it will bring will radically transform both the U.S. military and its relationship with key allies all over the world, and inevitably undermine the security and defenses of our nation. Nor even because it was passed over the vehement objections of the great majority of America’s fighting servicemen whose daily lives and service it will soon and drastically impact.
No, ultimately there’s only one reason to oppose the repeal – and it is, of course, the reason that almost no politician or military officer is willing or able to say, right out loud. Read more
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has said he hopes policy changes necessary for DADT repeal will be accomplished “within a matter of a very few weeks” so “the real challenge” can begin:
“My hope is that it can be done within a matter of a very few weeks so that we can then move on to what is the real challenge, which is providing training to 2.2 million people,” Gates said…
Commanders will provide all troops with some sort of education Read more
In an interesting twist, US Navy CAPT Owen Honors, recently fired from his position as skipper of the USS Enterprise, is being defended in the press by former Sailors who served under his command — and are homosexual.
“He wasn’t insulting” gay sailors, added Mr. Solis [a gay former Sailor], “They were just harmless jokes.”
Capt. Honors “absolutely did not” create a hostile or homophobic atmosphere on board, added Eric M. Prenger, a gay sailor Read more