New Policy On Gays and Lesbians In Military Kicks In Tuesday

Posted Sep 19, 2011 by Howard Altman

Updated Sep 19, 2011 at 09:29 PM

When you wake up at 0-dark-30, it’ll be a brand new world.

At 12:01 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 20, Title 10 United States Code, Section 654 and associated policies - otherwise known as “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” will be repealed. The change in policy, according to the website of MacDill Air Force Base, “recognizes the most valuable component of our national defense is the men and women in uniform who make up America’s all-volunteer force.”

In all, 2.3 million service members have received sensitivity training on the expectations moving forward, according to the Pentagon. I’ve been trying mightily to get a sense of what’s been taking place at our nearest military installation, and I am told that, hopefully on the first day of the new policy, that might happen.

In the meantime, here’s the word out of the Pentagon, via a Q and A between the Pentagon press gaggle and Pentagon spokesman George Little.

1. What percent of the force has been trained?

2.3 million service members have been trained. The services provided commanders and experts in the field with the training tools to educate the force on what is expected in a post-repeal environment.  The training focused on the changes in policy affected by the repeal of DADT, and on expectations that service members will continue to treat each other with dignity and respect.

(NOTE: The 2.3 million service members trained is the latest and great figure I received today—the earlier figure I sent was 2.25 million.)

2. What is the recruiting policy on openly gay individuals who wish to join the military after 12:01 am?

While applicants are not asked, or required to, reveal their sexual orientation, statements about sexual orientation will not be a bar to military service or admission to service academies, ROTC, or any other accession program.  Openly gay or lesbian applicants will be evaluated according to the same criteria and requirements applicable to all others seeking entry into the military.

3. Has this policy been pushed out to recruiters and will they take an application?

The attached USD P&R policy guidance was distributed on January 28, 2011.

4. Can you give us a feel for what materials are being distributed publically at 12:01 am?

The regulations implementing the policy will be posted on-line.  USD P&R will send a memo & a quick reference guide (FAQ) to the services, who will send messages as well.

MacDill, via its website, has this to say:

Sexual orientation remains a personal and private matter. Servicemembers and applicants to military service will not be asked or required to reveal their sexual orientation. Servicemembers are not subject to administrative separation for otherwise lawful homosexual acts, statements or marriage. Likewise sexual orientation or lawful acts of homosexual conduct will not be a bar to military service or admission to any accession program.

Every person in the armed forces has the right to achieve his or her potential without the barriers of discrimination. Therefore, servicemembers must be evaluated “only on individual merit, fitness and capability.” You do not have the right to refuse duty or duty assignments based on a moral objection to another’s sexual orientation; and harassment, bullying or victimizing of any kind will not be tolerated. As always, all members are responsible for upholding and maintaining high standards of conduct at all times and in all places.

Gay, lesbian and bisexual servicemembers are treated under the general principles of military equal opportunity (MEO) policy to “promote an environment free from personal, social or institutional barriers that prevent servicemembers from rising to the highest level of responsibility possible.” However, sexual orientation is not specified as a class eligible for the MEO complaint resolution process. Harassment based on sexual orientation should be addressed through command or inspector general channels.

Federal law and DoD regulations do not restrict a servicemember from designating a same-sex partner as a beneficiary for certain benefits such as the posthumous disbursement of funds from the servicemember’s Thrift-Savings Plan, the selection of a beneficiary for death gratuity and the proceeds from a life insurance policy provided under SGLI, or payment of any unpaid pay and allowances.

Of course, tomorrow may be a new day, but some things won’t change.

The Defense of Marriage Act and current benefit laws do not allow the DoD to extend many benefits, including dependent medical coverage, dependent-rate Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), and dependent-based travel, transportation and separation allowances to a servicemember in a relationship with a same-sex partner. Nor will the Survivor Benefit Plan’s annuities be paid to any non-dependent when death of the servicemember occurs on active duty.

And there’s another thing that’s remaining constant, and serves as a constant reminder of what’s at stake.

Another body of a service member killed in action is coming home tomorrow, this time Pvt. Christophe Marquis, 40, whose body is scheduled to arrive at 10:30 a.m.