'Don't Ask' report will be released in full Dec. 1

News > 'Don't Ask' report will be released in full Dec. 1

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Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell discusses the possible repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy Nov. 18, 2010, during a press briefing. Mr. Morrell said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates would prefer to delay any legislative action until after the Dec. 1, 2010, release of the Defense Department's internal review of the proposal. (Department of Defense photo/R. D. Ward)
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'Don't Ask' report will be released in full Dec. 1

Posted 11/18/2010

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by Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

11/18/2010 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The report of the working group looking at the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law will be released in full Dec. 1, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said here today.

President Barack Obama has asked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to submit legislation to repeal the law as part of the Defense Authorization Bill.

Senator Reid said the Senate will look at this proposal after Thanksgiving.

"(President Obama) has made a call, as I understand it, to Senator (Carl) Levin this week and Senator Reid, I believe, as well, making it clear that he wants to see the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' attached to ... the National Defense Authorization Act," Mr. Morrell told reporters at the Pentagon.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates supports repeal of the law that excludes openly gay servicemembers from serving in the military.

"He was very clear then as well that there is a preferred order in doing things," Mr. Morrell said.

Secretary Gates first wants a study done on the possible ramifications a repeal of the law would have on the force. The study group, led by Defense Department General Counsel Jeh Johnson and Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, is nearly finished with its work.

DOD officials are working from drafts of the report to assess what would have to be done in the event of a repeal of the law.

The plan is for the report to be delivered Dec. 1, "at which time it will be provided to the Congress," Mr. Morrell said. "It will be provided to you, so everyone can see the nine-month effort that's been underway to try to figure out the implications of a repeal and what needs to be done internally to prepare for that change. We're almost there."

DOD officials are getting feedback from the service secretaries and service chiefs on the report.

That information also will be presented to Secretary Gates as he charts a course forward for the department, Mr. Morrell said.

The work on the report is being performed on parallel tracks rather than concurrently, Mr. Morrell said. The original plan was to present the report to the secretary and then distribute it to the services for comment.

"So we are right now finishing the report, working with the chiefs, working with the service secretaries, getting their input, finalizing this report, and at the same time ... formulating the way ahead for this department to proceed, come December the 1st," Mr. Morrell said. "All that hard work is being done simultaneously."

Comments

1/12/2011 3:54:17 AM ET
@ KR Sheppard - Actions that people take are by choice. Feelingsthoughtsbeliefsinclinations do not make us do anything in life. Ever heard the old saying by Flip Wilson The devil made me do it Each person chooses is responsible for their actions so YES gays do make a choice just like straights do.

JJ, Hawaii

11/29/2010 12:45:18 AM ET
The military has recognized that dictated change does not always bring increased military effectiveness the basic ideas they apply to reform. The lessons have not been learned by all because of there will always be someone that interpets the directive different from the way its intended. This will happen from base to base and Command to Command. This is a deep rooted social phobia that will take years to take root and see anything positive negative come out of repealing DADT. That is until the next round of campaign agendas.

Stan, OH

11/24/2010 8:23:27 AM ET
@stan keep the comment sniping out, comments like that derail the conversation.--Brought to you by Liberals for Social Reform

SSgt Driskell, Lackland AFB

11/23/2010 8:23:22 AM ET
@ Sullivan and John, I'd love to see the paperwork that comes across your command's desk when an investigation is done for any hate crimes against a gay service member. @RM's Comment it is difficult to compare a race to a sexual preference. But I see your point. I personally see no difference in discrimination based on race religion gender or sexual preference. Could have been addressed better but I see where you are coming from. @Bubba it has nothing to do with personal depravity and our societal decline that fosters it. To even apply that it has to do with any flaw in our society or type of personal preference then you need to pick up a book take a humanities course or watch the history channel. Take that confederate flag off the hood of your truck and try being more accepting of other people.

Big Willy, WPAFB

11/22/2010 5:47:18 PM ET
There is absolutely NO scientific evidence supporting the mistaken belief that homosexuality is genetic. Traits such as race skin color or gender ARE genetic. Repealing DADT would cause huge logistical and financial problems for every branch of service in the DOD in order to accommodate homosexuality in the military. I have nothing against homosexuals I just believe that that is something that should be kept in one's private life and not in the public sphere.

Defender, Whiteman AFB MO

11/22/2010 4:20:50 PM ET
@Tom -- you took the words right out of my mouth. America will not survive if us hyper-powerful military types are going to start dictating national policy. The public has spoken and the laws of this nation require us to comply... so we will. The study will determine whether or not that is possible -- spoiler alert it is. It will also equip leadership with the info necessary to implement change effectively. I really don't believe that a Straight KKK is going to be running around our bases lynching homosexuals... but we'll just have to wait and see what the report says.

tr, ok

11/22/2010 4:17:42 PM ET
Looking historically the military of our nation has done 2 things. It has mirrored the society and culture it serves and it has often been on the leading edge of cultural changes. Given these two scenarios why wouldn't it be perfectly acceptable for an openly gay person to serve their country? Homosexuals are now generally accepted in today's culture and are no longer forced to live secret lives because of their sexual orientation. Why should the military that serves them have any sort of different make-up? Or do we as a society wish to endure another civil rights movement on a scale much larger than was seen in the southern states during the 1960s and 1970s? I personally do not. Homosexuality is here to stay so we as a society need to learn to like it or learn to deal with it because it isn't going anywhere.

Serving SSgt, JBER AK

11/22/2010 4:00:56 PM ET
I think one of the issues that needs to be addressed or considered is if the repeal of Dont ask dont tell is to take affect where does it go from there. It has been well documented that this liberal leftist agenda will not stop here. It will then be pressed for condoned marriage of same sex and then benefits for the life partner which DoD has been crying about the cost associated with health care already will they then press for SBP Insurance etc. It is not so much the ability of gays to serve they have been for decades it is just one more institution the radical left wants to break down. I think DoD is merely being utilized as a pawn in an ever growing agenda.

Troy, Texas

11/22/2010 2:17:02 PM ET
Bubba it seems that YOU are the one who shows a fundamental lack of comprehension of the topic. Every major study has come to show that homosexuality is not a choice. I see no reason why anyone should take you seriously.

Aaron Steigerwalt, Altus AFB OK

11/22/2010 2:14:03 PM ET
Mr Sullivan @SC @RM Bubba...At some point in our history we have felt that way against women minorities of various color or backrounds religious groups and cultures. But as man woman gains in wisdom and evolves we learn that judging someone based on these things is wrong and we accept who and what they are and what they are capable of. If you are religious it would fall under Judge not lest ye be judged that is God's job not yours. As a person it is Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. You are entitled to disagree with what is happening and share your opinion, but keep your hate to yourself because the only social decline I see is when people use that hate to intimidate or effect others. Straight or gay doesn't matter the desire and capability to serve is the only thing of importance. Would you rather have your son or daughter die in battle than be saved just because the person to save them may be gay?

JD, Active Duty

11/22/2010 1:12:18 PM ET
Again the military is being used for Liberal views of social reform

Stan, OH

11/22/2010 12:06:44 PM ET
@Bubba, Homosexuals do not CHOOSE to be homosexual any more than you CHOSE your sexual preference. Did you wake up one day and say "Well I guess today I will choose to be heterosexual?" No? Well neither does anyone else.

KR, Sheppard

11/22/2010 10:06:53 AM ET
The purpose of the study was not whether or not to repeal the law. The DoD had already stated they would comply with the repeal if it was signed into law. The puspose of the study was to determine what areas of concern needed to be addressed, how best to address them, and what kind of timeline would be required to implement the required changes to minimize any potential problems. Yes, you could simply flip the switch and implement this overnight but would it necessarily be the best, safest, most effective or smartest thing to do? Maybe or maybe not.

Tom, WPAFB OH

11/22/2010 9:33:25 AM ET
@ Someone, Your contradict yourself with your statement. You respect everyone's comment yet you point out RM is disrespectful You can insert any derogatory slang in place of the word gay and it would still be an absurd statement. The DADT argument is not over terminology, it's over perceptions. And furthermore, we are all free to voice our opinions in this forum so please don't play referee here.

SC, Macdill

11/22/2010 8:15:37 AM ET
@ Someone, leave SC alone. He/She is just providing his/her opinion on the subject matter. Thank you.

SSgt Driskell, Lackland AFB

11/22/2010 6:26:20 AM ET
I, along with many others, believe that this will be the worst decision made during the Barack Obama administration. The U.S. military is known as the strongest military in the world so when people compare our situation with Canada and other countries that allow this. Its unrealistic of the situation. We rely on our public to support the military and we're going to take a huge hit from our public if DADT doesn't remain.

Marie, Germany

11/22/2010 12:23:37 AM ET
@ Bubba, I hope you don't wake up every morning and make a conscious decision to enjoy the company of women. If you do then perhaps it is time to ask yourself a question. Being attracted to someone has nothing to do with personal choice. It is simply who you are. I am not now nor have I ever been attracted to another male nor ever entertained the idea. I like women and I don't have to make a conscious decision about that every morning. I just do. @ Retired Chief, from my understanding, the study was more of a way on how to institute it rather than whether or not to actually repeal it. For example, would special facilities be required? Would open-bay showers in Basic Training no longer be acceptable? I believe the intent has been there since the beginning of this study. This was simply a way to find out the possible impact when it did happen.

Gerald, Osan

11/21/2010 6:24:41 PM ET
@Bubba, I have to say that your comment would also indicate a fundamental lack of understanding. You seem to be under the misunderstanding that homosexual attraction is a lifestyle choice. While in some cases this can be true, in most it's not. We are one of only two species on the planet who have sex for any reason other than procreation. If homosexuality was a lifestyle choice we wouldn't see this behavior in any of the other millions of species out there, but in fact we do. There is scientific evidence to strongly support that homosexuality is genetic rather than voluntary.

SSgt, Misawa Japan

11/21/2010 3:33:03 PM ET
I am certainly not surprised by this. What else would you expect from those who have never served nor know what it means to serve?

DT, SE United States

11/21/2010 3:48:07 AM ET
I cannot believe how ignorant most people in the military are and I pray the homosexual servicemen and women serving our country can receive the equal rights that they deserve.

Danielle, Holloman AFB NM

11/20/2010 7:01:26 PM ET
SC - As a current service member in the USAF, I can tell you from personal experience ... not that much has changed since then. 2010 or not, physical altercations WILL happen if homosexuals in the military come out.

John, FAFB WA

11/20/2010 6:37:35 PM ET
Mr. Sullivan's point is that all we've ever been told is that AIDS is caused by some of the acts believed to go on in a gay relationship. Don't you all recall the don't touch the blood or saliva of an AIDS HIV infected person? Again maybe we just need to have an understanding of the facts of said subjects. I don't see any reason why a gay individual can't serve as we know there are many outstanding performers now. But we'll need to clear up the perceptions attached to the gay lifestyle.

Dave in Korea, South Korea

11/20/2010 5:25:18 PM ET
Mr Sullivan's and Bubba's comments are exactly what's wrong with America's views on GLBT lifestyles. There are many great minds in the world and some of those happen to be GLBT individuals. Yet because of how closed-minded some individuals can be they are denied the right to serve their country. Or they have to hide who they really are.I can't say whether being GLBT is a choice as I'm not a psychiatrist or anything near that career field, but regardless it's ridiculous to see that someone being gay breeds so much hate and negativity. How does someone being gay affect your life aside from you CHOOSING to be disgusted by it? The answer is it doesn't. I hope that this pointless act gets repealed and many more great people can lend their services to our country without fear.

anonymous, somewhere

11/20/2010 2:13:02 PM ET
I am probably going to upset quite a few people with this comment but here is a dose of reality. Sexual orientation does not equal race so stop comparing attitudes toward other races to homosexuality. The reality is that homosexuality is either a choice e.g. bisexuality or a genetic anomaly something that deviates from the norm or from expectations. In either case does it call for special consideration or laws. People seem to forget that DADT was a way to allow gays to serve without asking about their homosexual history. What you do in the privacy of your own house is your business but I don't want to see it or hear about it. When HIV testing is done at the MEPS station will this now be considered profiling? The first time that we are REQUIRED to celebrate Gay Pride month will likely be the beginning of a mass exodus.

Steve W, USA

11/19/2010 10:10:44 PM ET
DADT is in protection of gays. Without it alot of them would be pretty bloody and bruised. I don't give a rat's you know what about your sexual preference keep it to yourself. We are in an elite professional atmosphere I am here to get the job done and you should be too. The founding fathers of this country sure would be ashamed of the way we are today. Keep the gays out or at least keep them in the closet. And no don't even compare yourselves to the civil rights movement.

American, America

11/19/2010 4:14:34 PM ET
I cannot wait, the suspense is killing me. One way or the other. With that said I am hopeful that DADT will be repealed and repealed in a very orderly and effective fashion. Although most of us -perception- don't really care if someone is gaybitransetc I can see issues that would arise if the policies set in place for the repeal and its administration aren't thought out well... as witnessed in both our military and civilian history in dealing with other important issues.I love my country. I love my Air Force. I'd like to see both move in a positive direction.

Shane, Travis AFB California

11/19/2010 4:07:47 PM ET
What exactly is the purpose for this ridiculous study anyway Since when is populism the guiding principle for the civilian military department chief to direct policy Is there any real reason that Mr. Gates cannot or will not simply repeal DADT by the same method of executive prerogative and decision-making privilege that originally put it in place? Is he really so lacking in self-confidence that he allows his authority to be suborned to the political whim of the military personnel he commands? Does this method of decision-making make him immune to the consequences of the decision by virtue of a popular primary?

Retired Chief, Wisconsin

11/19/2010 3:39:51 PM ET
At RM Trying to suggest that substituting negro for gay shows a fundamental lack of comprehension of the topic. One's color race gender is not a choice performing homosexual acts requires a choice which is in total control of the individual. The only thing that allows such a deviant lifestyle choice to prosper is personal depravity and our societal decline that fosters it.

Bubba, VAFB

11/19/2010 3:19:03 PM ET
@ RM - Disrespectful comment. Nuff said. As a person who is somewhat on the fence with this topic I respect all and every single comment regarding DADT. At SC leave Mr. Sullivan alone. He is just providing his opinion on the subject matter. Thank you.

Someone, Somewhere

11/19/2010 2:56:10 PM ET
Political pressure by the commander in chief such as making it clear that he wants to see the repeal completely discounts all of the work and staff hours that went in to creating the report before it can even be published as well as silence the opinions of those who were asked to be heard. Perhaps the setbacks in the administration over historic election losses and a fruitless trip abroad has forced it to go back to the campaign grab bag and find an issue on which it can force its hand regardless of public opinion.

D. Patrick, Indiana

11/19/2010 2:42:30 PM ET
So the report's not done yet but the Senate is already being asked to put the language in the NDAA. What happened to study digest act...in that order

MM, NE

11/19/2010 2:18:56 PM ET
With all due respect to MSgt Sullivan's service please remove the word 'gay' and insert the word 'negro' and see just how ludicrous his comment is. MSgt Sullivan during your career you served with gay Airmen. A lot of them...

RM, Denver CO

11/19/2010 1:28:17 PM ET
Mr. Sullivan with all due respect that was then. It's 2010 now. Get over it.

SC, Macdill

11/19/2010 1:17:39 PM ET
The real problem with the report is the early release of a lot of major portions of the report. It seems like it was released early for political reasons. Why should there be a huge outcry when an enlisted troop releases documents to the public, but apparently senior members of DoD release documents and nothing will be done? The early release appears to be in order to gain favor from the current administration but brings into question the integrity of the department.

Jerry, Oklahoma

11/18/2010 8:41:09 PM ET
I am retired but when I was in service a great majority of the men didn't want anything to do with gays and certainly would NOT give mouth to mouth respiration to save any of them. Also gays would probably meet with physical altercations.

Boyd Sullivan MSgt USAF Ret, Ethelsville AL

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