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Gates Urges Repeal, Says Survey Shows No Big Deal To Repealing DADT

11/30/10-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
There are a total of 203,000 active duty and 40,000 reserve Marines in the United States military out of a total of around 1,500,000 active duty and nearly the same number of reserve servicemembers. The Marines make up roughly eight percent of the entire military, and they are the ones with the biggest problem with repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Over all, the survey concludes that there will be a low risk to the armed forces ability to carry out their mission if DADT is repealed, and 70% of servicemembers believe that it would have little or no effect on their units according to the survey that is being released today.

69% of the respondents to the survey reported serving with someone in their unit that they believed to be lesbian or gay, and 92% of those who reported that said that their unit’s ability to work together was “very good, good or neither good nor poor”. 89% of Army combat units and 84% of Marine combat units stated that they had good or neutral experiences working with lesbians and gays.

Between 40% and 60% of all male combat units- namely Marines and Army- expressed concern or predicted a negative reaction regarding repeal of DADT, and only 30% of the total number of troops felt had similar concerns. It should be noted, again, the Marines constitute less than ten percent of the military right now. Gates did not believe that these concerns were insurmountable, and that there is a strong need to be very cautious with implementation of repeal.

Gates did point out that the survey was the ‘most subjective and extensive review ever’. He also stated that there might be some short term disruption, but it were not be any long term disruptions. Gates went on to urge the Senate to repeal DADT and that there is a strong urgency to pass the repeal in order to head off the courts and allow the Pentagon to step down the repeal of DADT in a manner that will make the disruptions- especially those in the combat units- to be least damaging.

Without calling out Senator John McCain, Gates made it clear that it was necessary to get this done, and felt that it will need to be done slowly with great care and education and preparation will allow for the military to repeal DADT properly. Gates noted that, as head of the CIA, he integrated lesbians and gays and made it clear that they be treated as any other applicant.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen pointed out that the research done by the working group pointed out that this was the most comprehensive survey and expansive surveys done with regards to the attitudes of military personnel. According to Admiral Mullen, strong leadership will be the biggest key to repealing DADT. He also stated that no matter what happens, the standards of military behavior and efficiency will not be harmed, and again urged that the Senate repeal the law legislatively in order to allow the military implement the changes slowly.

Answering one reporter’s question, Gates made it clear that they will move as quickly as possible to implement the repeal, but noted that President Barack Obama would be making sure that the military does not dawdle. Still, Gates and Mullen did not know how long it would take to implement the changes. Gates did make it clear that the chaplains already serve in a force where the majority of the troops do not believe in the same faith that they do, and there is already no restrictions on the military to force them to teach or not teach anything not in accord with their religious beliefs.

JD Smith of OutServe stated :

“The report and the endorsement by Secretary Gates ends this debate, now it becomes a question whether or not people like Senator McCain truly choose to support the military by following their recommendations”

Source 1
Gates/Mullen Briefing