Comments on: Is It Time To Repeal The “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” Policy? http://rightvoices.com/2008/07/08/is-it-time-to-repeal-the-dont-ask-dont-tell-policy/ in all matter of opinion, our adversaries are insane. Sun, 08 Aug 2010 14:43:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: FrmrArtyOffcr http://rightvoices.com/2008/07/08/is-it-time-to-repeal-the-dont-ask-dont-tell-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-725138 FrmrArtyOffcr Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:07:06 +0000 http://rightvoices.com/2008/07/08/is-it-time-to-repeal-the-dont-ask-dont-tell-policy/#comment-725138 While I have no problem with gays serving openly in the military, I am not your run of the mill 18 yr old who has been told that homosexuals are the spawn of the devil. As a commander, I would not want to have to contend with the discipline issues that would arise from an openly gay service member being placed into a combat unit where the vast majority of the enlisted men were raised to despise homosexuals. Even if only 2-3% of the soldiers so raised did anything, the resulting problems would not be worth the headaches. The derogatory comments and potential for violence would be enough to disrupt operations in a garrison environment and be potentially fatal in a combat one. The Uniform Code of Military Justice has an offense called "prejudicial to good order and discipline". It is a catch all offense. Anything that a CO deems as disruptive can be charged. Would it be better to have a gay military member's presents result in multiple charges being filed against other members of the unit, or to avoid the situation entirely? I would have no problem with Gay members in the Air Force or Coast Guard primarily because these units tend to be mostly coed and unlikely to be in extremely dangerous combat conditions. The Navy, Army and Marines on the other hand are in either extremely tight quarters or combat operations that could result in openly gay service members being at risk of harassment or harm. I can foresee the joking/snide remark being reported up the chain of command resulting in a 19 yr old being demoted, losing pay and being forced to perform additional duty. I can then see that 19 yr old (and/or his friends) taking out a much more physical revenge on the gay service member later. I would guess its a real damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. While I have no problem with gays serving openly in the military, I am not your run of the mill 18 yr old who has been told that homosexuals are the spawn of the devil. As a commander, I would not want to have to contend with the discipline issues that would arise from an openly gay service member being placed into a combat unit where the vast majority of the enlisted men were raised to despise homosexuals. Even if only 2-3% of the soldiers so raised did anything, the resulting problems would not be worth the headaches. The derogatory comments and potential for violence would be enough to disrupt operations in a garrison environment and be potentially fatal in a combat one.

The Uniform Code of Military Justice has an offense called “prejudicial to good order and discipline”. It is a catch all offense. Anything that a CO deems as disruptive can be charged. Would it be better to have a gay military member’s presents result in multiple charges being filed against other members of the unit, or to avoid the situation entirely? I would have no problem with Gay members in the Air Force or Coast Guard primarily because these units tend to be mostly coed and unlikely to be in extremely dangerous combat conditions. The Navy, Army and Marines on the other hand are in either extremely tight quarters or combat operations that could result in openly gay service members being at risk of harassment or harm. I can foresee the joking/snide remark being reported up the chain of command resulting in a 19 yr old being demoted, losing pay and being forced to perform additional duty. I can then see that 19 yr old (and/or his friends) taking out a much more physical revenge on the gay service member later.

I would guess its a real damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation.

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