Stardreamer
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I've been too busy lately with school work to get on here much but we got our training today on the repeal of DADT and the policies being put in place by the Army. Here is the summary of the changes that will be taking effect:
- Upon implementation, troops will no longer be subject to discharge for 'legal' homosexual acts, statements of homosexual or bisexual orientation or marriage to a same-sex spouse.
- Sexual orientation will not be a consideration on eligibility to serve. The Don't Ask part of the policy will remain in recruitment. If you tell the recruiter is not to consider the information.
- Sexual orientation is considered a private and personal matter, the military will not inquire or keep track of individual troop's orientation.
- ALL troops will be held to the SAME standard of conduct. PERIOD. This includes personal displays of affection and political acts. The primary change here is homosexual service members will be held to the SAME standards heterosexual members are held to.
- There will be no special policy or standard regarding sexual orientation in billeting, housing, or other facilities. Commanders do however have the power to make case by case accommodations in the interest of maintaining morale, good order and discipline if a situation threatens to impact the mission.
- There will be no changes in a soldier's 'existing' rights to free speech and the exercise of religion.
- There will be no changes in the rights of chaplains to practice their religion or their duty to service all. Under current free speech/religious freedom regulation the military is VERY limited in its ability to dictate what a chaplain can say in services. Chaplains can condemn homosexuality in general in church services. Chaplains are required to provide services to all personnel regardless of those personnel's beliefs. If a conflict arises that prevents this the chaplain must do everything in his power to see that the individual soldier's needs are meet even if he cannot provide them.
- All solders are required to respect and serve with others who hold different views and beliefs. Failure to do so is conduct unbecoming and punishable under the UCMJ. (This is existing policy and is no change.)
- Because of DOMA, the military cannot recognize same sex marriages but individual soldiers may still allocate those benefits they can electively assign like any other single troop. (Same sex couples will not qualify for family housing unless they have a dependent child).
- Sexual orientation WILL NOT be added as a protected class under the Military Equal opportunity system like race, color or religion.
- Harassment and abuse for ANY REASON including sexual orientation will not be tolerated and troops will have the right to file complaints through the command, IG and MEO systems. Such complaints must be investigated.
- No special consideration will be given to assignments based on sexual orientation but commanders will have the right to set special restrictions or policies in countries where homosexual conduct is illegal.
- There will be no changes in medical policy or procedures. The DoD has determined that current policies dealing with HIV and other potential issues are adequate.
- There will be no exceptions to service commitments for personnel who object to serving with homosexuals. They will not be allowed to leave the service early.
- The military will not request, collect or maintain information on sexual orientation of personnel.
- The term homosexual will be replaced with Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual (GLB) in regulations. (They seem to feel this give a more realistic view of personnel.)
- Individuals discharged under DADT may reapply for service provided there are no other factors.
- Transgender and Transsexual individuals will not be accepted for military service. This is a separate existing policy from DADT related to physical standards.
- No service member can refuse to use assigned billeting and other shared facilities or duty assignments because of objections to homosexual service members. No special facilities will be built based on sexual orientation. Individuals can file a request and commanders have the authority to apply their own discretion in the best interests of moral, good order and discipline in accordance with DoD policy and resources available.
- Sodomy while still listed in the UCMJ has been greatly restricted by rulings by the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces that have determined that private consensual sexual activity (including sodomy) is a protected right under the 14th Amendment. UCMJ sodomy regulations can only be applied in situations involving conduct unbecoming (public sex acts, relations between senior and junior personnel in the same command, rape, acts involving a minor, etc.). Sexual misconduct of any kind will not be tolerated gay or straight.
That is about it. Sounds pretty good to me, they seem to be following the British approach which worked pretty well for their military. Any questions?
- Upon implementation, troops will no longer be subject to discharge for 'legal' homosexual acts, statements of homosexual or bisexual orientation or marriage to a same-sex spouse.
- Sexual orientation will not be a consideration on eligibility to serve. The Don't Ask part of the policy will remain in recruitment. If you tell the recruiter is not to consider the information.
- Sexual orientation is considered a private and personal matter, the military will not inquire or keep track of individual troop's orientation.
- ALL troops will be held to the SAME standard of conduct. PERIOD. This includes personal displays of affection and political acts. The primary change here is homosexual service members will be held to the SAME standards heterosexual members are held to.
- There will be no special policy or standard regarding sexual orientation in billeting, housing, or other facilities. Commanders do however have the power to make case by case accommodations in the interest of maintaining morale, good order and discipline if a situation threatens to impact the mission.
- There will be no changes in a soldier's 'existing' rights to free speech and the exercise of religion.
- There will be no changes in the rights of chaplains to practice their religion or their duty to service all. Under current free speech/religious freedom regulation the military is VERY limited in its ability to dictate what a chaplain can say in services. Chaplains can condemn homosexuality in general in church services. Chaplains are required to provide services to all personnel regardless of those personnel's beliefs. If a conflict arises that prevents this the chaplain must do everything in his power to see that the individual soldier's needs are meet even if he cannot provide them.
- All solders are required to respect and serve with others who hold different views and beliefs. Failure to do so is conduct unbecoming and punishable under the UCMJ. (This is existing policy and is no change.)
- Because of DOMA, the military cannot recognize same sex marriages but individual soldiers may still allocate those benefits they can electively assign like any other single troop. (Same sex couples will not qualify for family housing unless they have a dependent child).
- Sexual orientation WILL NOT be added as a protected class under the Military Equal opportunity system like race, color or religion.
- Harassment and abuse for ANY REASON including sexual orientation will not be tolerated and troops will have the right to file complaints through the command, IG and MEO systems. Such complaints must be investigated.
- No special consideration will be given to assignments based on sexual orientation but commanders will have the right to set special restrictions or policies in countries where homosexual conduct is illegal.
- There will be no changes in medical policy or procedures. The DoD has determined that current policies dealing with HIV and other potential issues are adequate.
- There will be no exceptions to service commitments for personnel who object to serving with homosexuals. They will not be allowed to leave the service early.
- The military will not request, collect or maintain information on sexual orientation of personnel.
- The term homosexual will be replaced with Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual (GLB) in regulations. (They seem to feel this give a more realistic view of personnel.)
- Individuals discharged under DADT may reapply for service provided there are no other factors.
- Transgender and Transsexual individuals will not be accepted for military service. This is a separate existing policy from DADT related to physical standards.
- No service member can refuse to use assigned billeting and other shared facilities or duty assignments because of objections to homosexual service members. No special facilities will be built based on sexual orientation. Individuals can file a request and commanders have the authority to apply their own discretion in the best interests of moral, good order and discipline in accordance with DoD policy and resources available.
- Sodomy while still listed in the UCMJ has been greatly restricted by rulings by the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces that have determined that private consensual sexual activity (including sodomy) is a protected right under the 14th Amendment. UCMJ sodomy regulations can only be applied in situations involving conduct unbecoming (public sex acts, relations between senior and junior personnel in the same command, rape, acts involving a minor, etc.). Sexual misconduct of any kind will not be tolerated gay or straight.
That is about it. Sounds pretty good to me, they seem to be following the British approach which worked pretty well for their military. Any questions?
