Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Know

In the President’s State of the Union speech he mentioned repealing the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding gay members serving in the armed forces.

Once again the military must bear the brunt of a politically correct whim in social experimentation. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mullen testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on the opening salvo of this debate.

Those that make the rules will never be personally affected in their lifetime by a repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. That includes senior military leadership that agree as “yes men” to go along with this repeal. There has always been a disconnect between high-ranking officers and the junior enlisted ranks or at the very least a perception of disconnect on the part of these younger service members who are always on the receiving end of higher echelon decisions. Openly gay troops add one more dimension and challenge to unit morale.

Both Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen agreed that it will take input and feedback from all service members past and present to be brought into this debate. It is therefore vital that current service members as well as former service members be included in any discussion or review that moves the process forward in repealing this policy. Those that have never served, including those members of congress that have no military background, have absolutlely no legitimate or credible perspective and would provide nothing more than baseless, unsubstantiated opinions. Those non-service members need to refrain from providing input on this subject. Quite simply, they have nothing to offer in the way of expertise on this matter.

The military is once again navigating unchartered territory. They don’t know the full ramifications of repealing this ban. But, as always, our Armed Forces will accept their marching orders and move on.