Officials: Half of force trained on gay ban repeal

[tryreading]

Didn't see this posted anywhere. Seems things are going as expected regarding the new policy. I think most of us knew our military wouldn't fall apart over this.


WASHINGTON – More than a million U.S. troops — roughly half the armed forces — have been trained on the new law allowing gays to serve openly in the military, and so far there has been none of the turmoil or dire consequences predicted by opponents of what had been expected to be a wrenching change in military culture.

There's been no widespread resistance, no mad rush for the door by enlisted members opposed to the policy and no drop in recruiting.

"So far this seems to be a non-event," Gen. Peter Chiarelli, vice chief of staff for the Army, told reporters recently.


Officials: Half of force trained on gay ban repeal - Yahoo! News

 

[apdst]

Didn't see this posted anywhere. Seems things are going as expected regarding the new policy. I think most of us knew our military wouldn't fall apart over this.


WASHINGTON – More than a million U.S. troops — roughly half the armed forces — have been trained on the new law allowing gays to serve openly in the military, and so far there has been none of the turmoil or dire consequences predicted by opponents of what had been expected to be a wrenching change in military culture.

There's been no widespread resistance, no mad rush for the door by enlisted members opposed to the policy and no drop in recruiting.

"So far this seems to be a non-event," Gen. Peter Chiarelli, vice chief of staff for the Army, told reporters recently.


Officials: Half of force trained on gay ban repeal - Yahoo! News

It's only been a few months.

 

[Hatuey]

It's only been a few months.

You do understand that the overwhelming majority of people, that includes the military - simply aren't the biggoted homophobic hill billies you seem bent on portraying them as correct? If the military didn't fall apart over race, it won't fall apart over sexual preference. I'll bet anything on it.

 

[Goshin]

Didn't see this posted anywhere. Seems things are going as expected regarding the new policy. I think most of us knew our military wouldn't fall apart over this.


WASHINGTON – More than a million U.S. troops — roughly half the armed forces — have been trained on the new law allowing gays to serve openly in the military, and so far there has been none of the turmoil or dire consequences predicted by opponents of what had been expected to be a wrenching change in military culture.

There's been no widespread resistance, no mad rush for the door by enlisted members opposed to the policy and no drop in recruiting.

"So far this seems to be a non-event," Gen. Peter Chiarelli, vice chief of staff for the Army, told reporters recently.


Officials: Half of force trained on gay ban repeal - Yahoo! News

Well, that's good news. Hope it stays that way. I was fervently hoping this wasn't going to affect the military's combat readiness or morale; if it doesn't, good.

 

[DiAnna]

Since I'm female, I should refrain... but I can't! "I told y'all so!!!" :mrgreen

 

[Hatuey]

Well, that's good news. Hope it stays that way. I was fervently hoping this wasn't going to affect the military's combat readiness or morale; if it doesn't, good.

Why were you hoping it wasn't going to do something that nobody other than people with reservations - and by that I really mean clearcut homophobia - about homosexuality thought it was going to do? This is what is most perplexing about the supporters of DADT or similar policies. What exatcly did you think was going to happen? Sociologists have been explaining for years that military culture as neantherthal as it may seem in its customs to outsiders, is really not much different from the rest of the society. If anything the military's complete annihilation of individuality and emphasis on the group would suggest that integrating openly gay individuals would be no different than integrating someone who is left handed.

 

[Deuce]

Anybody who is truly incapable of maintaining discipline with THE GAYS serving openly instead of hidden is someone we don't need in the military anyway. It's America's armed forces. We expect the best.

 

[Hatuey]

Anybody who is truly incapable of maintaining discipline with THE GAYS serving openly instead of hidden is someone we don't need in the military anyway. It's America's armed forces. We expect the best.

A homosexual could never be the best in any capacity except doing homosexual stuff. It's in the Bible.

 

[Goshin]

Why were you hoping it wasn't going to do something that nobody other than people with reservations - and by that I really mean clearcut homophobia - about homosexuality thought it was going to do? This is what is most perplexing about the supporters of DADT or similar policies. What exatcly did you think was going to happen? Sociologists have been explaining for years that military culture as neantherthal as it may seem in its customs to outsiders, is really not much different from the rest of the society. If anything the military's complete annihilation of individuality and emphasis on the group would suggest that integrating openly gay individuals would be no different than integrating someone who is left handed.

Shouldn't assume, Hat.

I refrained from commenting much on ending DADT when it was a big topic of discussion here a little while back, because I was denied military service due to a hearing problem. The only thing I said about it was, that I hoped they handled this transition carefully and made sure it wasn't going to affect military readiness... a concern that many veterans here had expressed. When I say I'm glad things are going OK so far, and I hope it stays that way.... I meant exactly, precisely, what I actually said.

It's called honesty.

 

[apdst]

You do understand that the overwhelming majority of people, that includes the military - simply aren't the biggoted homophobic hill billies you seem bent on portraying them as correct? If the military didn't fall apart over race, it won't fall apart over sexual preference. I'll bet anything on it.

So, how were you in the service?

 

[apdst]

Anybody who is truly incapable of maintaining discipline with THE GAYS serving openly instead of hidden is someone we don't need in the military anyway. It's America's armed forces. We expect the best.

What about gays who can't maintain discipline? You're right, we expect the best. We have standards. Not flaunting one's sexuality is a part of that standard.

 

[Deuce]

So, how were you in the service?

Are you suggesting that the majority of servicemembers are homophobic? Apparently your opinion of them isn't as high as I thought.

 

[Deuce]

What about gays who can't maintain discipline? You're right, we expect the best. We have standards. Not flaunting one's sexuality is a part of that standard.

Homosexuals who can't maintain discipline should receive exactly the same treatment as anyone else who can't maintain discipline. I'm surprised you'd even ask this question of me. Clearly you have some strange ideas about what homosexuals and their supporters actually want. (hint: equal treatment is equal treatment)

 

[apdst]

Are you suggesting that the majority of servicemembers are homophobic? Apparently your opinion of them isn't as high as I thought.

Why do you hate our service members?

Homosexuals who can't maintain discipline should receive exactly the same treatment as anyone else who can't maintain discipline. I'm surprised you'd even ask this question of me. Clearly you have some strange ideas about what homosexuals and their supporters actually want. (hint: equal treatment is equal treatment)

We'll see what tune you sing the first time a gay soldier gets kicked out for, "being gay".

 

[Hatuey]

What about gays who can't maintain discipline? You're right, we expect the best. We have standards. Not flaunting one's sexuality is a part of that standard.

Gee I denno bubbah. The answer of what to do with anybody who can't maintain discipline is so.... elusive... seriously, is your job serve fries at McDonald's or something? Cause that's the only way one would have to be completely ignorant of what to do with any employee who does not perform their duties and tasks.

 

[apdst]

Gee I denno bubbah. The answer of what to do with anybody who can't maintain discipline is so.... elusive... seriously, is your job serve fries at McDonald's or something? Cause that's the only way one would have to be completely ignorant of what to do with any employee who does not perform their duties and tasks.

It's too early to claim a complete success. There hasn't been enough time for anything to go wrong. So, I would wait on the victory parade.

 

[Hatuey]

It's too early to claim a complete success. There hasn't been enough time for anything to go wrong. So, I would wait on the victory parade.

People who disapprove of homosexuality are like those lame kids bookstories Goosebumps that they use to give in Jr High. They always try to creep you out by saying "You never know!" at the end of the conversation.

 

[apdst]

People who disapprove of homosexuality are like those lame kids bookstories Goosebumps that they use to give in Jr High. They always try to creep you out by saying "You never know!" at the end of the conversation.

So, basically, anyone that isn't jumping for joy with you right now, is a homophobe? Can you possibly see how lame that logic is? Oh, wait...

 

[roguenuke]

My husband and I have both had our training.

Mine included only one question about berthing arrangements and comfort level (that was handled pretty well by our officer who was giving the training). And, there is some talk that the plan right now is to eventually incorporate some sort of benefits arrangement for same sex partners (after a few years, and from what our officer told me from the info he has gotten) should getting SSM legalized take a lot longer than expected.

My husbands' training included a message from his leading officer that was basically "no change". Although that really isn't true, since an issue that came up in the past year involving a fight between girlfriends shows that there are at least some things that will be treated differently once DADT is officially repealed, including domestic fights (now, at least some military police recommend that no matter the circumstances of a fight between a same sex couple and which was to blame, they should not claim themselves as a couple since they could technically still be discharged for doing so, until the repeal is final, at which time domestic disturbance/violence laws/rules would apply to them as it does opposite sex couples in similar relationships).

 

[cpwill]

"going through the training" in no way means "found out that you can introduce sexual tension into tight-knit units without suffering a degradation of teamwork and unit cohesion". I've been through the training. It involved listening to a series of videos. Honestly, I read the entire time.

 

[Deuce]

Why do you hate our service members?

Wow, didn't even deny it. Ok. Well, I respect our troops enough to think they aren't homophobes. I guess we'll agree to disagree.

We'll see what tune you sing the first time a gay soldier gets kicked out for, "being gay".

The repeal of DADT means "being gay" isn't enough to get one discharged. Did you not understand the point of all this?

Tell you what: bookmark this thread. When this theoretical situation occurs and I hypothetically respond, you can lord it over me. Assuming I react the way your partisan hallucination believes I will.

 

[apdst]

"going through the training" in no way means "found out that you can introduce sexual tension into tight-knit units without suffering a degradation of teamwork and unit cohesion". I've been through the training. It involved listening to a series of videos. Honestly, I read the entire time.

yeah, but you're actually in a close quarter unit. What could you possibly know?

 

[roguenuke]

yeah, but you're actually in a close quarter unit. What could you possibly know?

Since it the repeal hasn't happened yet, not much, since everything is speculation until it does.

The likely problems that will happen are some will be uncomfortable showering/living with guys that do come out as gay but since there is no one being forced to reveal their sexuality, then it will be a voluntary revelation anyway.

 

[Paschendale]

I am completely unsurprised that the folks in our military have the strength of character not to freak out over gay cooties.

 

[cpwill]

Since it the repeal hasn't happened yet, not much, since everything is speculation until it does.

not fully. bringing women in has always created problems - I would suspect the results of this would be similar.