Revolving Door for Troops (Gay troops dismissed in IRR specialities)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A43461-2004Jul11?language=printer

<snip>

As military and political leaders struggle to address critical troop shortages in the Middle East, they should consider the results of a data analysis just released by the Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military, of the University of California at Santa Barbara. Our report, which analyzed data obtained from the Defense Manpower Data Center through a Freedom of Information Act request, revealed that the military is losing mission-critical combat and support specialists because of the ban on openly gay soldiers. What is particularly troubling about the results is that the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which requires the discharge of known gays and lesbians, is ousting troops in the very same occupational specialties as service members who are being involuntarily recalled from civilian life.

The Pentagon's recalls are targeting specialists with needed skills in intelligence, engineering, medicine, administration, transportation, security, and other key support and logistical areas. Under the gay ban, the military has expelled thousands of just such troops: 268 in intelligence, 57 in combat engineering, 331 in medical treatment, 255 in administration, 292 in transportation, 232 in military police and security, and 420 in supply and logistics since 1998. It also booted 88 language specialists (many of them Arabic-language translators and interrogators); 49 nuclear, biological and chemical warfare experts; 52 missile guidance and control operators; and 150 rocket, missile and other artillery specialists.

In certain badly needed specialties, the military could have avoided involuntary recalls altogether if it had not expelled competent gay troops in those fields: It is recalling 72 soldiers in communication and navigation but expelled 115 gay troops in that category; 33 in operational intelligence but expelled 50 gays; 33 in combat operations control but expelled 106. In total, while the Army is set to recall 5,674 troops from the Individual Ready Reserve, 6,273 troops have been discharged for being gay, lesbian or bisexual since 1998. The discharges continue, at the rate of two to three per day, despite alarming reports that the military is stretched dangerously thin and is overtaxing its current forces.

[theivoryqueen]

1. well - there you go

problem #1 is totally solvable without drafting anyone else! Think the GOP controllers will connect the dots?

[cap]

2. not hearing too much about the unsuitability of women

in combat either these days. Women are under attack just as much as the men are since the battlefield is not linear.

[Torgo4]

3. Whattya Wanna Bet...

A bunch of "suddenly" gays among the newly recalled from IRR?

Beats getting whacked in Iraq.

We need women to serve in military, so great patriots like Dennis Miller, Rush, Cheney, Ashcroft, GeeDubya et al. can run away like big-mouthed cowards they are. Hidin' behind female combat boots!