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Troops to have voice in DADT review

The views of the troops will be an integral part of the nearly year-long review of the ramifications of open military service by gays, according to the parameters of the study released Tuesday by the Pentagon.

The word “poll” does not appear in Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ memo to the two officials — Gen. Carter Ham, U.S. Army Europe commander, and Jeh Johnson, the Pentagon general counsel — who are leading what is called a “Comprehensive Review on the Implementation of a Repeal” of the 1993 law that says homosexuality is incompatible with military service.

But Gates, who along with Joint Chiefs chairman Adm. Mike Mullen told the Senate on Feb. 2 that he supports President Barack Obama’s call for repeal, wants the two officials to stand up an intra-departmental, inter-service working group of unspecified size that is to “systematically engage the force.”

Gates said the views of a wide range of age, rank and warfare communities, as well as family members, “is a critical aspect that will undoubtedly lead to insights and recommendations essential to the department’s implementation of any change.”

The working group’s makeup should be equally diverse, Gates said, charging Ham and Johnson with ensuring participation by service leaders, certain staff elements in the secretariat, a mix of officers and enlisted members from all services, a mix of midgrade and senior ranks, human resources/personnel specialists, pay and benefits specialists, family support programs specialists, accession point and training communities, service academies and/or senior service schools, and medical, legal and religious support personnel.

The final product is to include a “plan of action” to support implementation of repeal, Gates said.

This will include “any impacts to military readiness, military effectiveness and unit cohesion” that could result from repeal — terms that are not sharply defined in the memo — along with implementation of and training on standards of conduct; “appropriate changes to existing policies and regulations [on] personnel management, leadership and training, facilities, investigations and benefits”; possible changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice; and “appropriate ways to monitor the work force climate and military effectiveness.”

Gates said he wants the report, along with comments from each service chief, submitted by Dec. 1.

The parameters of the upcoming review will be a primary topic of discussion at a hearing Wednesday afternoon before the House Armed Services Committee’s military personnel panel.

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• Reviewing DADT