From: Roughead, Gary ADM N00Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 21:49
Subject: US Code Title 10 § 654: Policy Concerning Homosexuality in the Armed Forces
Fellow Flag Officers:
In last week's State of the Union Address, President Obama reinforced his desire for the Congress to repeal the law barring open homosexual service in the military.
This afternoon during SASC testimony, Secretary Gates and ADM Mullen articulated the way ahead on this issue, naming GEN Carter Ham, commander of U.S. Army Europe, and the Honorable Jeh Johnson, DoD General Counsel, to lead a DoD working group on the effects of changing the current law and policy.
This working group is tasked to complete its work within a year and will examine three areas. First, it will reach out to the force and their families to understand their views and attitudes about the potential impacts of repeal. Second, it will examine all of the changes to policy and regulations that may have to be made if the Congress repeals the law. Third, it will examine the potential impacts of a change in the law on military effectiveness, including how a change might affect unit cohesion, recruiting and retention, and other issues critical to the performance of the force.
I will work with my fellow Service Chiefs and the Chairman to provide the President, the Secretary of Defense and Congress our best military advice. I also expect your full cooperation with the DoD-wide review as we move forward.
We who wear the uniform have an obligation to abide by the current law and any future changes to the law. As leaders, we will work in a thoughtful and deliberate manner to provide our best military advice, and we will do so in the same professional and extraordinary manner in which we do all things in our great Navy.
Warm regards,
Gary
NOTE: If someone has a copy of the Commandant of the Marine Corps Memo to his General Officers on this subject, please post a copy.
Hey, I wonder if the Navy's female Flag officers object to CNO's sexist use of "Fellow Flag Officers" - or perhaps he is making a comment about their sexuality?? Just saying.
ReplyDeleteHmmm. Anonymous at 0743 should have consulted a dictionary. This seems like a word choice that shouldn't rile anybody up.
ReplyDeleteAccording to m-w.com, a gender differentiation doesn't appear until the 4th possible usage (after three gender-neutral entries).
fellow:
1 : comrade, associate
2 a : an equal in rank, power, or character : peer b : one of a pair : mate
3 : a member of a group having common characteristics; specifically : a member of an incorporated literary or scientific society
4 a obsolete : a person of one of the lower social classes b archaic : a worthless man or boy c : man, boy d : boyfriend, beau
5 : an incorporated member of a college or collegiate foundation especially in a British university
6 : a person appointed to a position granting a stipend and allowing for advanced study or research
Careful. The chip on your shoulder is showing.
Thanks anonymous 7:57 AM for knocking off anonymous 7:43 AM's chip.
ReplyDeleteYes thanks Anonymous. I'm sure he/she can find another word to pick apart that the CNO used.
ReplyDeleteTut, tut, boys. Let us not be petty officers (not at all to be confused with Petty Officers).
ReplyDeleteCaptain Lambert,
ReplyDeleteI am unable to determine if I am glad not to be in the Navy anymore, or if I should just accept what is presently taking place in our Military today. Just because the powers that be, have no real desire to present true leadership, and only appear to want things their way and not for the good of the Military is really disturbing. The fact that the seniors of the services seem to fall right in lock step with these somewhat unnatural tendencies is even more disturbing, but I expect yes men will continue to be that way forever and the rest of the troops must serve at their pleasure because they are senior. I commend Gen. Peter Pace for his stand on the way he felt and I also commend the millions of other service men/women who felt the same way.
Very Respectfully,
Navyman834