After DADT - Can we meet the challenge?
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]As a retired Army combat [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]decorated [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]officer (Infantry-Airborne), I have to agree with Chief Bones and some others here. Hetero and homo sexual sex or the related behavior has no place in the military unit. You leave it at home. If either is a problem, distracts from mission and discipline or threatens unit cohesion, there is a leadership challenge to stop it it through the chain of command using education, persuasion, discipline and if necessary punitive actions. From an informed, studied, experienced position I believe me need and can integrate open homosexuals in the armed forces. As I will mention, it is a two way effort, not just on those discriminated against. Concerning other nations, most have done it and have learned to deal with it; it is no longer an issue. The ones that have not done it for the most part are those known for their human rights abuses. For the U.S. military it would be a question of leadership and professionalism. We have been there before and succeeded, as one example armed forces integration began out of need especially in WWII and by executive order in the late 1940's. Imagine a military without that integration. For me I would not have had the opportunity to serve with many talented professional officers, non-commissioned officers and troops.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Personally, I remember when women were integrated into the total force in the 1970s. There were some men who were prejudiced and some that thought it would ruin the Army. And, there were some women who abused it either in shirking demanding duties and a few trying to use their womanly charms to seek favor while on duty. As leaders and professionals most of us dealt with it, effectively and impartially both ways. As leaders we dealt with those men and women that didn't understand that shirking and seeking favors, or those acting prejudiced towards women, would not be tolerated. Personally, the transition tested me as a leader at times and took extra effort but I did my part as a professional to make it work. I have no regrets and as a result I had the opportunity to serve with some very remarkable women, not just remarkable men in my career. Also as a result, today women fill many ranks that probably would be empty, contributing to a defeat of the all-volunteer force. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Fortunately, I was brought up not to discriminate against anyone and not to prejudge anyone be it for race, religion, national origin or sex. The worth of someone was their goodness, work ethic, trustworthiness and dependability. Their behavior, manners, and respect for others also played a part in how I thought of them. After my military active duty (almost 11 years), as a civilian, women were already common in the work place. And, like in the Army initially, there were some men that joked about women, didn't respect them as they should have and always attributed a woman's success to using her charms. As a co-worker, soon a manager and then an executive, I judged everyone on their worth as a productive member of a team and how they contributed to the economic success of the firm. It was real estate and many of the top producers who paid the firm's bills and made it a profit were women. For those women that rose to the top, I can clearly attribute it to their superior performance, dedication, persistence and motivation - It wasn't easy for them. It [/FONT] [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]was hard work; and, proved once again that discrimination based on sex, race, creed, etc. is fool hardy and counter to success of the endeavor at hand, be it military or civilian. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Were I today actively serving in the Army and DADT ended with homosexuals openly accepted, I would again be a professional, a leader. I would continue to assure that sex and sexual behavior stayed out of the unit and its missions, be it hetro or homo sexual. I would continue to judge each soldier regardless of sexual orientation based on their performance, dedication, persistence and motivation as a contributing member of the unit team. As a civilian in business I met open homosexuals not just open heterosexuals. There was no place for "sexual" behavior in the firm. On occasion I had to deal with it just like in the Army through intervention, education and persuasion; and, in worse case I was forced to use disciplinary measures. While withholding judgment I learned that most homosexuals are just like anyone else, like you and I, trying to do an honest job, contributing to the firm, someone with demonstrated good performance, dedication, persistence and motivation; and, yes, good behavior, manners, and respect for others. A few were good friends and sex was never an issue for us. Those I met were not perverts or hitting on men in the company. And, you could depend on them, trust them just as much as anyone else. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Lastly, the U.S. armed forces need people, especially the Army and the Marine Corps, the reserves and National Guard; and, especially if the United States is confronted with a much larger mission than Iraq or Afghanistan. We cannot afford to discriminate against those willing and able to serve, willing to do the job. When the U.S. civilian unemployment gets under control again, the U.S. Army and Marine Corps recruiting will most probably suffer; it most probably will be inadequate to meet the needs of the military. Women have helped since they were integrated in the 70's. We need women in the military; they make a major contribution in numbers and talent. In the future we will also need not only all the heterosexuals we can recruit but also all the homosexuals we can recruit to maintain a professional, all- volunteer military in adequate numbers and talent. We can do it. We have proven we can do it. Those homosexuals who serve silently under DADT prove every day that they can do it. Sadly, most of those discovered and who are forced out of the military have proven they could do it. Again, our officers, non-commissioned officers and troops can do it. We all can meet the challenge through professionalism and leadership.[/FONT]