Gay US troops to be trained next month

The Pentagon has released guidelines for incorporating openly gay troops into the military after the repeal of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy last month, but officials warned not all benefits given to married couples in the military will apply to same-sex couples

The Pentagon has released guidelines for incorporating openly gay troops into the military after the repeal of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy last month, but officials warned not all benefits given to married couples in the military would apply to same-sex couples.  

Leading members of the military have been asked to come up with detailed plans to incorporate gay service personnel by the end of the week, and the administration has confirmed training of the troops will start in February. 

But while benefits such as the ability to choose the beneficiaries of life insurance and death gratuities will be bestowed upon gay troops under the new rules, federal laws such as the Defense of Marriage Act stand in the way of other benefits given to troops and their spouses. According to the BBC, same-sex couples will miss out on military benefits such as medical care, travel and housing allowances.

As reported by Reuters, Defense Secretary Robert Gates stressed the need for: “Strong, engaged and informed leadership...at every level” if the transition were to be effective.

“This is not, however, a change that should be done incrementally,” he added.

President Barack Obama reiterated his plan to enforce the change this year in his State of the Union speech earlier this week: “Starting this year, no American will be forbidden from serving the country they love because of who they love,” he said.

“It is time to leave behind the divisive battles of the past. It is time to move forward as one nation.”

Despite the lifting of the ban, there is still some opposition to the change among military leaders who envisage a change in morale within their camps, and Gates conceded after the repeal decision that it would take time to fully incorporate the change in policy. 

http://news.pinkpaper.com  by Jonny Payne