All Military Branches Move Into The Same Page For DADT
03/07/11-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
The Air Force has now released their training material with regards to the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Specifically, they have released the Tier 3 or General Population training. OutServe co-director J.D. Smith was kind enough to provide links to the material. All military branches are now working on training their personnel in the new policy.
The Air Force has now released their training material with regards to the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Specifically, they have released the Tier 3 or General Population training. OutServe co-director J.D. Smith was kind enough to provide links to the material. All military branches are now working on training their personnel in the new policy.
Smith, who underwent his own training on this subject just recently, noted that the different branches are treating the whole issue of delivery differently. He notes:
AF has done a lot of the training through video teleconferencing and Navy established mobile teams to give training. It is also important to notice one key difference between the DoD branches and the Coast Guard training. The Coast Guard has elected to give equal opportunity (EO) access, while the AF, Navy, Marine, and Army have not.
Here are a few of the questions that were included in the seven page FAQ:
Here are a few of the questions that were included in the seven page FAQ:
FAQ – POLICYWhat is the new policy on sexual orientation in the military?Service members will not be involuntarily separated for lawful homosexual conduct.Sexual orientation remains a personal and private matter. Sexual orientation and lawful homosexual conduct (statements, acts or same-sex marriage) are not a basis for separation, reassignment or special consideration. Service members may inform others of their sexual orientation at their own discretion.The Department of Defense will not ask Service members to identify their sexual orientation. The Department of Defense will not collect or maintain data on an individual’s sexual orientation.FAQ – UCMJIs consensual sodomy still a punishable offense under the Uniform Code of Military Justice?Only in limited circumstances. Unrelated to Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the U.S. Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces found that private, consensual sexual activity, to include consensual sodomy, regardless of sexual orientation, is a protected liberty under the Fourteenth Amendment. Consensual sodomy can only be punished if it is prejudicial to good order and discipline, service discrediting (e.g., in public, between a superior and a subordinate) or there are other factors involved in the commission of the act such as force, coercion or involvement of a minor. This was true before repeal and it remains true now.FAQ – RELIGIOUS RIGHTSDoes repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell affect the speech, morals or religious rights of Service members?No. There will not be any modifications or revisions to policy regarding Service member protections and obligations with respect to free speech and free exercise of religion. The Department of Defense recognizes the right of all Service members of the Military Services to hold individual beliefs consistent with their moral foundations and conscience and does not seek to change them.Service members can continue to freely practice their religion and express their personal views within the limitations of the UCMJ and Service standards of conduct. (Support Plan for Implementation, Appendix D, Q7)FAQ – CHAPLAINSDoes repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell affect the religious rights of chaplains?No. Chaplains will continue to have freedom to practice their religion according to the tenets of their faith. In the context of their religious ministry, chaplains are not required to take actions that are inconsistent with their religious beliefs (e.g., altering the content of sermons or religious counseling, sharing a pulpit with other chaplains or modifying forms of prayer or worship).Chaplains of all faiths care for all Service members and facilitate the free exercise of religion for all personnel, regardless of religious affiliation of either the chaplain or the individual.Chaplains minister to members and provide advice to commanders on matters of religion, morals, ethics and morale in accordance with and without compromising, the tenets or requirements of their faith. If, in a chaplain’s discharge of his/her broader duties within the unit, he/she is faced with an issue contrary to his/her individual faith, he/she may refer the Service member to other appropriate counsel.
Over all, the policy changes are what the Community was expecting from the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. It is nice to know that they covered just about everything that they could think of before coming to this training.
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