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Soldiers

Democrats' Rush to Overturn Don't Ask, Don't Tell Threatens Military Readiness and Effectiveness

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

In a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, the military chiefs of the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps expressed strong concerns that overturning Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) could disrupt military readiness and effectiveness. The chiefs argued that implementing the policy would divert leadership attention away from preparing units for combat and create additional stress on soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps chiefs testified that overturning DADT has strong potential to disrupt military readiness and effectiveness.
  • A Pentagon survey revealed that nearly 40% of Marines would leave or consider quitting the service early if DADT were overturned.
  • Gen. James Amos, Marine Commandant, stated that the potential exists for disruption to the successful execution of the current combat mission should repeal be implemented at this time.
  • Gen. Norton Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff, echoed concerns about how to deal with the complexity of an air war in Afghanistan if they must turn their focus from fighting to implementing a disruptive new policy.
  • The Pentagon reported only 75 Marines were discharged for violating DADT last year, a quarter of 1 percent of all discharges from the Corps.
  • Adm. Michael Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, testified that some soldiers and Marines may want separate shower facilities, some may ask for different berthing, some may even quit the service, and that the military would "deal with that".
  • Deliberately draining the military's manpower during wartime is madness, and the willingness of Democrats to rush through liberal agenda items has become habitual.

Statistics:

  • 23% of Marines said they would definitely quit the Corps sooner than they'd planned if DADT were overturned (Pentagon survey)
  • 15% of Marines said they would consider leaving sooner than planned if DADT were overturned (Pentagon survey)
  • Nearly 40% of Marines would leave or consider quitting the service early if DADT were overturned (Pentagon survey)
  • 25% of the Army could leave if DADT were overturned (Pentagon survey)
  • 75 Marines were discharged for violating DADT last year, a quarter of 1 percent of all discharges from the Corps (Department of Defense)

Sources:

  • Sen. Armed Services Committee hearing
  • Marine Commandant Gen. James Amos, testimony
  • Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, testimony
  • Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey, testimony
  • The Pentagon, survey on DADT
  • Department of Defense, report on discharges
  • Family Research Council, letter to senators

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