From: Roughead, Gary ADM N00, N00
Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 21:49
To: Roughead, Gary ADM N00, N00
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
Don't forget - if you missed the DADT episode of Midrats - you can get the archive here.
