Don't ask, Don't tell

[Cataholic]

As to eliminating don't ask don't tell, it has nothing to do with the ability of the soldiers, it has everything to do with the personalities of soldiers, especially young soldiers, and the ability of the army to form soldiers into teams.

Don't gay people do 'teamwork'?

[Lady's Human]

Don't gay people do 'teamwork'?

Not even remotely the point.

Anything which the members of the team can't handle (personality quirks in particular) becomes dangerously abrasive, and frequently leads to confrontation. Confrontation in teams which are full of people trained to kill people and break things gets ugly rapidly.

[LokiDog]

I have a solution. End all war on the planet. That way we would have no need for the military in any form. Just service organizations to respond to natural disasters and such.

But aside from that - people are people, gay or straight, black or white...
PEOPLE should have the right to pursue any occupation they desire.

[Lady's Human]

But aside from that - people are people, gay or straight, black or white...
PEOPLE should have the right to pursue any occupation they desire.

In an ideal world, yes.

But in an ideal world, we wouldn't need the military.

As an aside, does that mean my wife, who has a minor physical disability, should be able to be a soldier if she wants?

Or should I be able to be an F-15 pilot, despite the fact I wear glasses?

[LokiDog]

In an ideal world, yes.

But in an ideal world, we wouldn't need the military.

As an aside, does that mean my wife, who has a minor physical disability, should be able to be a soldier if she wants?

Or should I be able to be an F-15 pilot, despite the fact I wear glasses?

I think if she or you wants to be part of the military, you have that right. As long as you feel you are capable - and can prove it - you should be allowed to. There are many paths in life that you have to prove your capabilities... pass the bar to be a lawyer, pass the MCAT to get into medical school... I think if you are able to prove yourself in your chosen field, you should be allowed to do it.
Things should NEVER be based on you race, sexual orientation...

But aside from all that, to answer you questions. If we have no military on the planet. Why would you fly F-15's?

[Puckstop31]

I think if she or you wants to be part of the military, you have that right. As long as you feel you are capable - and can prove it - you should be allowed to. There are many paths in life that you have to prove your capabilities... pass the bar to be a lawyer, pass the MCAT to get into medical school... I think if you are able to prove yourself in your chosen field, you should be allowed to do it.
Things should NEVER be based on you race, sexual orientation...

But aside from all that, to answer you questions. If we have no military on the planet. Why would you fly F-15's?

I think you are missing the part about this not having ANYthing to do with ability.

[wombat2u2004]

Has anyone any thoughts on rank structure ????
Say for instance.........the sergeant is gay and the private in his outfit is not gay.
I know that if the powers that be did approve of gays in the forces, then they would certainly have new military laws against pulling rank in sexual situations.
But that wouldn't stop the sergeant from giving that private a bad time on the side....would it ????
And how would the private treat that, if say for instance the sergeant made sexual advances on him privately.......the poor old private would have no defence in a military court.
Where would it stop ????? Look at the problems in the military now with both men and women.....sexual harassment cases all the time....even rape !!!!!

[LokiDog]

I think you are missing the part about this not having ANYthing to do with ability.

Your right. I'm sorry if you took it that way. I was responding to the post by Lady's Human on whether they could serve in the military.

I believe you should not be discriminated against just because of sexual orientation.

If I remember my history. Blacks were not allowed in the military until they proved themselves as Buffalo Soldiers, or special units during the civil war...

Not allowed to be pilots until the Tuskegee Airmen in WWII and so on.

I DON'T think that gays need to prove themselves as capable before being allowed to serve. But might this be a way to opening the door to universal acceptance?
I don't know - just a thought.

[RICHARD]

Or should I be able to be an F-15 pilot, despite the fact I wear glasses?

You can get yourself a huge honkin watch if get past that requirement.

--------------

I love this story and this shows the difference between the civilian and military way of life. Some of you have heard it before..

A soldier was looking in a catalogue for a replacement zipper.

He looked under the letter "Z" until he gave up and went to a sargeant who told him he would never find it there.


It's under the letter "I"!


Interlocking Slide Fastener

[Lady's Human]

The problem is you're focusing on the physical ability, and completely ignoring the psychology of the soldiers on the pointy end of things.

Just because someone has the raw physical ability to do something doesn't mean they are suited for the military. If their presence is going to be disruptive to the team, they're not fit to serve. You don't adjust the mindset of 40 soldiers in a platoon so you can make one fit in, it just doesn't work that way. The 40 will find a way to take care of the one, and chances are, unlike DADT discharges, it won't be covered by the media.