Digital News Report– Recent data provided by the U.S. Defense Department shows that eleven gay service members were discharged from the Army in January under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Policy. The discharged members include one human intelligence collector, one military police officer, four infantry personnel and others. Since the policy was put into place in 1993, over 12,500 troops have been discharged due to their sexual orientation.
Congressman Moran asked, “How many more good soldiers are we willing to lose due to a bad policy that makes us less safe and secure?”
Nathaniel Frank, author of “Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakans America,” said that “firing mission-critical human intelligence specialists and other badly needed troops may undermine the military’s ability to pursue its mission.” In Arab linguists and other mission-critical troops have been discharged.
The Government Accountability Office reported that it has costs $95.4 million for recruiting and $95.1 million for training replacements for the 9,488 troops discharged from 1994 through 2003. The Blue Ribbon Commission places the total closer to $363 million, which includes “separation travel” once a service member is discharged, officer training, and other associated costs.