Reply #23: Sure. There are thousands but here are a couple examples: [View All]

[wmbrew0206]

1. Barracks - what is the new policy? Currently the military does not allow members of the opposite sex to share barracks rooms. How will openly gay serve members barrack rooms be handled? I know this one seems easy, but what happens if two openly gay serve members are assigned to the same barracks room? Could that be considered grounds for discrimination since technically they are being segregated from straight members. Could opposite sex members say they are being discriminated against if openly gay service members are allowed to live together in the barracks (no relationship between the two implied here) and straight serve members are not? That is an issue that needs to be figured out and then passed down to every single unit and the proper training provided to all members.

2. Sexual Harassment - Are there an sexual harassment changes need to the general orders with gay service members serving openly? An example here: some homophobe claims an openly gay service member was oogling him in the shower and has done it repeatedly and goes to his command and files a complaint. How is the command suppose to handle that? Do changes need to be made to make sure that trumped charges aren't allowed to get openly gay service members in trouble.

3. Enforcement - There are a lot of orders that are not always enforced. Public displays of affection is an example of one. No PDA is suppose to happen in uniform but it happens all the time. If openly gay couples started having PDA in uniform, than a homophobe officer or CO could charge them with the violation of an order and be correct in doing so. The reason it would be wrong is that it is selective enforcement. The military has to prepare the force to be prepare for this type of thing.

4. Benefits to partners. Does the DOMA restrict same sex partners from receiving the same benefits as a husband or wife? Can the military recognize a civil union and use that as the requirement for giving benefits? Is the military prepared for legal challenges one way or the other?

These are just some of the ones that jump out off the top of my head. For every change ending DADT will cause those changes will have to be reflected in any order, publication, or training manual. It will take a while to figure out what all the changes are and then have the orders/manuals re-written. Then the changes needs that have to happen need to be taught to the leadership and then communicated to the troops has to happen.