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02-19-09
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 19, 2009
CONTACT: Kevin Nix
PHONE: (202) 621-5402 (office)
(202) 251-5553 (cell)
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal Would Provide Pentagon 1,000 Qualified Recruits - Tomorrow
SLDN Urges Pentagon to Get Conversation Going
Washington, DC - Today the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) urged Defense Secretary Robert Gates to support repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) in order to immediately recruit at least 1,000 qualified service members into the military. SLDN's letter to Gates comes in response to the New York Times' reporting that the Pentagon has a new recruitment goal of 1,000 immigrants, who are in the United States on temporary visas, over the next 12 months.
"It is ironic that the Pentagon is beginning a program to actively recruit legal immigrants but continues to exclude citizens who are capable, tough, and dedicated service members ready and willing to serve their country," said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. "We should be enlisting men and women in this country - as long as they're qualified - wherever we can find them."
As the Times' report and volumes of current studies indicate, U.S. forces are strained, making it more difficult, even during the current recession, to find qualified men and women willing to serve.
The Army provided "waivers" to 18 percent of active-duty recruits last year, allowing them to enlist despite medical conditions or serious criminal records.
In 2007, the most recent year for which there are figures, 627 qualified troops were discharged under DADT. Add in those who elected to not re-enlist because of DADT and those who didn't even consider joining the military because of DADT, the Pentagon has met its 1,000 recruitment target for the first year.
"There is a sizeable reservoir of skilled service members--linguists, medics, and intelligence analysts-who are waiting on the sidelines only because of their sexual orientation," Sarvis said.
Lifting the ban on open service for gays and lesbians would also provide more skilled manpower to meet President Obama's recent decision to send 17,000 qualified troops to Afghanistan in the next six months.
"Secretary Gates and the Joint Chiefs should go up to Capitol Hill and tell Congress what's really going on: They need more talent and one way to get it today is to lift the ban," Sarvis added.
Since 1994, more than 12,500 service members have been discharged under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law.
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a national, non-profit legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and related forms of intolerance. For more information, visit www.sldn.org. A "Guide to ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell' " for journalists is available here.
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Repeal Would Provide Pentagon 1,000 Qualified Recruits - Tomorrow
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 19, 2009
CONTACT: Kevin Nix
PHONE: (202) 621-5402 (office)
(202) 251-5553 (cell)
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal Would Provide Pentagon 1,000 Qualified Recruits - Tomorrow
SLDN Urges Pentagon to Get Conversation Going
Washington, DC - Today the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) urged Defense Secretary Robert Gates to support repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) in order to immediately recruit at least 1,000 qualified service members into the military. SLDN's letter to Gates comes in response to the New York Times' reporting that the Pentagon has a new recruitment goal of 1,000 immigrants, who are in the United States on temporary visas, over the next 12 months.
"It is ironic that the Pentagon is beginning a program to actively recruit legal immigrants but continues to exclude citizens who are capable, tough, and dedicated service members ready and willing to serve their country," said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. "We should be enlisting men and women in this country - as long as they're qualified - wherever we can find them."
As the Times' report and volumes of current studies indicate, U.S. forces are strained, making it more difficult, even during the current recession, to find qualified men and women willing to serve.
The Army provided "waivers" to 18 percent of active-duty recruits last year, allowing them to enlist despite medical conditions or serious criminal records.
In 2007, the most recent year for which there are figures, 627 qualified troops were discharged under DADT. Add in those who elected to not re-enlist because of DADT and those who didn't even consider joining the military because of DADT, the Pentagon has met its 1,000 recruitment target for the first year.
"There is a sizeable reservoir of skilled service members--linguists, medics, and intelligence analysts-who are waiting on the sidelines only because of their sexual orientation," Sarvis said.
Lifting the ban on open service for gays and lesbians would also provide more skilled manpower to meet President Obama's recent decision to send 17,000 qualified troops to Afghanistan in the next six months.
"Secretary Gates and the Joint Chiefs should go up to Capitol Hill and tell Congress what's really going on: They need more talent and one way to get it today is to lift the ban," Sarvis added.
Since 1994, more than 12,500 service members have been discharged under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law.
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a national, non-profit legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and related forms of intolerance. For more information, visit www.sldn.org. A "Guide to ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell' " for journalists is available here.
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