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Pentagon Data Highlight Urgent Need to Repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 3, 2008
CONTACT: Adam Ebbin
PHONE: (202) 621-5416
Pentagon Data Highlight Urgent Need to Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Criticizes Waste of Tax Dollars
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) criticized the Pentagon for paying nearly $640 million during Fiscal Year 2008 in bonuses for new recruits while at the same time wasting taxpayer dollars by discharging service members because of sexual orientation under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) law.
"The growing difficulty our military faces in attracting the individuals we need for an effective fighting force underscores the urgent need to repeal ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' which is not only wrong but costs taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars," SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis said. "Instituting a non-discrimination law to allow all military personnel to serve without regard to sexual orientation would strengthen the military's readiness to fight and ability to attract qualified Americans at a time when our armed forces are spread too thin."
Since DADT was instituted in 1993, at least 12,500 military personnel have been discharged, costing taxpayers more than $200 million, according to a 2005 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. A 2006 Blue Ribbon Commission Report found that implementing DADT has cost taxpayers $363.8 million from 1994-2003. According to a 2007 report by the Williams Institute, DADT has discouraged nearly 45,000 Americans from joining and remaining in the armed forces.
Pentagon data recently reported by the Associated Press reveal that the Army and Marine Corps has paid nearly $640 million in bonuses during Fiscal Year 2008 to attract new recruits. According to the AP, enlistees were given as much as $40,000 each. These generous incentive packages swelled the Army's bonus expenditures by 25 percent over last year's total, the AP says.
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. A "Guide to ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell' " for journalists is available at http://sldn.3cdn.net/43b1d9fec919b5918b_1zm6bxv9l.pdf.
