Study cites cost of "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays in military

[underpants]

$200 MILLION


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/usmilitarygays

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US military has had to spend an estimated 200 million dollars over the past decade to replace the 9,488 gay and lesbian servicemembers kicked out of the service under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, a congressional study released said.

The study by the Government Accountability Office concluded that eight percent of the servicemembers separated because of their sexual orientation held critical military occupations.

Another three percent had some skills in foreign languages such as Arabic, Farsi or Korean that are now in high demand within the military, it said.


"The total costs of DoD's (Department of Defense (news - web sites)) homosexual conduct policy cannot be estimated because DoD does not collect relevant cost data on inquiries and investigations, counseling and pastoral care, separation functions and discharge reviews," the report said.


But using data on recruitment and training costs alone, the study estimated that "over the 10-year period, it could have cost DoD about 95 million dollars in constant fiscal year 2004 dollars to recruit replacements for servicemembers separated under the policy."

[Rose Siding]

1. 300 foreign language specialists...forced out

WASHINGTON -- More than 300 foreign language specialists considered critical in the war on terrorism have been forced out of the military in the past decade because of their sexual orientation, according to the first government study to assess both the warfighting and financial impact of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that prohibits openly gay servicemen.

These soldiers had "some skills in an important foreign language such as Arabic, Farsi, and Korean," according to a report by the Government Accountability Office to be published next month. At least 54 of the 322 language specialists spoke Arabic -- more than twice as many as previous estimates. At the same time, more than 400 additional soldiers discharged under the policy had what the Pentagon considers "critical occupations," including Navy code-breakers, Army intelligence specialists and interrogators, Air Force air traffic controllers, and Marine Corps counterintelligence specialists.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/02/24/gays_ouster_seen_leaving_gap_in_military/

[ashmanonar]

2. well, at least we know where they want to go.

arabic, farsi, and korean...hmm...

arabic: iraq. check

farsi: correct me if i'm wrong, but don't they use that language in iran? working on that one.

korean: only 2 koreas: south and north. i'm willing to bet we're not invading south. working on that one too.