‘You will be measured by how you deal with it’
Advice from former CMSAF Jim Binnicker, above Leaders: Make peace with gays in militaryBy Mel Gray - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Aug 21, 2010 9:49:01 EDT
ATLANTA — Gays and lesbians will serve openly in the military someday — and airmen had better get used to the fact, seven former top enlisted Air Force leaders say.
The retired senior noncommissioned officers, who all served as chief master sergeant of the Air Force, delivered their matter-of-fact message to a ballroom packed with airmen who must abide by — and enforce — the new law if Congress repeals the military’s controversial “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
The former chiefs — Bob Gaylor, Jim McCoy, Sam Parish, Jim Binnicker, Eric Benken, Jim Finch and Gerald Murray — came together Wednesday at the annual conference of the Air Force Sergeants Association to talk about their service and offer up advice for present-day airmen.
An airman brought up the ban during the question-and-answer portion of the roundtable discussion: “How do you see the outcome affecting the efficiency and effectiveness of the Air Force?” he asked the panel.
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Binnicker, the ninth chief, offered up the strongest answer: “It’s going to happen — deal with it. You will be measured by how you deal with it.”