'Don't Ask' Report Will Be Released in Full Dec. 1

Photo By Robert Ward | Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell discusses the possible repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy during a Nov. 18, 2010, press briefing. Morrell said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates would prefer to delay any legislative action until after the Dec. 1 release of the Defense Department's internal review of the proposal.  

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES

11.18.2010

Story by Jim Garamone 

Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs           

WASHINGTON - The report of the working group looking at the so-called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law will be released in full Dec. 1, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said here Nov. 18.

President Barack Obama has asked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to submit legislation to repeal the law as part of the Defense Authorization Bill. Reid said the Senate will look at this proposal after Thanksgiving.

"[Obama] has made a call, as I understand it, to Senator [Carl] Levin this week and Senator Reid, I believe, as well, making it clear that he wants to see the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' attached to ... the National Defense Authorization Act," Morrell told reporters at the Pentagon.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates supports repeal of the law that excludes openly gay service members from serving in the military.

"He was very clear then as well that there is a preferred order in doing things," Morrell said.

Gates first wants a study done on the possible ramifications a repeal of the law would have on the force. The study group –- led by Defense Department General Counsel Jeh Johnson and Army Gen. Carter F. Ham – is nearly completed with its work. DOD officials are working from drafts of the report to assess what would have to be done in the event of a repeal of the law.

The plan is for the report to be delivered Dec. 1, "at which time it will be provided to the Congress; it will be provided to you, so everyone can see the nine-month effort that's been under way to try to figure out the implications of a repeal and what needs to be done internally to prepare for that change," Morrell said. "We're almost there."

DOD officials are getting feedback from the service secretaries and service chiefs on the report. That information also will be presented to Gates as he charts a course forward for the department, Morrell said.

The work on the report is being performed on parallel tracks rather than concurrently, Morrell said. The original plan was to present the report to the secretary and then distribute it to the services for comment.

"So we are right now finishing the report, working with the chiefs, working with the service secretaries, getting their input, finalizing this report, and at the same time ... formulating the way ahead for this department to proceed come December the 1st," Morrell said. "All that hard work is being done simultaneously."

• Date Taken: 11.18.2010
• Date Posted: 11.18.2010 16:57
• Story ID: 60431
• Location: WASHINGTON, DC, US