Half Military Now Trained on DADT Repeal

More than a million troops have now been trained on the law allowing gays to serve openly and military officials say that with around half the force now trained, the turmoil some had predicted is nowhere to be seen. "So far this seems to be a non-event," the Army's vice chief of staff says. He warned, however, that "this is not going to happen without incident—I'd be crazy to say that. Somewhere along the line something is going to occur. But we're doing everything we can to head that off in training."

Outgoing Defense Secretary Robert Gates, on his recent farewell visit to Afghanistan, told a Marine sergeant that troops who disagreed with the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy would be required to complete their enlistment " just like everybody else," reports Reuters. Service members disagree on religion, politics, and a lot of other things, he said. "But you still serve together. And you work together. And you look out for each other. And that's all that matters." Since President Obama signed repeal into law last December, the only person discharged under the policy was an airman discharged at his own request in April. (More Don't Ask Don't Tell repeal stories.)