Sexual Orientation and U.S. Military Personnel Policy: An Update of RAND's 1993 Study
Abstract
In his January 27, 2010, State of the Union address, President Barack Obama announced that he would work with Congress to repeal the law commonly known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT). Secretary of Defense Robert Gates established the Comprehensive Review Working Group within DoD to review the issues associated with properly implementing repeal. He also announced that in response to a request from the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Carl Levin, and the ranking member, Senator John McCain, he would ask the RAND Corporation to update its 1993 report, Sexual Orientation and U.S. Military Personnel Policy: Options and Assessment. The committee requested RAND to supplement or modify the report with current information and data that would be useful to them in considering any change to DADT. RAND's update addressed four key issues: * How has the environment changed within and outside the military over the 17 years since the inception of DADT? * How might repeal of DADT affect military readiness and effectiveness, such as recruitment and retention, unit cohesion, and force health? * What do military personnel, including currently serving gay men and lesbians, think about repeal? * What has been the experience of other institutions in which gay people currently serve, work, and study? We examined the way in which DADT was implemented; changes in U.S. society; and trends in U.S. public opinion about allowing gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals to serve in the military without restriction.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA533006
Entities
Organizations
- RAND Corporation