President Barack Obama certified to Congress on Friday that final repeal of the law banning open military service by gays and lesbians would not impact military readiness, good order and discipline.
The legislation passed by Congress last December called for a 60-day period following certification before repeal could be implemented.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said repeal is consistent with military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, recruiting and retention.
“This certification decision was carefully made after receiving input from the service chiefs, service secretaries and from all combatant commanders who stated their views that the force is prepared for this change,” Panetta is quoted in a statement released Friday by the Pentagon.
During congressional testimony last December, the Marine Corps commandant opposed appeal and the Air Force chief of staff expressed concern with the change taking place during a time of war. Separate statements from those service branches were not included in the Pentagon release.
Panetta said he was committed to promoting an environment free from personal, social or institutional barriers for the nation’s military.
“They put their lives on the line for America and that’s what really counts,” he said. “Thanks to the professionalism and leadership of the U.S. military, we are closer to achieving the goal that is at the foundation of America – equality and dignity for all.”
Some 1.9 million active and reserve members have received training on the effects of repealing the controversial, 1993 law.
“That training will continue,” said Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Clifford Stanley. “Through out this process, we have regularly engaged the services and combatant commands. Feedback was consistently positive. Training was well received and there were no issues or barriers arising.”
Pentagon officials are reviewing regulation and benefits changes that will kick in Sept. 22, including repeal of accession, separation and re-accession rules.
Statements about sexual orientation will no longer be a bar to military service, Marine Maj. Gen. Steven Hummer said in a Friday press conference. Hummer is chief of staff for the Pentagon’s repeal implementation team.
“Upon repeal, former service members solely discharged under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ may apply for re-entry,” he said in a press release provided by the Pentagon.
Hummer said living quarters will remain the same and commanders cannot segregate members by sexual orientation. Gay service members will be subject to worldwide deployment, the general added.
The Defense of Marriage Act will block some benefits for same-sex couples. The 1996 act defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Benefits impacted include health care, housing and transportation allowances.
“The department will continue to study existing benefits to determine those, if any that should be reviewed based on policy, fiscal, legal and feasibility considerations to give service members the discretion to designate persons of their own choosing as beneficiaries,” Hummer reported.
Obama has said he favors repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act and has instructed Attorney General Eric Holder not to defend the measure in court.
Standards of conduct will continue to apply to all service members, the Marine general stressed.
“All are responsible for upholding those high standards,” Hummer said. “Enforcement of service standards of conduct will continue to be sexual-orientation neutral.”
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