Airman discharged under 'don't ask, don't tell

[Vanje]

WASHINGTON — The Air Force has discharged an airman under the law banning gays from serving openly in the military, the first firing since President Barack Obama signed legislation aimed at ending the ban.

Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/06/02/1673704/airman-discharged-under-dont-ask.html#ixzz1OBUUCwc7

[sakabatou]

1. I can't wait for DADT to end

[Cronus Protagonist]

4. There's an exit clause they can fly a B8 bomber through

The bipartisan support was a look-good bone for Obama and it was due to the fact that the military has the final say, and they will say, "No. Can't be done during the war."

And the bill was only for an evaluation anyways... the actual act would be blocked, I have no doubt.

[Ken Burch]

21. They'll probably use that as an excuse for never QUITE ending the war.

Obama never did care about gays. If he did he would never have settled for this shit. It'd be like LBJ saying "we have the Civil Rights Act of 1957...why bother with anything more?"

[MrScorpio]

2. I have a feeling that this person wanted out and used DADT to do it

Either that, or the airman's commander was an asshole.

Either way, this is highly suspect.

[Behind the Aegis]

3. Either way, DADT is STILL in effect.

[MrScorpio]

5. It won't be in effect for ever

And if this Airman wanted to get the hell out as soon as possible, he/she knew that that it wouldn't be an option to get the hell out fast for long.

I was a USAF Personnel troop for 22 years and processed many a separation in my day.

I'm pretty sure that it was the Airman who pressed the case and not the service getting rid of another gay troop.

[Behind the Aegis]

6. We don't know that it won't be. It is now a waiting game.

Your speculation is worthless and if anything, blames the victim of an unjust, unfair policy.

[MrScorpio]

10. If this guy wanted out, he was no victim. believe, you, me

Remember, they ceased enforcing DADT, which basically means that it had to be the airman who would have been most likely to force the issue.

The guy didn't fight the separation, quite the opposite, he wanted out as fast as possible.

Why is he not making a fuss? Why haven't we seen his face on TV protesting his "treatment"?

Everyone knows that it's unfair, which is why it's not being enforced.

In my time, I've heard lot's of reasons for why people want out early. And, I've even had people jokingly tell me to my face that they were thinking about citing DADT as a way to do it.

DADT is going the way of the dinosaur, everyone knows this.

If this guy figured out that he could use it to get out early, more power to him.

[Behind the Aegis]

12. Lots of speculation based on absolutely NOTHING.

"Remember, they ceased enforcing DADT,..." Please read the fucking article! They DID NOT cease enforcing DADT.

"The guy didn't fight the separation, quite the opposite, he wanted out as fast as possible.

Why is he not making a fuss? Why haven't we seen his face on TV protesting his "treatment"?"

That is how you determined the airman "brought this on him/herself?" Since we are playing the "make shit up and pretend it is facts game," maybe s/he didn't want his/her sexual orientation shouted over the airwaves. Not everyone is built to be a political activist.

"Everyone knows that it's unfair, which is why it's not being enforced." Again, READ the fucking article! The very title of the article suggests what?! OH YEAH...IT IS BEING ENFORCED!

"In my time, I've heard lot's of reasons for why people want out early. And, I've even had people jokingly tell me to my face that they were thinking about citing DADT as a way to do it." Well, at least we now know why you are so quick to blame the airman.

"DADT is going the way of the dinosaur, everyone knows this." Likely; but until the ink is dried; I won't believe it til I see it.

"If this guy figured out that he could use it to get out early, more power to him." Nice recovery. :eyes:

[MrScorpio]

14. You haven't processed any USAF separation cases at all

That was my bread and butter for over twenty years.

The mere fact that it had to go all the way up the SECAF for approval, not the USAF Personnel Board, but the freaking SECAF, all but tells me that it was the Airman who pressed the issue and NOT the service. The article made it very clear that this is a special case.

The SEC DEF had ceased ALL dismissal cases prior to this. So why is this such a special case? What, he was TOO gay?

I figure that this guy found a legal loophole and jumped right out of uniform to go through it.

[Behind the Aegis]

22. Irrelevant.

You DID NOT process THIS one!

TOO GAY?! Oh, please, please tell me what the fuck that means!

We don't know why this is such a special case, all we know is DADT is NOT dead!

[MrScorpio]

24. I'll tell you what's relevant

The story made it very clear that the process of this separation was a special case, where they had to bring in the USAF general counsel and the head of personnel in order to figure out if the separation under DADT was appropriate.

What would the military have to gain by pursuing a separation under that provision, when there are a myriad other conditions to separate this guy it they wanted to?

Remember, all other cases have already been dropped. They have nothing to gain by persistently separating one more Airman from the service under DADT.

Not unless their hands are tied, because the law is STILL technically on the books AND they've ceased ALL other cases, then clearly the self identifying Airman is the one most likely to pursue the condition of separation.

Notice that details are sparse. One detail that is apparent is that the airman wanted out ASAP.

It does military no good to publicize details, especially if the airman made of point of using DADT to get himself/herself separated. Why plant THAT idea in anyone else's head? Who needs that headache?

This guy wanted out while the getting was good… And the military was obligated to follow existing law.

Once DADT is dead and gone, you won't see this happening again.

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. I'll tell you what is relevant

these are now supposed to be processed by general staff officers... that means people with a star or above on their shoulders...

So I think Scorpio has something here...

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Vanje]

8. So DADT is a kind of 'Special Right'?

A neat military benefit for gays?

[MrScorpio]

11. There are lots of ways to get out early, DADT being one of them

Technically, one really doesn't have to be gay to cite oneself. It's quite possible to lie and say, "I'm gay and I want out." If a person was smart enough to cover his own ass, (false lover, acting out), they would have the incentive to pull a stunt like that to get out as soon as they can.

I'm not saying that this is what this guy did. But I've had straight guys who were fed up with the USAF tell me that they thought about it more than once.

[Vehl]

7. The way this nation treats people who risk their lives for it is beyond despicable

How many of these religious nuts who oppose such brave souls actually joined the military to defend the nation?
How long will humans be discriminated against for being who they are?

[LetTimmySmoke]

9. Now we get to see what Obama is made of.

Will he, as Commander in Chief, take a stand and reinstate the airman? I hope I'm wrong, by in my estimation he'll call the incident a distraction, bury the "news cycle", and do nothing.

[MrScorpio]

13. "The airman in the case asked to be separated expeditiously,"

I have a feeling that the last thing this person wants is to be reinstated.

[LetTimmySmoke]

15. That's fine then.

I wasn't aware of that.

[Obamanaut]

27. How could you *not* be aware of this? It is in the article that YOU

linked us to in your OP.

[lonestarnot]

16. So how did they do that?

I thought branches could no longer do that. :shrug:

[MrScorpio]

17. Yes, the Pentagon ceased all cases, you are right

However, there exists a legal limbo prior to the complete removal of the law where it's still on the books.

Somehow, this became a special case. The line, "The airman in the case asked to be separated expeditiously," gives me a very clear indication that the Airman exploited that loophole to separate early.

[lonestarnot]

18. So why are people here then suggesting that Mr. President reinstate him? WTF

:shrug: He wants the fuck out, let him get out.

[MrScorpio]

19. Any port in the storm...

When it comes to Obama bashing

[lonestarnot]

23. I guess.

democraticundergroundgonewild.com

[FreeState]

20. Equality under the law also means not being able to use DADT to get out of the military - K&R n/t

[Pab Sungenis]

26. Oops.

They forgot about teh LIST when they did this, didn't they?

[Ya Tzarone]

28. WTF?????

:shrug: