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‘Don’t ask’ survey published

Opposition to gays serving openly in the military has declined sharply among those wearing the uniform today.

An exclusive survey of some 3,000 active-duty troops shows such opposition has fallen sharply from nearly two-thirds (65 percent) in 2004 to about half (51 percent) today. The survey results appear Monday in Army Times, Air Force Times, Navy Times and Marine Corps Times.

Results of the survey were released after Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Congress it is time to end the law banning open service by gays and the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that derives from the law.

The Military Times exclusive is based on survey results and in-depth interviews with military leaders, both gay and straight. These career-oriented officers and enlisted troops are among those who would largely be responsible for implementing changes to the Clinton-era law and policy.

Among the concerns they voiced included how to effectively implement new policies for sharing close quarters and living facilities with openly gay members.

And in a first since the Army Times Publishing Co. began polling readers in 2003, the survey includes data on the prevalence of homosexuality within the ranks — information the Defense Department is unable to collect under the legal requirements of DADT.

Contact

• Army Times Publishing Editor-in-Chief Tobias Naegele.

• Army Times Publishing Senior Managing Editor for News Alex Neill.

• Times News Service Database Reporter Brendan McGarry, 703-750-8665.

Find out more

http://www.militarytimes.com/webtools/research/