Military courts HS dropouts while banning college trained gays

(Washington) The U.S. Army, eager to fill its ranks amid wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, is turning to high school dropouts, opening today a prep school to enable prospective enlistees to gain the GED.

The military has turned six World War II-era buildings at Fort Jackson, South Carolina into a mini-campus of spartan classrooms and barracks. Under the yearlong pilot project, classes of about 60 soldiers will enter the monthlong program every week.

“It’s academic immersion,” Col. Jeffrey Sanderson, chief of staff at Fort Jackson told The Associated Press. “Our studies show that with only three out of every 10 people of military age being capable of joining the Army, we are going to have to do something different.”

Last October, Army officials said they intended to expand the force by adding 74,000 soldiers by 2010, with the active duty force growing to a total of 547,000.

But while the military reaches out to high school dropouts the number of gays drummed out of the armed forces under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” continues to grow.

Under DADT two people every day are dropped from the military for being gay.

In the 15 years that DADT has been in force more than 10,000 personnel have been discharged as a result of the policy, including 800 with skills deemed “mission critical,” such as pilots, combat engineers, and linguists.

The number of gay men and lesbians turned away by military recruiters is unknown.

A study conducted last year for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network concluded that the U.S. military could attract as many as 41,000 new recruits if gays and lesbians in the military were able to be open about their sexual orientation.

A growing number in Congress support repeal of the controversial policy even though the military supports the ban.

Last month the Military Personnel Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee held hearings on a bill that would abolish the prohibition.

The first American wounded in Operation Iraqi Freedom told the sub-committee that many in his unit knew he was gay and it was not an issue but that it was not until he nearly died and then received a Purple Heart that he had to speak out against the policy.

Marine Staff Sgt. Eric F. Alva told the subcommittee that he had served in the Marine Corps for 13 years.

He said that he received the Purple Heart, along with visits from the President and First Lady. “I was told I was a hero,” he recalled.

“That landmine may have put an end to my military career that day, but it didn’t put an end to my secret. That would come years later, when I realized that I had fought and nearly died to secure rights for others that I myself was not free to enjoy. I had proudly served a country that was not proud of me. More importantly, my experience disproved all the arguments against open service by gays and lesbians – I knew I had to share my story.”

The hearing was the first time since it was enacted 15-years ago that a congressional hearing was held on the impact of DADT.

Susan Davis (D), Chair of the subcommittee has introduced legislation to repeal the ban but it is unlikely it will come to a vote before the session ends.

An ABC News/Washington Post poll released last month found that 75 percent of Americans believe LGBT people should be allowed to serve.

A similar poll taken shortly after Pres. Bill Clinton signed the law in 1993 found that only 44 percent of Americans supported the idea of letting gays serve openly.

A study published by a University of California think-tank found that “allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly is unlikely to pose any significant risk to morale, good order, discipline or cohesion.”

Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama supports repeal of DADT and the party platform contains language calling for an end to the policy.

By 365gay Newscenter Staff 08.27.2008 12:08pm EDT