Gates hopes to start DADT repeal training soon - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Gates hopes to start DADT repeal training soon

Preparing the military’s 2.2 million troops for life after the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” may begin soon, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said.

Gates has asked Pentagon officials to accelerate the first steps in the process that will allow gays to serve openly in uniform. Those steps includes finalizing any subtle policy changes that are necessary and also preparing a training program for the jobs most directly affected, such as judge advocates, chaplains, and personnel officials.

“My hope is that it can be done within a matter of a very few weeks so that we can then move on to what is the real challenge, which is providing training to 2.2 million people,” Gates said Thursday at a Pentagon news conference.

Under the repeal passed by Congress in December, Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen will have to “certify” that the military is ready for the transition, which will be followed by a 60-day waiting period before the repeal legally takes effect.

Commanders will provide all troops with some sort of education about the repeal, and Pentagon officials are determining the scope and format of that training, officials said.

Gates said he believes it is “better to do this sooner rather than later.”

Nevertheless, Gates and Mullen noted that the ban on gays serving openly in uniform remains in effect for now.

“Now is not the time to ‘come out,’ if you will,” Mullen said, but added: “We’ll get through this. We’ll do it deliberately. We certainly are focused on this. And we won’t dawdle.”