Category: Bloggers

The Military blogs aren’t totally in synchronized on this DADT thing, so in that spirit, CJ Grisham presents this letter, oddly enough signed by some of the same people as yesterday’s letter;

Like all Military Bloggers, we consider the US military the greatest institution for good that has ever existed. No other organization has freed more people from oppression, done more humanitarian work or rescued more from natural disasters. We also want that to continue.

Today, it appears inevitable to us that the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy and law restricting open homosexual behavior from serving will be changed. We believe that the changes resulting from the repeal or amending of this policy will cause unnecessary burdens upon the current force and readiness.

Homosexuals have always served in the US Military and in many instances were severely ostracized or worse when found out. The current policy of preventing disclosure of sexual orientation is in keeping with good order and discipline.

The service chiefs are currently studying the impact and consequences of changing the DADT policy, and how to implement it without compromising the morale, order and discipline necessary for the military to function. The study is due to be completed on Dec. 1st. We also ask Congress to withhold action until this is finished, but no longer.

We urge Congress to oppose any efforts to repeal the law and lift the policy of openly homosexual service in the military. A large number of associated concerns and costs are associated with the repeal, among them housing, legal status in various states, and moral objections from the majority of the force. The policy would also open doors to legitimate objections from polygamists and other groups who would feel discriminated against. The time is not now to consider such actions while our military is at war on more than two fronts.

We don’t believe the US Military is ready to adapt to the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell without compromising its mission. We disagree with Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen about lifting the ban but will welcome any and all lawful orders that may be given as a result of any repeal. The US Military is a professional force, but would take years to adjust to these extreme changes.

C.J. Grisham – A Soldier’s Perspective and You Served

Troy Steward – Bouhammer

Uncle J – Blackfive (yeah, awkward, huh?)

Bob Miller – Eagles Up: Talon

LL –Chromed Curses

You’ll notice that I haven’t signed either letter – that’s because I think we have more pressing military issues to discuss than who should be allowed to put what into whom.

If you’re wondering where TSO is this week, he’s in Colorado Springs at the Warrior Games;

The Warrior Games will take place May 10-14, 2010 at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Sports include swimming, cycling, track & field, shooting, archery, wheelchair basketball, and seated volleyball. This program is designed to elevate abilities through athletic competition for wounded, ill, and injured servicemembers, providing a focal event to empower the incorporation of athletics into Military Service Wounded Warrior Programs.

The Warrior Games will be an annual event to celebrate the achievement and abilities of wounded, ill, and injured servicemembers, while building camaraderie and raising awareness for adaptive sports.

From KKTV;

At the Olympic Training Center, more than 200 wounded warriors from every branch of the military are about to compete for the glory of winning a gold medal in the inaugural Warrior Games.

The games, a joint effort between the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Paralympics, the United Services Organizations and Ride to Recovery, are designed to give our fighting men and women who’ve been wounded an opportunity to inspire us all once more.

Many have battled back from the brink of despair, often with the help of sports. And like the olympic flame, burning bright over the Olympic Training Center, they are a symbol of everlasting determination.

I swear, he’s like a rock star on tour these days jetting back and forth across the country hanging out with cool people. I may have to give him a pay raise.

There’s an article in Wired’s Danger Room entitled “Actually, the Army Kind of Likes Your Blog” by Noah Shachtman that reports on the Army’s attempt to get a grasp of the milblogosphere’s opinion of them;

Every week, the defense contractor MPRI prepares for the brass a “Blogosphere and Social Media Report,” rounding up sites’ posts on military matters. It’s meant to be a single source for top officers to catch up on what’s being said online and in leading social media outlets. Items from about two dozen national security and political blogs are excerpted, and classified as “balanced,” “critical,” or “supportive.”

Well, the problem is that they’re looking at “This Ain’t Hell” way too much to be at all helpful to them. 18 times in the three week period that Danger Room evaluated – more than almost any other blog. That’s not healthy – we don’t know what we’re doing here.

To demonstrate how clueless they are, they included some of your comments in the report, too. See what I mean?