Drama destroys military brotherhood
Justin Dragos
Issue date: 10/14/09 Section: Opinion
Prejudice. Discrimi-nation. Gay-bashing. Hate.
All these things come to mind when you think of gays and the military. Why do we refuse to let brave Americans serve in the military when they are openly homosexual? What right do we have to say no to someone brave enough to volunteer for war due to his or her sexual orientation? Yet every time someone mentions allowing gay or lesbian soldiers into the armed forces, the top brass goes crazy. Maybe the military leadership is just a bunch of bigots, or maybe there is a culture of hate that the service breeds - but even if those things are true, there's more to the issue.
I spent five years in the service and was deployed three times. I'll tell you straight away that I wouldn't have wanted gay men in my unit, and I didn't want women in my unit - but I don't hate either group or think they're inferior. The problem is sex and relationships. Everyone has the right to be able to date whoever they want, but in war that causes serious issues. Where there is dating and/or sex, there is drama. Where there is drama, there is distrust or outright anger.
So what's wrong with a little drama? Well, nothing. It breaks up discipline a little bit, gets people all worked up, but it's usually relatively harmless. Unfortunately, however, when you're fighting on the frontlines and putting your life in the hands of those around you, trust is everything. You can't be worried about rumors you heard that another guy in your unit is sleeping with your girlfriend; you can't be worried that someone else is going to find out you've been hanging out with their boyfriend; you have to trust the people around you completely, or people die.
Recently, President Obama has called for an end to the ban on openly gay people in the military, and I absolutely applaud him for that; it's wrong to keep them out. The problem, however, is the same issue that still exists with women in the military: you can't integrate them in all situations. There are many jobs (even in wartime) that the drama of relationships doesn't affect. Many people in the military stay inside a base at all times even while deployed and never see the fighting first hand. In those situations it's fine to have all groups together - it's just like any other job.
Combat units, however, need a different approach. So how do we fix it? All male combat units seem overly restrictive. Segregated units seem like an archaic idea. I don't know the answer to solve it, maybe there isn't one, but I do know this: when you step in front of another soldier's gun, you have to be able to trust that he is going to protect your life with it, and not try to eliminate his competition.
All these things come to mind when you think of gays and the military. Why do we refuse to let brave Americans serve in the military when they are openly homosexual? What right do we have to say no to someone brave enough to volunteer for war due to his or her sexual orientation? Yet every time someone mentions allowing gay or lesbian soldiers into the armed forces, the top brass goes crazy. Maybe the military leadership is just a bunch of bigots, or maybe there is a culture of hate that the service breeds - but even if those things are true, there's more to the issue.
I spent five years in the service and was deployed three times. I'll tell you straight away that I wouldn't have wanted gay men in my unit, and I didn't want women in my unit - but I don't hate either group or think they're inferior. The problem is sex and relationships. Everyone has the right to be able to date whoever they want, but in war that causes serious issues. Where there is dating and/or sex, there is drama. Where there is drama, there is distrust or outright anger.
So what's wrong with a little drama? Well, nothing. It breaks up discipline a little bit, gets people all worked up, but it's usually relatively harmless. Unfortunately, however, when you're fighting on the frontlines and putting your life in the hands of those around you, trust is everything. You can't be worried about rumors you heard that another guy in your unit is sleeping with your girlfriend; you can't be worried that someone else is going to find out you've been hanging out with their boyfriend; you have to trust the people around you completely, or people die.
Recently, President Obama has called for an end to the ban on openly gay people in the military, and I absolutely applaud him for that; it's wrong to keep them out. The problem, however, is the same issue that still exists with women in the military: you can't integrate them in all situations. There are many jobs (even in wartime) that the drama of relationships doesn't affect. Many people in the military stay inside a base at all times even while deployed and never see the fighting first hand. In those situations it's fine to have all groups together - it's just like any other job.
Combat units, however, need a different approach. So how do we fix it? All male combat units seem overly restrictive. Segregated units seem like an archaic idea. I don't know the answer to solve it, maybe there isn't one, but I do know this: when you step in front of another soldier's gun, you have to be able to trust that he is going to protect your life with it, and not try to eliminate his competition.
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AJD
posted 10/14/09 @ 12:15 PM CST
I have known several veterans of the military and current soldiers. They are taught in their training to be very disciplined in many different ways. Why would it not be acceptable to expect a soldier to be disciplined enough to handle themselves around people of the opposite sex or homosexuals? There will only be "drama" if women and homosexuals are integrated fully into the military if soldiers are given the idea that they don't have to be disciplined in this area as well. (Continued…)
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