The Sara Isaacson story has been out for a little while now, but, she is a local girl (Milwaukee suburb) and her mother was on the radio today, so, the story caught my attention again. I am really torn on this one.
Sara is a senior at UNC-CH. She has stated that her long-time career goal is to serve in the Army as a doctor. She was in the ROTC program until January 2010 when she handed her Commander a letter stating she is a lesbian. Sara was a senior at the time and had received a 4-year ROTC scholarship valued at over $79,000. She was dismissed from ROTC and WILL have to repay the amount.
I am torn b/c I strongly support gay rights, including the right to marry. I am torn b/c I am a “law and order” guy and former Army JAG Corps Officer who believes that “rules are rules” and “orders are to be followed.” I am torn b/c I, personally, have put out two ROTC cadets for other types of infractions and believe in the rule of law.
I am not sure why Sara came out. She states that she realized she was a lesbian only last fall and did not want to serve her country while living a lie about her sexuality. I am not gay (not that there’s anything wrong with that) so, perhaps I do not understand exactly what she means by living a lie. On some levels, I can understand, but, not on others.
Sara’s mother raised an interesting point on the radio today. She asked why Sara could not serve the Army in a civilian capacity. She understands the Army rules and why her daughter was dismissed, but, feels Sara should be able to serve in a civilian capacity to fulfill her scholarship requirement. That sounds reasonable to me.
Sara was a senior at the time and had received a 4-year ROTC scholarship valued at over $79,000. She was dismissed from ROTC and will not have to repay the amount.
So she keeps the money and doesn’t have to serve? I would ask for some proof of her lesbianism!
Sara was a senior at the time and had received a 4-year ROTC scholarship valued at over $79,000. She was dismissed from ROTC and will not have to repay the amount.
So she keeps the money and doesn’t have to serve? I would ask for some proof of her lesbianism!
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Funny you should say that. When we were getting ready to deploy to the Gulf, a soldier came in to his commander and said he was gay. Commander thought he was lying to get out of the deployment. Called me up to handle the matter. First question the commander asked, “Well, can I make him PROVE he is gay?”
Regarding the first point, is that my original text? If so, it is a typo. She WILL have to repay the amount. I will fix that.
Seems like the easy answer is that she decided she didn’t want to deploy. Of course the easiest answer is to accept her statement at face value. Although from my discussion of this with a couple of gay friends, the time from out to militancy seems a bit quick (not that there is any consensus or gay authority).
As for letting her fulfill her committment as a civilian contractor, is the Army really getting its money’s worth?
So she keeps the money and doesn’t have to serve? I would ask for some proof of her lesbianism!
My thoughts exactly.
Pre-“coming out”
Post-coming out.
Looks a little worried about that 80 to 100k she’s into the government for. What was she worried about? Deployment. She’d have been a female officer and, if she so chose (depending on her MOS), could have been all the way in the rear with the gear and thus relatively safe. If she was trying to make a statement about DADT she did it the way wrong way. It’s still the law and she wouldn’t have a leg to stand on in court in trying to avoid paying back her scholarships.
Have known a few outstanding young cadets whom it turned out were gay. Doesn’t change my opinion of their outstanding ability to contribute to our common defense nor return the investment we’ve made upon them as taxpayers. Have had a few outstanding Soldiers whom it turned out were gay. Doesn’t change my opinion of the nature of their contribution to our common defense. Under the existing rules–had I known–I would have turned them in or processed them for discharge because those are the rules as they exist. Fortunately for all of us concerned they never chose to confront me/us with their personal predilection and these officers, NCOs, Department of Navy Civilians contributed significantly to our Nation defense.
It is clear to me that the movement towards formal acceptance of gays in the military has built irrevocable momentum towards acceptance. It will be painful to our (US) military when it comes as the military figures out how to make it all work. Along the way a lot of good folks will get hurt and jettisoned–cause the military’s way of making things happen is pretty blunt. I personally watched the forced inclusion of females into our military academy system at its very beginnings and it has taken us a generation to work out all the problems. Along the way some good women didn’t make it; some good men didn’t make it either; and some real shitbirds learned to game the system and rode the initial wave to something approximating success. IMO it’s all worked out now and I can defend the current system while looking myself in the mirror-but it was painful in execution and we were not at war.
My STRONG personal opinion as a Soldier with 28 years of service in uniform is this–being involved amidst two simultaneous difficult wars–this is NOT the time to try to finalize this issue as a Nation. It ill serves our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen who’re deployed in the most difficult and dangerous of combat situations to try to foist some solution upon them. When the War(s) wind down–as they inevitably will–then we can get after this and work the issue.
My personal religious belief is that homosexuality is wrong, but the God who Loves me also Loves these same people to the same degree–and I am the last person to throw any stones at them being a sinner myself. So if they are in trouble with God because of this personal predilection that is between them and Him; not me–He’s got His own problems with me and i am constantly trying to work on those.
My personal religious belief is that homosexuality is wrong, but the God who Loves me also Loves these same people to the same degree–and I am the last person to throw any stones at them being a sinner myself. So if they are in trouble with God because of this personal predilection that is between them and Him; not me–He’s got His own problems with me and i am constantly trying to work on those.
If only more Christians (and those who call themselves the same) shared your beliefs…
as a servant of the State I adhered to the above opinion because of my personal (religious/secular) beliefs. Many folks (not most) that I know in our (US) military are not of like mind nor inellectual/spiritual development. Our (US) military reflect our society. Just warning all here. Now is NOT the time to tackle this animal. Its outcome is inevitable but in a time of war not the time to get after this issue. There are people I love ( it includes my son) who are in uniform today and I don’t want to see the their combat effectiveness negatively affected (as it will inevitably will be) by this latest necessary adjustment amidst our direct involvement in combat in two wars.
Well said and extra points for including “Shitbirds”.
Its hard to point out the difficulties to someone who has never expereinced the system but this is a biggie and I fear the future if this goes through for the reason you pointed out.
