[UPDATE: Read the full story on today’s briefing here.]
Calling the implementation of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal a “milestone event” for the Defense Department, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced today that repeal implementation “must be accomplished across the entire Department at the same time” and occur “in a deliberate and careful manner.”
In a memorandum to Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Clifford Stanley that was provided to Metro Weekly, Gates directed Stanley on what he called the “solid foundation” for the implementation of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act.
The “terms of reference” for DADT repeal implementation are laid out in a four-page document that follows the letter. In a follow-up memorandum, Stanley details the “DADT Repeal Policy Guidance” in a memo and six-page document.
Stanley and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. James Cartwright briefed reporters on the documents this afternoon.
Read the Gates memo and “terms of reference” document: IMPLEMENTATION OF REPEAL OF 10 USC 654 Memo & TOR.PDF
Read Stanley’s policy memo: Policy Memo Signed.pdf
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