"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" information forums scheduled at Buckley

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  • Department of Defense Public Affairs
Members of the Department of Defense Comprehensive Review Working Group will visit Buckley Air Force Base June 15 for two town hall meetings at 9 and 10:30 a.m. at the Leadership Development Center.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates established the working group to begin a review of the issues associated with implementing a repeal of the law commonly known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," should repeal occur.

The Comprehensive Review Working Group will conduct information exchange forums at several military installations around the world as one means to obtain the input of service members and their families about issues associated with repeal of the law, including impacts, if any, on military readiness, military effectiveness and unit cohesion, recruiting/retention, and family readiness.

Service members and their families can provide comments to the working group by using the online inbox at http://www.defense.gov/dadt. This Web site is common access card-enabled and is another way to communicate with the working group on issues associated with the repeal.

The forums will include 250-300 randomly selected service members.

Following the IEFs, working group members will conduct small focus groups with service members to focus on specific questions.

The working group encourages participants to engage in an open and honest discussion. Participants should understand the law commonly known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" remains in effect and service members should not disclose confidential information at these events.

A plan of action to address the issues involved with implementation of repeal of the law will be submitted to the Secretary of Defense no later than Dec. 1.

The working group's mission is not to engage in debate about whether to repeal the law. The mission is to gain a better understanding of how repeal might affect service members and their families should repeal occur.