So whats wrong with unisex berthing?

nothing wrong with it at all. Check your personal space issues at the door. If you're uncomfortable sharing a berthing space with a person of the opposite sex, I'm assuming the same would hold true for a person of the opposite orientation. My solution is to do away with seperate spaces for male/female. One crew, one fight. Straight, gay, men and women, cats and dogs living together, mass hysteria. Saves a lot of $ too.

On a side note, the showers at CGA were gang style in the male heads and singles for women (at least as of when I left in 02). That's four years of living in the barracks, showering with a bunch of men. Don't know if its still that way or not. If we can integrate ships, we should be able to integrate rooming assignments at CGA too. Just don't make me COMDT of Cadets when that happens as CGA transitions to "the love shack."

quote:

This isn't in the best interest of the military, it is in favor of gays

Assumes facts not in evidence. Would the military have been better off if so many Arab speaking linguists had not been tossed out for being gay pre and post 9/11? There are legitimate studies that show as many as 600 Arab linguists had been asked to leave or otherwise forced out of the military. These are the ones they know of.

quote:

Just don't make me COMDT of Cadets when that happens as CGA transitions to "the love shack."

Gratuitous at best. Why to "straight" men think "gay" men will be hitting on them? Who wants rejection, humiliation and confrontation? Why do "straight" men think that "gay" men are more desirous of sex than they are?

quote:

This isn't in the best interest of the military, it is in favor of gays

Can't it be in the best interest of both? The military as a whole is hurting for willing people to serve right now. What's wrong with allowing a few more of those willing to sderve their country? As far as the tolerance issue, many people already tolerate members with different religions, backgrounds, and sexes. I'm curious to hear from the members that were around when the diffrerent branches started allowing women to serve. I imagine that the situation had it's similarities.

Don't eat me alive here, I am leaving my opinon on repealing this policy completely off the tavle at this point.

BUT here's my question looking past all of the "same old same old" discussion points on this topic:

What happens in 4 or 8 years when there is a new POTUS? If this POTUS can repeal a policy so can the next;if the next guy turns back to DADT or a similar policy, what happens to all the members who served "openly"?

quote:

Just don't make me COMDT of Cadets when that happens as CGA transitions to "the love shack."

Ahhh, the current occupant of that position is certainly capable of jacking up alot of programs beyond repair. Why would this one be any different?

T

As I mentioned in the other thread in the main area of military.com, Point/Counter Point, how is it that the military can boot out a service member who is 20 lbs overweight? It's all about image for the military. Can anyone honestly tell me a RDC who is 20 lbs overweight can't do his job?

But with the repeal of DADT, will it be an accepted image when some male GMC and a male BMC are dancing together in a Chief's Lounge or out in a club in uniform?

Don

It always amuses me when guys think that ALL gay men MUST be attracted to them... Unless you've got women flocking all over you like Brad Pitt, I highly doubt you're that attractive to men either...

I will admit the berthing area issue will be a hurdle, but as others have said...how do the other countries do it?

quote:

Originally posted by 21yrsUSCGUSCS:

But with the repeal of DADT, will it be an accepted image when some male GMC and a male BMC are dancing together in a Chief's Lounge or out in a club in uniform?

Don

Do we allow a male GMC and female BMC to dnce together in the Lounge now? If so, why not two men? I'm sure all standing 8h polices will still be in effect, just amended to included gay couples...

quote:

One crew, one fight. Straight, gay, men and women, cats and dogs living together

Well, it's been 11 years now, since the movie, "G.I. Jane," came out with an example of how that might work. As you may recall, Demi Moore played the character LT O'Neil, who as the first woman in Navy SEAL training, moved into the common barracks, took a bunk along with the men, and was generally accepted as if everything was gender neutral.

Although her terrific female SEAL quality body didn't allow her to look gender neutral, she did get her head shaved, which was I guess the best a woman who looked like her could do to attempt to neutralize the gender issue in SEAL training, where all the guys had shaved heads.

To the movie's credit, it also dealt with another gender reality. That was when her box of tampons fell out of her duffel bag in view of many of her barracks roomies. Funny and perhaps realistic thing was that it was the men who seemed more scared of seeing the exclusively femine hygene product, than she was of them seeing it.

Then there was her famous shower scene, in which her MCPO Instructor in uniform carried on an ostensibly mentoring conversation with her, while she was showering naked, and she remained unfazed, by it.

Ultimately, the MCPO Instructor asked her if she'd thought about what could happen to her as a POW, and she says "I have, same as the men have." Thus, the special vulnerability of women to certain kinds of violence is dealt with directly. It's a reality not talked about much in the media, but male POWs know that male POWs can get raped by their captors, too. And this movie came out 7 years before Abu Ghraib scandal did.

What about the poor CMAA's who will have to handle gay mags found in the 20 man head? :-)
CWO A

Aren't those called GQ and Maxum? Maxum only has the women in there to throw people off track...

quote:

Originally posted by 4101670:
What about the poor CMAA's who will have to handle gay mags found in the 20 man head? :-)
CWO A

you're right seeing one of those will most likely turn him gay......

did you ever think of what the last guy was doing with the hetero mag 5 minutes before you picked it up to thumb through it?

quote:

Originally posted by THREEFLYS:
Aren't those called GQ and Maxum? Maxum only has the women in there to throw people off track...

....muscle and fitness....men's health could also be a cover for the discreet gay guy....

I just see this as more "mandatory sensitivity training" coming down the pike.
What is the goal for the military nowadays? A force to be wreckoned with or a social experiment?

You know,

I don't support ending the DADT policy, but if it does, it does.
I don't mind gay folks they do what they want, the only thing that should be mandated for gay folks in the military, serving openly (if it ever happens), is to act accordingly with your gender.
If you are a gay man, have class; don't act all froot loop like and try to be a woman. Same goes for gay woman, don't try to act like a man be gender like.
My 2 cents.

quote:

Originally posted by Mrsmookie02:
Don't eat me alive here, I am leaving my opinon on repealing this policy completely off the tavle at this point.

BUT here's my question looking past all of the "same old same old" discussion points on this topic:

What happens in 4 or 8 years when there is a new POTUS? If this POTUS can repeal a policy so can the next;if the next guy turns back to DADT or a similar policy, what happens to all the members who served "openly"?

These kind of issues are like Pandoras box. Once opened, you cant put anything back.

If this does happen, I for one am glad I am no longer active. I get fed up and way to vocal with inconsistent policies.

For example these "other than bootcamp shower" comments. If we determine its wrong, its wrong all the time. It cant be wrong sometimes, but ok other times. If its ok for homosexuals to openly serve, but 8H still applies, you cannot claim its ok for both to shower together sometimes, but not at others.

Somehow, a flamboyant gay company commander just doesnt seem as intimidating. With a lisp "Now get down and give me 20." "Pleasssse".

T

I love it when people use stereotypes to sneak in a shot at some group.

A lisp? Acting frootloop?

Great ... you used to get a liberty card, throw on yer Sunday best and hit the town with yer buddies ... but now we'll be held up while "Bruce" is trying to find the right "little black dress" to hit the town in.

And fighting over sink time in the head, while "Bruce" is perfecting his lipstick ...

"Bruce" will no doubt get a heel stuck in the gangway.