Posted on 02/11/2013 11:10:03 AM PST by xzins
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced today he would extend certain benefits to the same-sex partners of U.S military service members.
Panetta's statement reads as follows:
“Seventeen months ago, the United States military ended the policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” We have implemented the repeal of that policy and made clear that discrimination based on sexual orientation has no place in the Department of Defense.
“At the time of repeal, I committed to reviewing benefits that had not previously been available to same-sex partners based on existing law and policy. It is a matter of fundamental equity that we provide similar benefits to all of those men and women in uniform who serve their country. The department already provides a group of benefits that are member-designated. Today, I am pleased to announce that after a thorough and deliberate review, the department will extend additional benefits to same-sex partners of service members.
“Taking care of our service members and honoring the sacrifices of all military families are two core values of this nation. Extending these benefits is an appropriate next step under current law to ensure that all service members receive equal support for what they do to protect this nation.
“One of the legal limitations to providing all benefits at this time is the Defense of Marriage Act, which is still the law of the land. There are certain benefits that can only be provided to spouses as defined by that law, which is now being reviewed by the United States Supreme Court. While it will not change during my tenure as secretary of defense, I foresee a time when the law will allow the department to grant full benefits to service members and their dependents, irrespective of sexual orientation. Until then, the department will continue to comply with current law while doing all we can to take care of all soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and their families.
“While the implementation of additional benefits will require substantial policy revisions and training, it is my expectation that these benefits will be made available as expeditiously as possible. One of the great successes at the Department of Defense has been the implementation of DADT repeal. It has been highly professional and has strengthened our military community. I am confident in the military services’ ability to effectively implement these changes over the coming months.”
Click here to read Panetta's official memorandum on this issue.
http://www.defense.gov/news/Same-SexBenefitsMemo.pdf
The Worst are:
VGLI beneficiaries
ID Cards
PX/Commissary privileges
Sharing Living Quarters is the only verifiable fact defining "domestic partner"
If someone has pdf conversion capabilities, they could post the entire memorandum from Panetta, since it is a government website.
So when are these gay goofballs getting the option of moving into the married housing.
Attachment 1
Member designated benefits
-service members group life insurance beneficiary
-post Vietnam era veterans assistance program beneficiary
-all volunteer force educational assistance program - active duty death benefit
-death gratuity beneficiary
-final settlement of accounts beneficiary
-wounded warrior designated caregiver
-thrift savings plan beneficiary
-survivor benefit plan beneficiary for retirees
-casualty notification
-escorts for dependents of deceased or missing members...eligibility to be an escort
-designation of persons having interest in status of missin member
-veterans group life insurance beneficiary
-person eligible to receive effects of deceased persons
-travel and transportation allowance...attendance at yellow ribbon reintegration events
-travel and transportation allowance: transportation of designated individuals incident to hospitatlzation of members for treatment of wounds, illness, injury
-designation of persons authorized to direct disposition of remains of members of the armed forces
-presentation of the flag of the united states
-transportation of survivors of deceased member to attend the member’s buria ceremony or memorial service
-hosplital visitation privileges
-membership in family readiness groups
In the military, there are some advantages to being married - more pay, permission to live away from barracks if enlisted, medical care, px entry for spouse....but I’m sure nobody would abuse this with a ‘gay partner’ routine.
I was in the Army when Don’t Ask Don’t Tell went into place. Some soldiers who wanted out would jokingly state they were gay. I always had the same response: Prove It :)
Wait until polygamy is legalised...
If it hasn't changed since my days, the married housing was much preferable to living in the barracks. I wonder how many straight buddies will now decide they are "gay" just to get out of the barracks and get a party pad.
But can’t fuel an aircraft carier?
Attachment 2
Additional benefits for Same-Sex Domestic Partners
Eligibility for the following benefits shall be extended to service members, their same-sex domestic partners and, where applicable, childrenof same-sex domestic partners, where the service member and the same-sex domestic partner have signed a declaration attesting to the existence of a committed relationship, a porposed draft of which is in attachment 3:
-dependent ID cards, which will be renewed in accordance with existing policies
-commissary privileges
-exchange privileges
-moral, welfare and recreation programs
-surveys of military families
-quadrennial quality of life review
-emergency leave
-emergency leave of absence
-youth sponsorship program
-youth programs
-family center programs
-sexual assault counseling program
-joint duty assignments
-exemption from hostile fire areas
-transportation ato and from certain places of employment and on military installations
-transportation to and from primary and secondary school for minor dependents
-authority of service secretary to transport remains of a dependent
-disability and death compensation: dependents of members held as captives
-payments to missing persons
-space-available travel on DoD aircraft
-child care
-legal assistance
“-casualty notification”
I couldn’t imagine this...you knock on the door and an Elton John look alike answers...and you have to do the notification.
And, thus, the destruction of the world’s greatest military continues.
When we find ourselves unable to defeat the Mexican army, perhaps then the political elites will get it.
Of course, by then, it will be too late.
The educational benefits are the worst in my book. The rest seem to be what the active duty member had in his account, effects, and hospital visitation.
0bama undermining America’s Christian foundation at work here.. Loading the military with his gay friends who would shoot-to-kill American citizens in the name of THE GREAT GAYBAMA!
-youth sponsorship program
-youth programs
Yieks! Belay my last. This is the worst.
The SGLI makes “faking this to get a pad” a nightmare for the parents of such a kid.
His “partner” would get his ~250,000+ insurance policy.
Did he find that listed under ‘sexual partner’ defined benefits’ in some military handbook?
Will normal G.I.’s be able to give the same benefits to girlfrinds, including base housing? If not, why not?
SGLI is bad —
That is an excellent question. Lots of troops have live-ins, so they could sign that "they're committed" and they "share living arrangements."
So, the Department of Defense now only discriminates against opposite sex domestic partnerships.
Yep, and against marrieds, too, because they have to accept huge legal responsibilities to obtain the same benefits.
Are they gonna prosecute Bill who left deployed Jim’s kids alone in quarters while he spent the night at the Tiny Bubbles Lounge?
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