Would partners of gay troops get benefits, too?

Stars and Stripes ^ | KIMBERLY HEFLING

[Jet Jaguar]

If gay service members are allowed to serve openly, the military will face another tough question: Should gay partners be entitled to military benefits?

Momentum appears to be building for ending the ban on gays in the military. New rules ordered Thursday by Defense Secretary Robert Gates make it harder to discharge men and women under the policy known as "don't ask, don't tell." His decision is intended as a stopgap measure as Congress weighs whether to go along with President Barack Obama's request to repeal the law.

Since the draft ended in 1973, spousal benefits have increasingly been used as an incentive to recruit and retain an effective force. Today, more than half of all troops sport a wedding ring.

Benefits for married service members include college tuition for a spouse and the right of a spouse to be at a wounded service member's bedside. Spouses also have access to military health care and commissaries worldwide, and married service members receive better housing and even extra pay when they go to war.

[Terry Mross]

Gates! Your Texas A & M pass has been revoked!

[FloridianBushFan]

Do a search. This was already posted.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2480166/posts

In fact if you look over in the Breaking News (News/Activism) section you will see it listed.

[matginzac]

This is one of MANY questions that Gates and that wonderful CATHOLIC leader in uniform, Mullen, need to answer...
If they can’t get “married”, can the “partner” get benefits?
If there’s a promotion ceremony, does the partner/spouse join in in the festivities?
Can the partner/spouse be named as next of kin?
A whole can of worms opened and last time I looked, we were fighting two wars!
Typical Obummer admin to fight the gay war instead of the real wars... God help us....

[Jet Jaguar]

Thank you. I saw it on Stars and stripes.

Searched titles, no luck.

I will ask MOD to lock or delete.

[Finny]

Wow, that's nailing it; I hadn't thought of this consequence. No wonder the destroyers within are so eager to end "don't ask, don't tell." It's a double-whammy: it weakens the military morale-wise, and the nation financially.

Pray for a miracle and pray that we know it when we see it.