Top NCO: Marines Stay Despite DADT’s End

military.com ^ | April 15, 2011 | Bryant Jordan

[Salman]

The next Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps says repealing the ban on gays serving openly hasn't caused leathernecks to head for the exits.

In an interview today with Military.com, Sgt. Maj. Michael Barrett said he has seen no evidence that Marines are leaving because of the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

[Salman]

I'm doubting this story, but is anyone out there closer to this story who can tell us if this is a fact?

Thank you.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Sgt. Maj. Michael Barrett said he has seen no evidence that Marines are leaving because of the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Rome wasn't built in a day, and you don't turn the Leathernecks into the "Leatherbutts" overnight.

Gawd, do we ever need some real leadership that has principles and just doesn't govern by pandering!

[Leisler]

You don’t get to be top SJ with out knowing what the politicos want.

[oh8eleven]

Way too early to tell. They'll have to look at recent re-enlistment rates (say, 2003-2010), then compare them to 2011 rates.
As a former Marine I would not trust anyone who puts their sexual orientation ahead of being a Marine.
Anyone who does so, especially in a combat environment, is just asking for trouble.

[whatisthetruth]

Isn’t it a little early to be able to discern the overall impact yet, after all the homos are still in the bathhouses and could care less about signing up to go fight terrorists.

[Tax-chick]

... repealing the ban on gays serving openly hasn't caused leathernecks to head for the exits yet.

Wait until a few Marines get masted (or whatever they say in the Corps) for being insufficiently sensitive to their lavender comrades.

[hattend]

But then again, you have to wait until current enlistment is up. It’s not like you can quit with 2 years left to serve.

Wait and see.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

Exactly. More telling would be the numbers for reups and enlistments.

[sergeantdave]

There’s a way Marines handle things that can’t be easily measured, like have blanket parties increased.

[Waco]

Wait till May,wait till May, see if the class of 2011 avoid the military in masse and the class of 2007 upon finishing their 1st hitch pill out, plus retirements etc. Might be a real eye opener, plus they may not be able to count on getting paid anyway.

[sean327]

I really don’t see this having a huge impact on my beloved Corps. Our culture is not very inviting to the gay community. Were there gay Marines during the time I was in? (1984-2007) Yes there were, but they wouldn’t dream of making it known that they were rump rangers. Marines are the most politicaly incorrect people I have ever had the privilige to be around.
If you ever want to really understand Marines, spend 5 days in the pits on the rifle range. You will get a crash course on how our brains are wired. When you leave you will either be laughing your ass off, or you will need to seek some sort of therapy.

[JSDude1]

Many haven’t left because it hasn’t affected them personally yet..when they are forced into close quarters in combat (the next major war) that’s when you’ll see many Marines (and Army soldiers) leave.

[junta]

Life in the Matrix, per usual the homosexuals will overreach and eventually become the most hated group in America. The historical record as represented by the bible and even the koran did not reflect poorly upon homos because they acted dignified as they went about redecorating.