bobdina
07-08-2010, 11:16 AM
Pentagon sends out survey on gay troops
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Jul 8, 2010 9:29:20 EDT
A confidential survey of 400,000 active-duty and reserve troops’ attitudes on service by openly gay people appears to lean heavily on questions about teamwork, performance, mission completion and morale, according to a draft copy obtained by Military Times.
The actual questions sent out at midday Wednesday remain under wraps. The Pentagon confirmed the authenticity of the draft copy but said it is an earlier version, and refused to spell out what it described as “substantial” changes.
“We want the service members to have the opportunity to open it and read it before they read it in the press,” said Pentagon spokeswoman Cynthia Smith.
But if the draft version is any guide, the general tone of the survey questions — developed by the independent research group Westat in cooperation with the Pentagon — leans toward the potential impact that repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell” might have on unit performance.
It underscores Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ March 2 guidance that the 10-month study on the impact of repeal be carried out in a “thorough and dispassionate” manner.
The Pentagon’s top public affairs official, Assistant Secretary of Defense Douglas Wilson, said Wednesday that officials feel the final version of the survey has met that goal.
Smith did confirm that the survey is broken down into three sections: baseline questions regarding respondents’ overall experiences in the military; respondents’ past experiences serving with individuals they believed to be gay; and respondents’ attitudes and sense of repeal’s impact on retention, unit cohesion and effectiveness, privacy, family readiness and their willingness to recommend military service to others.
Smith said Westat worked with the Defense Manpower Data Center to come up with the list of 200,000 active-duty and 200,000 reserve and National Guard e-mail addresses. Westat sent out the surveys and is charged with maintaining the confidentiality of respondents, including those who fill out a confidential “online dialogue” after completing the survey, which they must do within 72 hours, she said.
The survey itself must be completed by Aug. 15, Smith said.
Smith urged service members to fill out the questionnaires and to take the 20- to 30-minute task seriously.
“We want them to be open, candid and honest,” Smith said.
The survey is one part of the work of the Comprehensive Review Working Group, established by Gates in the wake of President Obama’s call to reverse the 17-year ban on open service by gays, which Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen endorsed during February testimony. Since then, the full House has passed a reversal of the law, as has the Senate Armed Services Committee.
In the draft version of the survey, nearly all of the questions were multiple choice, with 23 of 73 questions concerning teamwork, performance and completing the mission, and seven asking about morale. There were questions on leadership challenges; attitudes toward gay co-workers if repeal takes place; the impact of repeal on the respondent’s unit’s ability to complete missions, both deployed and non-deployed; off-duty social impact; and how repeal will affect the spouse’s, family’s or “significant other’s” attitude toward the respondent’s continued military service.
The draft survey also asked how a repeal will affect the respondent’s likelihood of recommending military service to family members or close friends and their own continued service; and whether they personally know any gays, served with any gays and whether they were a leader or co-worker, and how well the unit performed.
The draft survey included a question widely voiced by troops, including those who took part in Military Times focus groups last winter and whose opinions, along with those of gay service members and poll respondents, were the basis of a February story on the potential impact of repeal: “If Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is repealed and a gay or lesbian service member attended a military social with a same-sex partner, which are you most likely to do?”
The potential answers ranged from “continue to attend” such functions, “cease to attend,” “cease to bring my [fill in applicable partner],” “think about leaving the military” and “not applicable.”
The Military Times poll showed that troops generally are satisfied with the current policy banning open service by gays, but that opposition to repeal is steadily dropping.
In addition to the survey sent out Wednesday, the Working Group continues its visits to various military bases, meetings with pro and con advocacy groups at the Pentagon, and gathers data via an “online inbox” at www.defense.gov/dadt, which requires a Common Access Card, Smith said.
In early August, a confidential online survey of 150,000 family members will be launched.
Still to be completed, Smith said, is an update of the 1993 Rand Corp. study, “Sexual Orientation and U.S. Military Personnel Policy: Options and Assessment.”
The group’s implementation plan is due to Gates by Dec. 1.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/07/military_dontask_survey_070710w/
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Jul 8, 2010 9:29:20 EDT
A confidential survey of 400,000 active-duty and reserve troops’ attitudes on service by openly gay people appears to lean heavily on questions about teamwork, performance, mission completion and morale, according to a draft copy obtained by Military Times.
The actual questions sent out at midday Wednesday remain under wraps. The Pentagon confirmed the authenticity of the draft copy but said it is an earlier version, and refused to spell out what it described as “substantial” changes.
“We want the service members to have the opportunity to open it and read it before they read it in the press,” said Pentagon spokeswoman Cynthia Smith.
But if the draft version is any guide, the general tone of the survey questions — developed by the independent research group Westat in cooperation with the Pentagon — leans toward the potential impact that repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell” might have on unit performance.
It underscores Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ March 2 guidance that the 10-month study on the impact of repeal be carried out in a “thorough and dispassionate” manner.
The Pentagon’s top public affairs official, Assistant Secretary of Defense Douglas Wilson, said Wednesday that officials feel the final version of the survey has met that goal.
Smith did confirm that the survey is broken down into three sections: baseline questions regarding respondents’ overall experiences in the military; respondents’ past experiences serving with individuals they believed to be gay; and respondents’ attitudes and sense of repeal’s impact on retention, unit cohesion and effectiveness, privacy, family readiness and their willingness to recommend military service to others.
Smith said Westat worked with the Defense Manpower Data Center to come up with the list of 200,000 active-duty and 200,000 reserve and National Guard e-mail addresses. Westat sent out the surveys and is charged with maintaining the confidentiality of respondents, including those who fill out a confidential “online dialogue” after completing the survey, which they must do within 72 hours, she said.
The survey itself must be completed by Aug. 15, Smith said.
Smith urged service members to fill out the questionnaires and to take the 20- to 30-minute task seriously.
“We want them to be open, candid and honest,” Smith said.
The survey is one part of the work of the Comprehensive Review Working Group, established by Gates in the wake of President Obama’s call to reverse the 17-year ban on open service by gays, which Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen endorsed during February testimony. Since then, the full House has passed a reversal of the law, as has the Senate Armed Services Committee.
In the draft version of the survey, nearly all of the questions were multiple choice, with 23 of 73 questions concerning teamwork, performance and completing the mission, and seven asking about morale. There were questions on leadership challenges; attitudes toward gay co-workers if repeal takes place; the impact of repeal on the respondent’s unit’s ability to complete missions, both deployed and non-deployed; off-duty social impact; and how repeal will affect the spouse’s, family’s or “significant other’s” attitude toward the respondent’s continued military service.
The draft survey also asked how a repeal will affect the respondent’s likelihood of recommending military service to family members or close friends and their own continued service; and whether they personally know any gays, served with any gays and whether they were a leader or co-worker, and how well the unit performed.
The draft survey included a question widely voiced by troops, including those who took part in Military Times focus groups last winter and whose opinions, along with those of gay service members and poll respondents, were the basis of a February story on the potential impact of repeal: “If Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is repealed and a gay or lesbian service member attended a military social with a same-sex partner, which are you most likely to do?”
The potential answers ranged from “continue to attend” such functions, “cease to attend,” “cease to bring my [fill in applicable partner],” “think about leaving the military” and “not applicable.”
The Military Times poll showed that troops generally are satisfied with the current policy banning open service by gays, but that opposition to repeal is steadily dropping.
In addition to the survey sent out Wednesday, the Working Group continues its visits to various military bases, meetings with pro and con advocacy groups at the Pentagon, and gathers data via an “online inbox” at www.defense.gov/dadt, which requires a Common Access Card, Smith said.
In early August, a confidential online survey of 150,000 family members will be launched.
Still to be completed, Smith said, is an update of the 1993 Rand Corp. study, “Sexual Orientation and U.S. Military Personnel Policy: Options and Assessment.”
The group’s implementation plan is due to Gates by Dec. 1.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/07/military_dontask_survey_070710w/