UNCENSORED INDEPENDENCE DAY IRAQ WAR VET VIEWS - WISCONSIN
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Categories: Civil Liberties/Privacy, Higher Education, Honest and Ethical Government, Civil Rights and Equality, National Security, Peace and Armed Conflict, Social Justice, GLBT Issues, News, Opinion, Front Page
Categories: Civil Liberties/Privacy, Higher Education, Honest and Ethical Government, Civil Rights and Equality, National Security, Peace and Armed Conflict, Social Justice, GLBT Issues, News, Opinion, Front Page
Liberty and Justice For All...Except Some
by Britton Andrew Jones
Wisconsin Army National Guard
Tue, 07/01/2008
This is my coming out story. Quickly, I am learning that coming out is an ongoing process that must occur over and over again. I am a bisexual currently still in the Wisconsin Army National Guard awaiting separation because of my coming out. I felt it was necessary to come out in protest of the current policy of LGBT service members in the military.
EDITORS NOTE: Although having no passionate feelings one way or another on the Pentagon's "Don't Ask-Don't Tell" policy, I'm not gay (and certainly not lesbian, I prefer same sex relationships, and have with the same woman for longer than most marriages), however I must note for our readers that recently Secretary of Defense Gates issued another "Don't Ask-Don't Tell" policy of sorts that is about a realistic and fair (given the hurting for troops our Armed Forces WILL face in upcoming years).
The Pentagon's new "Don't Ask-Don't Tell Policy applies to destigmatization Mental Illness (specifically aimed at troops experiencing PTSD to keep them in combat or at least in uniform). Secretary Gates ordered the Services to remove the question from Applications for Security Clearances dealing with Mental Illness.
Specifically, one was once considered a security risk, and could not get a security clearance, if they had EVER seen a Mental Health professional for ANY mental illness. I know this for a fact, because I voluntarily turned myself into my superiors once I began seeking treatment for Bi-Polar, I was a Navy Base Security Officer responsible for doing well, Security Clearance applications. My superiors desired to make me an exception to the rule, based on understanding, and more so my senior GS status and former officer's rank, but I decided truth was the better part of honor and valor. If other troops were having their security clearances pulled due to mental illness issues, I found it distasteful to even consider seeking exception. Honesty cost me my career and future.
POINT: It the Pentagon today can have an effort to challenge the stigma of mental illness, and I frankly advocate that effort, it certainly can make an effort to take the stigma off of troops with sexuality issues, that a few consider mental illness. In fact, the most radical opponents of gays in the military use the mental illness argument. Bi-Polar or PTSD cares not what your rank is, your social status is, your political affiliation is, your religion is, much less what your sexual preference is. Neither should the Pentagon. Major Bobby Hanafin, USAF-Retired
Liberty and Justice For All...Except Some (Cont'd)
Despite my clean and honorable service record, my commander has recommended that I be discharged "under other than honorable conditions" simply for coming out as a bisexual serving in the Army National Guard.
I now have 45 days to acquire legal counsel and take action before the separation proceedings take place. I have broken no law, civilian or military, and am going to seek that my discharge be honorable as has been my service.
In college I grew to accept my bisexuality despite being drawn to the military. After going through a change in major and some questioning of what I should do in life, I turned to the military. I wanted to serve something greater than myself, and I was attracted to the discipline and structure the military had to offer.
In 2006 I enlisted into the Army National Guard as an infantryman. I did not think my sexuality had anything to do with my military service. I went off to training and excelled in my tasks.
Though I got teased about my chosen major in college, musical theatre, and heard many gay jokes, I shrugged them off and pressed on.
My fellow trainees and the drill sergeants knew I was committed and motivated. Upon completion of my infantry training, I arrived back in Wisconsin and was told that my unit no longer existed and was instructed to pick a new job.
I chose a paralegal position at a nearby unit. While with this unit and awaiting my scheduled summer reclassification school I drilled mostly with the JAG Corps assisting with wills, powers of attorney, and other legal documents for soldiers being deployed to Iraq.
This was a time of discovery for me. The more and more I drilled, the more I realized the discriminatory and homophobic atmosphere of the military caused by a backwards policy. I felt like I was lying in hiding my bisexuality. I believed it was wrong that I had to hide it to keep my job and after much deliberation decided to come out.
Despite my good training scores and volunteering to help the JAG Corps, my commander, whom I have never met in my 8 months with the unit, is recommending I receive an "under other than honorable conditions" discharge from the Army National Guard.
When I believe the current policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Harass" to be discriminatory and wrong, I am almost shocked that I would be discriminated against in my type of discharge as well and am ready to fight it.
I am so glad to have come out not only as a soldier against the war in Iraq, but also a bisexual soldier. No one should be punished for speaking their mind.
Hopefully, with help from activist brothers and sisters, this will be an era where equality and freedom of speech really do reign.
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION
Bobby Hanafin
Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired (69-94)
by Britton Andrew Jones
Wisconsin Army National Guard
Tue, 07/01/2008
This is my coming out story. Quickly, I am learning that coming out is an ongoing process that must occur over and over again. I am a bisexual currently still in the Wisconsin Army National Guard awaiting separation because of my coming out. I felt it was necessary to come out in protest of the current policy of LGBT service members in the military.
EDITORS NOTE: Although having no passionate feelings one way or another on the Pentagon's "Don't Ask-Don't Tell" policy, I'm not gay (and certainly not lesbian, I prefer same sex relationships, and have with the same woman for longer than most marriages), however I must note for our readers that recently Secretary of Defense Gates issued another "Don't Ask-Don't Tell" policy of sorts that is about a realistic and fair (given the hurting for troops our Armed Forces WILL face in upcoming years).
The Pentagon's new "Don't Ask-Don't Tell Policy applies to destigmatization Mental Illness (specifically aimed at troops experiencing PTSD to keep them in combat or at least in uniform). Secretary Gates ordered the Services to remove the question from Applications for Security Clearances dealing with Mental Illness.
Specifically, one was once considered a security risk, and could not get a security clearance, if they had EVER seen a Mental Health professional for ANY mental illness. I know this for a fact, because I voluntarily turned myself into my superiors once I began seeking treatment for Bi-Polar, I was a Navy Base Security Officer responsible for doing well, Security Clearance applications. My superiors desired to make me an exception to the rule, based on understanding, and more so my senior GS status and former officer's rank, but I decided truth was the better part of honor and valor. If other troops were having their security clearances pulled due to mental illness issues, I found it distasteful to even consider seeking exception. Honesty cost me my career and future.
POINT: It the Pentagon today can have an effort to challenge the stigma of mental illness, and I frankly advocate that effort, it certainly can make an effort to take the stigma off of troops with sexuality issues, that a few consider mental illness. In fact, the most radical opponents of gays in the military use the mental illness argument. Bi-Polar or PTSD cares not what your rank is, your social status is, your political affiliation is, your religion is, much less what your sexual preference is. Neither should the Pentagon. Major Bobby Hanafin, USAF-Retired
Liberty and Justice For All...Except Some (Cont'd)
Despite my clean and honorable service record, my commander has recommended that I be discharged "under other than honorable conditions" simply for coming out as a bisexual serving in the Army National Guard.
I now have 45 days to acquire legal counsel and take action before the separation proceedings take place. I have broken no law, civilian or military, and am going to seek that my discharge be honorable as has been my service.
In college I grew to accept my bisexuality despite being drawn to the military. After going through a change in major and some questioning of what I should do in life, I turned to the military. I wanted to serve something greater than myself, and I was attracted to the discipline and structure the military had to offer.
In 2006 I enlisted into the Army National Guard as an infantryman. I did not think my sexuality had anything to do with my military service. I went off to training and excelled in my tasks.
Though I got teased about my chosen major in college, musical theatre, and heard many gay jokes, I shrugged them off and pressed on.
My fellow trainees and the drill sergeants knew I was committed and motivated. Upon completion of my infantry training, I arrived back in Wisconsin and was told that my unit no longer existed and was instructed to pick a new job.
I chose a paralegal position at a nearby unit. While with this unit and awaiting my scheduled summer reclassification school I drilled mostly with the JAG Corps assisting with wills, powers of attorney, and other legal documents for soldiers being deployed to Iraq.
This was a time of discovery for me. The more and more I drilled, the more I realized the discriminatory and homophobic atmosphere of the military caused by a backwards policy. I felt like I was lying in hiding my bisexuality. I believed it was wrong that I had to hide it to keep my job and after much deliberation decided to come out.
Despite my good training scores and volunteering to help the JAG Corps, my commander, whom I have never met in my 8 months with the unit, is recommending I receive an "under other than honorable conditions" discharge from the Army National Guard.
When I believe the current policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Harass" to be discriminatory and wrong, I am almost shocked that I would be discriminated against in my type of discharge as well and am ready to fight it.
I am so glad to have come out not only as a soldier against the war in Iraq, but also a bisexual soldier. No one should be punished for speaking their mind.
Hopefully, with help from activist brothers and sisters, this will be an era where equality and freedom of speech really do reign.
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION
Bobby Hanafin
Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired (69-94)
