The top commanding general overseeing the war in Iraq says that every capable person, gay or straight, should be able to serve in the U.S. military.

Gen. Raymond Odierno is the first senior military commander currently involved in the war to make such a statement since the order to repeal the ban on gays in the military was issued, according to The Washington Post.

Odierno told reporters that he hasn't had much of a chance to think about the issue of gays and lesbians serving in the armed forces but said it's been mostly a "nonissue" to him.