Mullen: Troops Will Adjust to DADT Repeal

Admiral Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a visit to Fort Bragg on Wednesday that openly gay recruits would almost inevitably be admitted to the military, and that the armed services would find ways to adjust to their presence.

According to The News & Observer of Raleigh, change in the military was a major theme in Mullen's visit to Fort Bragg, where, "At the end of the day, he addressed a group of about 200 soldiers and fielded some of their questions. There, too, he focused on evolution, including what he suggested was the inevitability of accepting openly gay members into the military."

"One soldier stood and asked Mullen whether politicians and policymakers in Washington understood the problems that gays in the military would present. Specifically, he said, unit commanders will have to watch out for sexual assaults, hate crimes, fraternization and morale issues."

Mullen replied that current military standards do not tolerate those infractions, regardless of whether openly gay people are admitted to the military.

According to The News & Observer, Mullen said, "Key to making the change, which is not likely to happen until at least 2011, is developing a plan ... and the military needs ideas from all levels."