Army Begins DADT Repeal Training

The U.S. Army began training Thursday on the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" with the expectation of reaching the whole force by mid August.

The Associated Press reports that Gen. George Casey, the Army's top general, launched the effort with a slide presentation at the Pentagon for most of the service's 12 four-star generals.

"The largest of the service branches, the Army plans to finish training the active duty force of 565,000 by mid-July and the 567,000 members of the Guard and Reserve by mid-August, officials said," the AP reported.

The Marines, Air Force, and Navy have already begun their training and are expected to finish before the Army.

Progress in the training is integral to final implementation of "don't ask, don't tell" repeal, which President Barack Obama signed into law in December. Repeal cannot go into effect until 60 days after the president, the Defense secretary, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff certify that ending the ban will not hurt the military's ability to fight.