I think my head is going to explode. ( preferenchal treatment??)

[easymoney]

Extra Time Off to Go to Same-Sex Marriage States and Get Hitched

August 14, 2013 - 12:23 PM

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By Susan Jones

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(AP File Photo)

(CNSNews.com) - The U.S. Defense Department announced on Wednesday that it will make "spousal and family benefits" available no later than Sept. 3, 2013, regardless of sexual orientation, for all service members who can provide a valid marriage certificate.

And what about same-sex military couples who live in a state where same-sex marriage is not allowed? No problem.

"We recognize that same-sex military couples who are not stationed in a jurisdiction that permits same-sex marriage would have to travel to another jurisdiction to marry. That is why the department will implement policies to allow military personnel in such a relationship non-chargeable leave for the purpose of travelling to a jurisdiction where such a marriage may occur," the DOD news release said.

"This will provide accelerated access to the full range of benefits offered to married military couples throughout the department, and help level the playing field between opposite-sex and same-sex couples seeking to be married."

The Defense Department said entitlements such as TRICARE enrollment, basic allowance for housing, and family separation allowance are retroactive to the date of the Supreme Court’s decision, but any claims to entitlements before that date will not be granted.  For those members married after June 26, 2013, entitlements begin at the date of marriage.

As for civilian benefits administered government-wide to federal employees, the Department of Defense will follow the Office of Personnel Management and the Department of Labor’s guidance to ensure that the same benefits currently available to heterosexual spouses are also available to legally married same-sex spouses.

- See more at: http://cnsnews.com/news/article/dod-gay-troops-will-get-extra-time-...

[easymoney]

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel the military is being torn to sheds?

Peoples lifestyle choices , are just that, their choices. It just seems this government is going out of its way to help certain groups of people.

[Jane]

As long as they are not getting paid for the time off I don't care. It says non-chargable in the article so I assume that means no paid days off for this, which is fine with me.

I think our military is being torn up but not because of gay marriage. But because people don't understand what it is to be american and be a patriot. People like Snowden should be celebrated as well as Manning. they are true patriots. Our inferiority complex in this country is destroying us. We should not be afraid of being the tough guy and kicking some ash.

[Willy]

Military personal are paid for duty 24-7 no matter if they are on base, on leave or where ever they are except if they have been court martialed and their pay has been forfeited. When a military person is given non chargeable leave it means that the leave time is not subtracted from their normal accrued leave time. In other words they get extra leave with pay so this is an extra benefit given to gays. I am completely disgusted with how the military is being feminized and homosexualized.

[Lisa O'Brien]

I'm all for it - if someone is willing to die for their country and wants to marry but has to travel to another state to do it - the government should give them paid leave - what is it 2 days - big deal. 

[XLFD]

When it comes to the military, they should not be a petri dish for social experimentation.  They are out there to deal with the 'enemy' of the hour and win the battle, and I think a battalion of straight guys have a lot more military readiness than a battalion of straight guy mixed with women or gays.  I do think there are places for both women and gays in the military, but when you have a bunch of young combatants in the field of war, you don't want to be sidetracked by sexual longings or similarly worry that your comrades may take advantage of you. 

[Lisa O'Brien]

I don't know - I would think if you are in the field of war - your primary concern would be the bullets whizzing past your head or the explosions going on around you - not the hot guy or chick in your unit. Personally as a woman I find it insulting that you assume I would not be military ready. The men and women are trained to do a job, gender or sexual orientation does not make them less effective. I work in a traditionally male occupation, out of workforce of 19 I am the only woman. On my worst day I can out think 16 of them, on a good day I'm in the top 3 and everyday I actively look to find either the answer or a temporary fix instead of actively trying to make it someone else's problem.

[Willy]

Lisa

So you think you have the ability to sneak up behind a 200 lb enemy combatant, reach around him with your hand, lift up his chin so he cannot yell out then insert a knife into his spine or slice his throat? Or do you have the ability to carry a 150 lb + man who has been injured to safety? Or can you carry / run with a 50 caliber machine gun, ammo and all the other equipment required? There are many things men do that women cannot. But that's not the real problem. Much of the time spent with fellow soldiers is not in combat but doing mundane military chores or readiness  drills so there is a lot of time where men and women would be fraternizing and as we all know that can lead to trouble. A combat soldier is not like an office worker and young men have high levels of hormones that will need to be exercised if you get my drift so there's going to be a lot of intimate moments that males and females will be in contact with each other. A lot of women have left the military due to pregnancy. Another problem is that anytime a man looks at a women she can file a sexual harassment charge against the man so the guys will have to be walking on eggshells so they don't offend their female unit members. You sure think highly of yourself. The fact is what most women don't realize is that men aren't going to criticize a woman for fear of a sexual harassment suit. You may think your doing a "good" job but that may not be what your male co workers think. You could be the worst employee but no one is going to tell you. If a man made the statements you have posted about your workplace they would be fired or brought up on charges of sexual harassment. I can just hear you complain about the man who said he can out think all the women. 

[Lisa O'Brien]

Willy,

You bet I think highly of myself - I'm the one who has to field the calls and tell them how to trouble shoot the problem. And then come up with a fix or work around. I'm on call 24/7/365. I just spent 2 1/2 weeks on vacation in Europe and was getting calls. As far as men being fired if they made the same comments -  because it's sexual harrassent is untrue. 

As for your other question

"So you think you have the ability to sneak up behind a 200 lb enemy combatant, reach around him with your hand, lift up his chin so he cannot yell out then insert a knife into his spine or slice his throat? Or do you have the ability to carry a 150 lb + man who has been injured to safety? Or can you carry / run with a 50 caliber machine gun, ammo and all the other equipment required?"

No but I have not been trained to either and I know a lot of men that couldn't do the above either.

[Willy]

Lisa

I worked at a company at one time where a fellow male worker walked up to a group of female workers and asked very politely "how are you girls doing today"? They answered OK and he continued to walk on his way. The following week he was called onto the carpet and was threatened with termination if he did not personally apologize in writing to each of the ladies for calling them "girls". Then, all of the men were required to attend sensitivity and sexual harassment training which took the good part of an entire day. All because he called the women "girls", the same word they call themselves. So don't tell me a man who says what you said would not be reprimanded or fired, I know better. All men in the infantry must be able to kill others with their hands in some way or another and that takes strength that women do not possess. It doesn't matter how much training a woman has, she is not going be able to defend herself against an equally trained male opponent. The average female cannot compete physically with the average male. That's genetics and there is no amount of feminist logic that can change that.

[Lisa O'Brien]

In the course of my lifetime I have worked for several locally owned businesses and 3 global corporations - in none of them would "how are you girls today" be considered sexual harassment. My current employment requires me to take compliance courses throughout the year "how are you girls" wouldn't rank as sexual harassment. If someone complained I believe they would be told to address them as "whatever the complainer would like to be addressed" people are way to sensitive these days.

I did however at one point (years ago) - after a required sexual harassment class ask HR if I could hang a sign in my work area stating that if you are easily offended please stay away and try to not eavesdrop on my conversations. - They did tell me NO

[XLFD]

A lot of the points Willy makes, and many more, are made by this female veteran in this piece:  http://www.westernjournalism.com/the-problems-of-women-in-combat-fr...

 

[easymoney]

A women wouldn't have had a chance in hell in Viet Nam. It was all jungle fighting. There were no battle lines.