Military Training Can Be Accomplished Quickly

by Aaron Freed December 22, 2010

Executive Summary

Following the Senate’s vote to authorize the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” (DADT), the Defense Department is expected to request up to a year to train all service members in “issues related to repeal,” and the Secretary of Defense is expected to refuse to certify the repeal of DADT until all service members have been trained. As a result, DADT may remain law until late 2011.

Using case studies of other Pentagon training efforts, this study shows that:

  • The Pentagon can quickly train all personnel regardless of status or location (including combat zones).
  • Training is not prerequisite to a policy going into force.
  • The repeal of DADT does not necessitate formal and elaborate training programs.

Any claim that DADT cannot be repealed until after the completion of exhaustive training is inconsistent with DoD history and not based on military necessity.