Don't Ask, Don't Tell: We're Recalling You

Jason Knight was shocked and surprised when he was recalled to service with the Navy. He'd done his time, and had been honorably discharged as a third-class petty officer (CTI). But now he was being recalled for a one-year tour in Kuwait.

The shock wasn't the recall. Rather, it was the recall despite his sexual orientation. Knight had been discharged in 2004 because he came out as a homosexual. He had no choice but to come out. He'd just married, and figured out on his wedding night that he couldn't go through with it. When the marriage was annulled, he had to explain the change in circumstances to his commanding officer, "don't ask, don't tell" notwithstanding.

He was lucky. His CO was a kind and understanding man who viewed Knight as an outstanding sailor - and, in a clause that is little-known to the general public, he had the discretion of releasing Knight with any form of discharge he wanted. Knight was released from service with the best possible form of discharge, and no blot on his record or mention of sexual orientation. (Knight, a Hebrew linguist, did have to repay his 13K sign-on bonus, as he'd not completed his full commitment; most of this probably was paid back through untaken leave (which Knight would have lost had he not been honorably discharged) and unpaid bonus money.)

This is probably why, when the Navy needed another good Hebrew linguist, Knight's name came up. They had no formal record of his sexual orientation. So they sent out the notification. And Knight chose not to remind them of why he'd been ejected before. Today, he's in Kuwait, serving as an openly-homosexual young sailor.

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Discharges

Early in the DADT program, discharges for homosexuality did go up about ten percent. But with the Navy engaged in two active wars, things seem different today. Naval discharges for homosexuality peaked in 2001, at a total of 1273. In 2002, the numbers fell to 906, and in 2003 still further to 787, and in 2006 only 612. According to Pentagon records, only 0.3% of all discharges today are related to homosexual conduct.

But before concluding either that homosexuals are no longer enlisting or that the Navy is simply choosing to keep outed gay sailors, think about this: as noted above, commanding officers don't have to list homosexuality as a reason for discharge. Many, seeing otherwise outstanding or good sailors being discharged, are choosing to do what Knight's CO did - apply honorable discharges to them, with more generic reasons like "personal problems." This means we really don't know how many sailors are being discharged for homosexuality.

As For Jason Knight

Today, Knight serves honorably in Kuwait, part of a team that seems perfectly comfortable with his sexual orientation. He is apparently an outstanding linguist, and is scheduled to serve through his discharge date of June 6, 2007. There are no moves afoot to discharge him early - and at this point, the only thing discharge papers would do is prolong his stay in Kuwait.

Still, Pentagon officials say that Knight could be discharged for homosexuality at any time. There is no double-jeopardy issue in the DADT policy.

The question arises: is Knight unique? With the veiled discharges that appear to be going on, is it likely that others may have slipped through the cracks? After all, it is more likely to be the motivated, pro-military sailors who are given honorable discharges by their COs - is it possible they are accepting recalls as well and simply hiding their orientations?

Or is it possible that the Pentagon, at the lower levels, is quietly changing its policy to be more open to homosexuality, regardless of what the highest echelon wishes?

As far as Knight is concerned, he is proud to be serving his country today, and far too proud to hide his orientation today or ever.