Many Asked, Many Less Told

Just 109,883 of the 400,000 “don’t ask-don’t tell” surveys handed out to service members found their way to the Pentagon’s inbox by the Aug. 15 deadline, according to various press reports. That’s only about a 27 percent response rate, despite repeated appeals from top Pentagon leaders for troops to offer their input. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the survey was confidential and troops’ feedback was critical to help DOD prepare if the current law that bans homosexuals from openly serving is repealed. In a related development, the Defense Department intends to mail out about 150,000 additional DADT surveys to military spouses this month, The Hill reported Wednesday. Those surveys will be due back in September.