The deadline to turn in the Pentagon’s “don’t ask-don’t tell” survey is Sunday. So far, more than 100,000 service members have completed the confidential form, a Defense Department spokeswoman told the Daily Report Thursday. But that still leaves nearly 300,000 surveys yet to be turned in. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Wednesday made a final appeal for service members to participate. He and Adm. Mike Mullen, Joint Chiefs Chairman, have said the troops’ input is critical in understanding the potential impact to unit readiness and cohesion if the Clinton-era law is repealed that bans homosexuals from serving openly in the military. DOD sent out the surveys to the active duty and reserve components July 8. Some of the questions address privacy issues, such as living conditions, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told reporters last month. (For more on this issue, see Proceed Cautiously from the Daily Report archives.)
If the Air Force is in line for a big budget bump from President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget in 2027, the head of Air Combat Command said he would make aircraft spare parts his top spending priority—but cautioned that more money to buy parts won’t equal a…
