THE AMERICAN LEGION POSITION AND MESSAGE POINTS

DON’T ASK DON’T TELL

POSITION: The American Legion supports the current law as it stands as a result of NEC Resolution No. 34: (2009) The American Legion Supports Department Of Defense “Don’t Ask; Don’t Tell” Policy.

RESOLVED, By the National Executive Committee of The American Legion in regular meeting assembled in Indianapolis, Indiana, on October 14-15, 2009, That The American Legion fully supports the Department of Defense’s current personnel policy of “Don’t Ask; Don’t Tell.”

Message Points

1. The American Legion has no position on the compatibility of homosexuals serving in the military.

2. The American Legion recognizes that the U.S. Military is in the highest state of up-tempo short of that experienced in World War II and as a result there is enormous stress upon the troops in the Armed Forces.

3. Now is not the time in to engage in a social experiment that can disrupt and potentially have serious impact on the conduct of Forces engaged in combat.

4. The American Legion will keep an open mind to the findings and information which results from military studies and findings.

5. Now is the time to support the existing policy.

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

OF

THE AMERICAN LEGION

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

October 14-15, 2009

Resolution No. 34: The American Legion Supports Department Of Defense “Don’t Ask; Don’t Tell” Policy

Origin: National Security Commission

Submitted by: National Security Commission

WHEREAS, The American Legion is an organization of wartime veterans created by an act of the United States Congress in 1919; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Defense establishes fitness for duty criteria and standards of conduct consistent with the Uniform Code of Military Justice; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Defense’s current standards and directives have produced one of the most dominant military forces in history; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, By the National Executive Committee of The American Legion in regular meeting assembled in Indianapolis, Indiana, on October 14-15, 2009, That The American Legion fully supports the Department of Defense’s current personnel policy of “Don’t Ask; Don’t Tell.”