Accession Number:

ADA533430

Title:

Support to the DoD Comprehensive Review Working Group Analyzing the Impact of Repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'. Volume 1: Findings From the Surveys

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

WESTAT INC ROCKVILLE MD

Personal Author(s):

Report Date:

2010-11-01

Pagination or Media Count:

1790.0

Abstract:

Westat has conducted surveys of Service members and their spouses designed to measure perceptions of how a repeal of Dont Ask, Dont Tell DADT might affect military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, morale, family readiness, military community life, recruitment, and retention. A majority of Service members perceive that the effect of a repeal of DADT will be neutral--that is, it will have either no effect or will affect their immediate unit equally as positively as negatively. A smaller, but still substantial, group said that repeal will affect their unit very negatively negatively, and an even smaller group said that repeal will affect their immediate unit very positively positively. This pattern of responses holds true across all the major areas of interest, including unit cohesion, unit effectiveness both for those who have been deployed to a combat zone and those who have not, personal and unit readiness, and personal morale. This same pattern of the relative size of neutral, negative, and positive perceptions also extends to questions relating to the impact of repeal on retention and recruitment.

Descriptors:

• *SURVEYS
• *MILITARY PERSONNEL
• *HOMOSEXUALITY
• OPERATIONAL READINESS
• MORALE
• PERSONNEL RETENTION
• LEGISLATION
• PERCEPTION(PSYCHOLOGY)
• POLICIES
• COMBAT EFFECTIVENESS
• MILITARY FORCES(UNITED STATES)
• FAMILY MEMBERS

Subject Categories:

• Personnel Management and Labor Relations
• Military Forces and Organizations

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE