You have commented 338 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Home Front: Culture Wars
Same-sex US military couples to get family benefits
2013-02-12
The Pentagon will extend some family benefits to same-sex partners of US military members, Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has said.

The benefits include child care, legal help, joint duty assignments, emergency leave, and transportation.

Others such as healthcare and housing allowances cannot be offered without a change in federal law, he said.

The move comes more than two years after the US Congress repealed a ban on openly gay military members.

Mr Panetta said he had ordered each military service to make the changes by 1 October.

"It is a matter of fundamental equity that we provide similar benefits to all of those men and women in uniform who serve their country," Mr Panetta said on Monday.
Posted by:tipper

#15  Thanks lotp. Never thought too much of Esquire.
Posted by: JohnQC   2013-02-12 16:56  

#14  Shooter story has the aftertaste of budget scare tactics.

the good folks at thisainthell.us are throwing flags as well.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2013-02-12 14:21  

#13  Used to be a tradition that one of the chemical branch officers graduating from Command and General Staff College* would replace the one sent to Johnston Island the previous year. Wonder if that 'Lucky Pierre' opportunity is still operating?

* cause you use to be obligated for two years active duty for attending the school and couldn't get out of it by putting your papers in. On the other hand, you could pick up a follow on assignment to Hawaii.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2013-02-12 13:51  

#12  I'm not going anywhere near that link to Johnson Island.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2013-02-12 13:12  

#11  It will be interesting to see if the courts do to the military what they did to public schools.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2013-02-12 11:33  

#10  JohnQC, the Esquire story was false - and aimed at promoting a political push for Obamacare.

The SEAL in question did not serve a full 20 years, nor was he medically retired, so he is not eligible for a pension any more than others who served and left early would be.

He, like all veterans who've served in combat, is eligible for 5 years of health care through the Veterans Administration. Apparently he was unaware of this (surprising, since it's part of outbriefings) or did not apply.

The reporter intentionally chose to describe that as denial of benefits, and refuses to change the story even when the details were confirmed, making clear the political bias and agenda.
Posted by: lotp   2013-02-12 10:13  

#9  Well, at least we can pinpoint the date when it stop being a military organization and just another welfare/social justice program of the Party(tm).
Posted by: Procopius2k   2013-02-12 09:45  

#8  Wait until installation housing offices are besieged by requests for "exceptional family member" quarters, and military hospitals are full of military members and "dependents" suffering from with HIV.
Posted by: Besoeker   2013-02-12 09:28  

#7  ..same whine B. They argued back then they couldn't 'afford' it. The court saw otherwise.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2013-02-12 09:12  

#6  But, but, but I thought it was about the "glass ceiling", equality, career opportunity, promotion and advancement.

Do you mean there is a financial component ?
Posted by: Besoeker   2013-02-12 09:10  

#5  How do these benefits compare to hetero benefits? The Navy Seal trigger puller who iced Bin Laden is having difficulty getting any benefits for his service. Go figure.
Posted by: JohnQC   2013-02-12 08:51  

#4  BTW, Congress never repealed Article 125 of the UCMJ.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2013-02-12 08:50  

#3  Others such as healthcare and housing allowances cannot be offered without a change in federal law, he said.

BS Leon. There's already court law when the Pentagon argued 'women' weren't allowed the same pay and benefits based upon 'law'. At the time it was about housing allowance, but the legal principle was established in court that they were. Can't wait till they apply for base/post housing, are refused, and the courts say otherwise. You threw away the defense that Congress makes the laws when you opened the door by your political action.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2013-02-12 08:48  

#2  Numerous US Army Joint Domicile assignments are now available on Johnson Island. See your career manager for details.
Posted by: Besoeker   2013-02-12 03:42  

#1  Child Care?

For a couple of queers, they can't have children, not together anyway.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2013-02-12 02:18  

00:00