Dan Choi Attempts to Reenlist

[Tx4obama]

Source: The Advocate

Lt. Dan Choi, who was honorably discharged by the U.S. Army in July under "don't ask, don't tell," is in New York seeking to apply for entry into the U.S. Marine Corps — the same day a Pentagon spokeswoman said that military recruiters have been informed they must accept gay applicants.

Choi tweeted on Tuesday that he is "Headed to Times Square Recruiting Station" and told The Advocate he expects to meet gay rights advocate David Mixner at the recruiting office as well as Justin Elzie, who was honorably discharged under DADT in 1997.

SNIP

Update: Choi later tweeted he was told that he was too old to join the Marines, and instead filled out an application for the Army.

Sources said other service members discharged under DADT may seek to reenlist or seek reinstatement this week as well. One such service member who also sought reinstatement on Tuesday was Log Cabin Republicans' San Diego chapter president, Will Rodriguez Kennedy.

Read more: http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/10/19/Lt_Dan_Choi_to_Reenlist/

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Video: Dan Choi arrives at the Times Square recruiting station, answers some questions and prepares to re-enlist in the army as an openly gay man. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMoOJlwQtsU&feature=

Snafu: He's too old to be a marine.

The age is 28, and he's 29. So he joined the army. While there was confusion as to his status (plus it's rare for someone to be honorably discharged at a higher rank to re-enlist as a specialist—which would be his status due to his college diploma), Choi emerged all smiles and reported that he's basically been accepted pending some medical paperwork:

VIDEO: Dan Choi Re-Enlists in the Army in Times Square: DURING & AFTER
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r407kvpn4us

[sabrina 1]

1. Justice finally prevails.

I hope no one steals it away again. This is the right decision and I hope others, wrongfully discriminated against, can rejoin the military if they wish.

[handmade34]

2. this makes me smile big!

[nilram]

3. awesome!

[nilram]

4. awesome!

on edit: don't make me say it a third time!

[24601]

5. The writer might be confused about enlistments - they are for

enlisted men & women. Officers are commissioned by the President and commissions or promotion to major and above require Senate confirmation. The article spoke about inter-service lateral transfers vice enlisting, so it may just be unfamiliarity with the subject or a bad editor when it came to the headline.

[Tx4obama]

7. I'm not sure what you're saying.

Choi re-enlisted today as an enlisted recruit.
He says in the video that he will probably be accepted as a 'specialist' due to his college education.
And he says, in one of the videos, that he did not apply for 'reinstatement' as an officer (his previous status).

[24601]

16. It's that he can't re-enlist unless he once was enlisted. Cadets

and Officers don't enlist - they are instead appointed and Officers above W-1 also receive a Presidential Commission along with their appointment.

If Choi is allowed to enlist (exceptionally rare for a officer without prior enlisted service), it will be a first enlistment, not a re-enlistment. His bio doesn't seem to indicate prior enlisted service before his USMA appointment.

Enlisted Personnel are grades E-1 through E-9,
Then there are Cadets, (Just one level - Cadet)
Then there are Warrant Officers, grades W1 through CW5
Then there are Commissioned Officers, grades O1 (2nd Lt/Ensign) through O-10 (General/Admiral
General of the Army & Air Force and Fleet Admiral (they are all dead) had no grade or "O-code"

[Tx4obama]

18. Ah okay thanks for the explanation. n/t

[24601]

19. Sure - glad to clarify. The story I read wasn't that he was

re-admitted to the service, but that he had applied. It said that it normally takes approx six weeks to process the paperwork before candidates take oaths of enlistment, or oath of office for officers.

Given the emergency stay, I suspect that this will be tied up in the Circuit Court of Appeals even longer and that, barring DADT repeal, it will be settled ultimately by the USSC.

My prediction is that the only chance for repeal would be the (post election) lame duck session. In the USSC, I believe the DADT would be sustained since the Constitution (Article I, Section 8) gives Congress powers to regulate the military, "To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces." It doesn't say anything about good or wise rules, just rules.

[democrank]

6. Go Dan!

[TexasObserver]

8. recommend

[Historic NY]

9. Best wishes for him.

[Tx4obama]

10. Choi is on CNN with Anderson Cooper. n/t

[compassion now]

11. Just wondering, can one judge decide?

What i'm wondering is, can 1 judge make a ruling like that? Could a loony conservative judge rule that darwinism is illegal or something like that and the ruling must be obeyed? Can judges just order pple about like that?

Obama Hillary 2012!

[Ian David]

13. This is why the government traditionally appeals lower court decisions. It cuts both ways. n/t

[Bette Noir]

12. Good luck to him. I hope he doesn't get the rug pulled out, again.

[Dogmudgeon]

14. THAT'S Patriotism!

And we kick that kind of man and woman OUT of our armed forces?

We're fools.

We owe Specialist Choi an apology and a debt of gratitude for serving our country in ways that most of us can only just imagine.

I believe that within a few years, Choi will have both.

--d!

[Winterblues]

15. Was he allowed to enlist?

It would seem pretty basic. He says he wants to enlist and they enlist him, all in the same day...Or not!!

[QC]

17. Gee, I hope he didn't buy any new socks or anything. n/t

[ProudDad]

20. What a waste of an otherwise intelligent human! (n/t)