The White Falcon - 14.01.1994, Qupperneq 3

armed forces news briefs
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mosexual conduct in military
ashington, D.C. (NNS) —Defense Secretary Les Aspin released
new Department of Defense (DoD) regulations on homosexual
conduct in the Armed Forces. The regulations implement the policy
announced by President Clinton in July.
The new directives were prepared with the collaboration and coor-
dination of all the military services and are fully consistent with the
National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 1994.
The new policy covers five areas:
Accession policy has been revised so no applicant will be asked of
his or her sexual orientation as part of the accession process. Sexual
orientation is considered a personal and private matter, and homosex-
ual orientation is not a bar to service entry or continued service, unless
manifested by homosexual conduct.
Separation policy has been revised to emphasize that DoD judges
the suitability of persons to serve in the armed forces on the basis of
conduct, not sexual orientation. The three bases for separation are
homosexual acts, same sex marriages, and statements by an individ-
ual that he or she is a homosexual or bisexual. In the latter case, the
individual has the opportunity to rebut the presumption of homosex-
ual acts by demonstrating he or she does not engage in homosexual
acts and does not have a propensity or intent to do so.
The new directive on criminal investigations of sexual miscon-
duct makes clear no defense criminal investigative organization or
other DoD law enforcement organization will conduct an investiga-
tion solely to determine a servicemember’s sexual orientation. Inves-
ations will be conducted in an evenhanded manner, without regard
hether the alleged sexual misconduct involves homosexual or
‘.rosexual conduct.
Policy concerning personnel security investigations has also
changed to provide that no investigation or inquiries will be con-
ducted solely to determine a subject’s sexual orientation and that
questions pertaining to an individual’s sexual orientation will not be
asked on personnel security questionnaires. Information about
homosexual orientation or conduct obtained during a security clear-
ance investigation will not be used by the military departments in
separation proceedings.
Military training on the DoD’s policies on sexual conduct will
occur upon entry into the military and periodically thereafter. There
is also a training plan on DoD policy regarding homosexual conduct
designed for commanders and personnel involved in recruiting,
accession processing, criminal investigations and administrative
separations.
Navy DNA testing to commence
Washington, D. C. (NNS) — DNA specimens will now be col-
lected from Navy members to help aid in the identification of remains.
A Department of Defense (DoD) registry and specimen repository
has been established with the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology at
Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D. C., to receive,
index, store, retrieve and analyze DNA specimens.
Throughout history, one of the most disturbing aspects of war has
been the inability to accurately identify and account for the remains
of service personnel. DNA reference specimens will significantly
enhance the services’ ability to identify remains for years, even
decades after a casualty occurs. The program will be implemented
over the next five years, with personnel in high-risk categories being
the first priority.
Nav Admin 224/93 covers the exact details and procedures for col-
lection of the DNA samples.
IRS substituting forms with postcards
Washington, D.C. (AFNS) - The IRS said that it is in the process
of mailing a tax package postcard - form 8160 - to almost 22 million
taxpayers who used a professional return preparer last year.
Taxpayers who receive the postcard have two options. Those who
want to prepare their own return can send the postcard back to the IRS
and request that a tax package with forms and instructions be mailed
to them. Or, those who plan to use a professional tax preparer can give
the postcard to the tax preparer.
Tlie postcard has a pre-printed label that the preparer can use on the
tax return.
Attached to the postcards is a new item this year - a pre-printed,
computer-scannable payment voucher. Taxpayers who owe money
shou use the voucher to send the payment with their 1993 tax return.
IRS computer will scan the new vouchers which will reduce the
number of errors.
Last year 11 million taxpayers received postcards instead of the
traditional tax package, saving the IRS $1.4 million. With the
expanded mailout, the IRS hopes to double the savings.
January 14,1994
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