Questionable DADT poll at VV

I saw the blog post at VetsVoice yesterday in regards to the poll VoteVets commissioned about the question of the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy among younger troops and veterans. Just because it was a VV poll and the fact that showed exactly what VV wanted it to show made it suspect. Luckily, Bruse Kesler at Maggie’s Farm saw it, too, and decided to break it down for us;

1. Its service composition is off. The poll has the following service who say they served in Iraq or Afghanistan, 50% Army, 12% Marines, 18% Navy, 22% Air Force. According to Stars and Stripes in March 2008, for example, when most who’d served had been in Iraq, 73% were in the Army, 18% in the Marines, 3% in the Navy, and 6% in the Air Force.

2. The poll does not distinguish those in combat units (although many in non-combat units often were subject to hostile fire). One of the key considerations regarding Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell is how it may affect combat effectiveness.

3. The methodology of the poll is clouded.

Go read the whole thing.

Category: Military issues