The Pentagon, releasing the first details of its plan to put into practice a new law that will allow gays to serve openly in the unarmed, said today it could begin training troops in February and could be certifiably ready to drop the "don't ask, don't tell" policy by the end of 2011.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates set Feb. 4 as the target for officials to deliver their plan to integrate gays into the military
That won't come about until 60 days after the president, Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirm that the military is ready to put into operation repeal without harming readiness, helpfulness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention.
