Trees --

You're making the same mistake I used to make when I was active duty. As I was reminded on more than one occasion -- and this is a quote, mind you -- ehem:

"Son, you're looking for logic in an illogical system."

This is why I did four years and got my Honorable Discharge.

Well, duh...we need cannon fodder during war, but we don't need those homos sitting around collecting federal money and corrupting the wholesome warriors that we try so hard to train in all things American!

Or something.

But need more really be said on this topic? The USA has a strong track record of not letting "undesirables" into the ranks until the military's feet was to the fire, such as in the case of Blacks during the Civil War.

Hopefully more people will come to see the hypocrisy in the system.

I feel I have to point out that your statement that "If someone is a good soldier in war, they are no less a good soldier in peace" is not neccisarily true.

The skills that a soldier uses in combat are quite different than the ones the soldier would use out of it. There are many examples in military history of generals who were excellent at manging things in peace that achieved black hole levels of suckiness when actually at war. This is just as true for individual soldiers. I knew many that were very good soldiers during annual training I'd prefer not to have to depend on when bullets were flying.

Now, as to the actual point you were making, this is not a shock. The Army has been doing exactly this since at least WWII. As soon as it's practicable, the Army will kick out these same soldiers in a hurry, lest they manage to muster out and have to get benefits.

I was listening to the Dropkick Murphy's at work today and part of one of their songs comes to mind at this

But when the skies darken/and the drums beat for war

Who's handed a gun/and pushed to the fore

To lay down our lives/for our nation of birth

While never once owing/a single handful of Earth

The song was talking about the shafting the working class takes in this country-and most others for that matter-but I think they apply here.