Dr. Korb, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress and Assistant Secretary of Defense from 1981 to 1985, told the Committee that 10 USC 654, better known as the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, is contributing to the climate in Iraq and Afghanistan responsible for growing numbers of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and suicide among ground troops.

"The Bush administration's open-ended and unconditional military commitment in Iraq coupled with the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan means that there is no end in sight for relieving the stress on our ground forces," Korb continued.

Dr. Korb's speech indicted the Bush administration on straying from the original vision of the all-volunteer force, including by refusal to re-institute the draft to support a protracted conflict, and putting private contractors in combat roles when originally meant for administrative and support services.

"If the president or his successor wants to continue this mindless, needless, senseless war in Iraq," said Dr. Korb, "he or she should call for reinstating the draft. That would be the responsible path."

In his recommendations to expand and rebuild ground forces, Korb spoke against lowering recruitment standards, urged an emphasis on peacekeeping and fiscal responsibility, and called for an end to discrimination on the basis of gender and sexual orientation.

"The Army and Marine Corps cannot afford to place unnecessary obstacles in the way of qualified men and women who want to serve," he said. "Over the past 10 years more than 10,000 personnel have been discharged as a result of ['Don't Ask, Don't Tell'], including 800 with skills deemed 'mission critical,' such as pilots, combat engineers, and linguists. These are the very job functions for which the military has experienced personnel shortfalls.

"General John M. Shalikashvili, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1993 when the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy was enacted, no longer supports the policy because he now believes that allowing gay men and women to serve openly in the military would no longer create intolerable tension among personnel and undermine cohesion. A recent Zogby poll supports this view. It found that three-quarters of Afghanistan and Iraq veterans were comfortable interacting with gay people."

"Second," Korb continued, "all military occupations should be open to whoever qualifies, regardless of gender. Currently, the Army and Marines prohibit women from serving in infantry, field artillery, and Special Forces units that directly engage the enemy on the ground.

"The idea that women who possess the requisite mental and physical skills should somehow be 'protected' from the dangers of combat fails to acknowledge the reality of the modern battlefield and the role women are already playing in Iraq and Afghanistan. Approximately a hundred women have been killed in these wars.

"We only impede our ability to build a 21st-century military by constructing barriers where none need exist."

"Mr. Korb's remarks are a reminder that many leaders within the defense community support repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'" said Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis. "As he rightly pointed out, there is growing concern among the national security establishment that 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' forces our military to dismiss talented troops at a time when we are struggling to recruit and retain service members. Mr. Korb should be applauded for his willingness to advance the national conversation about this issue and for suggesting common sense ways Congress can act to address our readiness shortfalls."

"More and more leaders within the defense community are reevaluating the effectiveness of this law and concluding that it is counter-productive to America’s national security interests," Sarvis continued. "I hope Congress listens to Mr. Korb and moves to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'"

Dr. Korb's full testimony, The State of America's Ground Forces, is available to read HERE.