On eve of gay ban vote, top uniformed military officer tells Air Force grads to accept change

Top officer talks change as gay ban vote looms

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — The nation’s top uniformed military officer told graduating Air Force Academy cadets they need to support a changing military as Congress nears a vote on repealing the military’s ban on openly gay servicemembers.

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, talked to 1,001 graduating cadets at the academy on Wednesday.

The Senate Armed Services Committee plans to vote Thursday on overturning the military’s ban on gays.

Mullen didn’t speak directly about the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. But he spoke broadly about change in the military and said officers need the strength of character to support whatever final decisions are made.