This was forwarded to me by a friend.  I'm passing it on because the
differences from the White House statement are interesting.  --EKS

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Navy News Service - NAVNEWS BY EMAIL - navnews@nctamslant.navy.mil
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NAVY NEWS SERVICE - 29 JAN 93 - NAVNEWS 009/93
     Editor's Note
     This Navy News Service message follows NAVNEWS 008/93, DTG
272300Z Jan 93.  NAVNEWS 009/93 is being released as a means of
providing more timely information to the fleet; we will release
news when it is news.
                               -USN-
NNS79.  President Announces Policy on Gays in Military
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- After reaching an agreement with Senate
Majority Leader George J. Mitchell (D-Maine) and Chairman of the
Senate Armed Services Committee Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Georgia),
President Clinton today announced his policy regarding homosexuals
in the military:  
     "The President has directed the Secretary of Defense to
conduct a review of the current Department of Defense policy that
excludes homosexuals from military service and prepare a draft
executive order based upon that review by July 15, 1993.
     Current Department of Defense personnel policies related to
this issue will remain in effect at least through July 15, 1993
while the Department of Defense is conducting the review directed
by the President, subject to the following guidance:
     First, questions regarding sexual orientation will be removed
from future versions of the induction application, and will not be
asked in the interim.  The briefings on military justice which all
recruits are required to receive upon entry to military service and
periodically thereafter under Article 137 of the Uniform Code of
Military Justice will include a detailed explanation of the
applicable laws and regulations governing sexual conduct by members
of the armed forces.
     Second, the Department of Justice is seeking continuances in
pending court cases involving former service members who have been
discharged on the basis of homosexuality and who are seeking
reinstatement into military service.  The continuances would freeze
those cases pending the completion of the review directed by the
President.
     Third, commanding officers will continue to process cases
under the current laws and regulations related to homosexuality.
     -- Cases involving homosexual conduct will be processed
through actual separation and discharge in accordance with current
policy.
     -- When a case involves only homosexual status and the person
involved requests a discharge, the person will be released from
active duty.
     -- Cases involving acknowledged homosexual status being
contested by the individual will be processed through all
applicable stages, including notice of the basis for separation,
hearing before a board of officers, review of the board's
recommendations by the separation authority and the action by the
separation authority to discharge the person.
     If directed by the Attorney General, the final discharge in
cases based only on status will be suspended until the President
acts on the recommendations of the Secretary of Defense with
respect to current policy.  A member whose discharge has been
suspended by the Attorney General will be separated from active
duty and placed in the standby reserve.  Individuals in the standby
reserve would have the option to return, upon request, to active
duty should the current policy be changed.  Those personnel whose
cases have not been suspended will be discharged.
     -- Commanding officers may, in the interest of the individual
or the unit concerned, direct changes in the assignment of
personnel during the course of separation proceedings."
     Following the announcement from the White House, Chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Colin Powell issued the following
statement to news media, "I just wanted to express on behalf of the
JCS our support for the President's statement of this afternoon. 
This has been a difficult issue for all of us.  We are aware of the
President's commitment, as well as his conviction with respect to
this issue and how he wishes to move forward.
     "We are very, very pleased that the President gave us the
opportunity to discuss the issue at length with him earlier this
week.  It was a very excellent discussion, as he noted.  And we
believe that the six-month period of time that we have been given
to work this issue, to study it, to hear the views of all concerned
and to work with the Congress will give us the time to do this
without the press of the current situation on us.  So we look
forward to working with all concerned parties to find a solution
that is right for the American people, that is fair to all the
citizens of our nation, but at the same time, enhances the
readiness and there's nothing to affect the exquisite nature of the
armed forces we have.  And I think we can find a way to make sure
that we do all of those things," said Powell. 
Story based on White House and OASD(PA) releases.  Further
information on this subject will be published as it becomes
available.
                               -USN-