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Sgt. Maj. Barrett also tackled questions on the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,� the military’s ban on gays serving openly in uniform. The Department of Defense is preparing to implement repeal, and Sgt. Maj. Barrett addressed that issue directly.

“Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution is pretty simple,� he told a group of Marines at a base in South Korea. “It says, ‘Raise an army.’ It says absolutely nothing about race, color, creed, sexual orientation.

“You all joined for a reason: to serve,� he continued. “To protect our nation, right?�

“Yes, sergeant major,� Marines replied.

“How dare we, then, exclude a group of people who want to do the same thing you do right now, something that is honorable and noble?� Sgt. Maj. Barrett continued, raising his voice just a notch. “Right?�