THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, August 3, 1994              TAG: 9408030430
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY JACK DORSEY, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: NORFOLK                            LENGTH: Medium:   54 lines

NAVY'S TOP ENLISTED MEMBER TOURING AREA SHIPS, FACILITIES HE SAYS ``DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL'' WORKS, BUT TOTALLY LIFTING THE BAN ON GAYS WOULDN'T.

The Navy's top enlisted member says that the ``don't ask, don't tell'' policy on gays in the military is acceptable but that efforts to entirely lift the armed forces' ban on homosexuals were ``the most illegitimate thing ever attempted to be forced on us.''

``A change in the policy that says that a person with a homosexual orientation, who had never manifested it, could serve is certainly innocuous and not much of a change,'' Master Chief of the Navy John Hagan said Tuesday.

But, he said, ``We are hoping that the courts will realize that the Navy's case against lifting the homosexual ban is logic that is too compelling to ignore.''

Hagan, in Hampton Roads this week to address hundreds of enlisted members, made his comments in an interview at Norfolk Naval Air Station.

The military, Hagan said, is trying to work with ``don't ask, don't tell,'' under which a homosexual service member who remains quiet about his or her sexual orientation will not be targeted for dismissal. The policy still dictates that openly gay service members be booted out.

The legality of the issue is expected to be tested in federal courts. Lawyers representing gay service members have threatened to file suit challenging the policy as unconstitutional.

Hagan is in Norfolk visiting Hampton Roads-based ships and installations. His schedule will take him to eight ships and Norfolk Naval Shipyard this morning.

On Tuesday he held an ``all hands call'' and ``chiefs call'' at Norfolk Naval Air Station after visiting Dam Neck, Oceana, Little Creek and other facilities.

Hagan, 48, is an electronics technician who was selected as the Navy's top enlisted member two years ago. As the senior enlisted adviser to the chief of naval operations, his sessions with Navy leaders often help mold policy changes.

Today's most often asked questions from the sailors concern the military drawdown and career opportunities, he said.

``I am happy to be able to tell them that the full range of drawdown issues is temporary,'' Hagan said.

That includes the Pentagon's push to retire members early, at 15 years, instead of the traditional 20 years.

``It is a temporary downsizing tool. . . . It will be gone as quickly as we meet our goals,'' he said. ``I am happy to say it will never, ever come back.'' by CNB