Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey says he is concerned about what repealing the “;don't ask/don't tell”; ban on homosexuals serving openly in the military will do to “;readiness and military effectiveness.”;

Speaking to reporters during a brief visit to Schofield Barracks yesterday, Casey said, “;The basis for my concerns is, I have gone out over the past several months and talked to different segments of the Army and different groups and gotten their input. There is apprehension. There is uncertainty, and that is why it is so important to study this.”;

Casey made a special trip to the islands to attend the funeral service for retired Army Chief of Staff Gen. Fred Weyand yesterday afternoon. He will return to Washington, D.C., today following Weyand's inurnment service at the National Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.

Earlier this month Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, announced their support of President Barack Obama's campaign promise to change the law that prohibits gays from serving. Mullen told Congress on Feb. 2 that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly is “;the right thing to do.”;

Gates has established a “;high-level working group”; to study the issue and report back by the end of the year out how best to change the law. The Pentagon also wants Congress to hold off on lifting restrictions on homosexuals in the armed forces until a yearlong review is completed.

Once that it is completed, Casey said he will submit his own recommendation to Obama, Gates and Congress.

Casey also spoke about the importance of increasing the time a soldier can spend at home between deployments.

“;Increasing the time at home is the single most important element in getting back in balance,”; said Casey. “;Because when you are home longer, you can do more things and do it at a more appropriate pace.”;

“;For the last five years we have been deploying at a rate of one year out and one year back. Now they are getting 17 to 18 months at home. The difference between 12 months at home before going back and 18 is huge.”;

He said because of the draw-down in Iraq, most soldiers will be able to spend two years at home between deployments by this time next year.