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Now it's time for Witness history with me Rachel Gilman. Today we're going back to

September 2011 and the repeal of the Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy which had banned

LGBT people who served in the US military from being open about their sexuality.

The breakthrough for LGBT service people was signed into law by President Barack Obama.

Some of you remember I visited Afghanistan just a few weeks ago and while I was walking

along the rope line, there was a big crowd about 3,000.

A young woman in the uniform was shaking my hand and other people were grabbing and taking

pictures and she pulled me into a hug and she whispered in my ear, get don't ask don't tell done.

Before President Obama's move,

don't ask don't tell had meant that any LGBT service people in the US Army, Navy or Air Force had to hide their sexuality from their colleagues.

At times it was difficult and very challenging because when you serve in the military, you're responsible not only for your soldiers but for your soldiers families

Don't Ask Don't Tell was army policy for the greater part of lieutenant Colonel Heather Max's army career

As a leader in the military I would always ask about my soldiers the myself pausing and not sharing my story with my soldiers.

And what effect do you think that had in regards to your relationship with your soldiers?

It kind of left a void.

They always assumed that I was single.

...