I certainly did. They told me everyone did.

Huh? Never had to sign anything like that...

More than that, though, they signed a paper. Not only have they promised to follow the rules set down by their chain of command, but all enlisted have to sign a piece of paper swearing to never come out to other servicemembers or marry someone of the same sex even if it becomes legal in their state!

Because there's a massive block of Christian conservative Flag Officers in all branches of the military right now, and when this attempt at overturning the law is inevitably wormed out of with a technicality, the Flag Officers will do everything they can to throw every single one of them out, regardless of the consequences.

You're 100% right. Not to mention, it's hard to coordinate when you can't really talk to anyone else about it. I knew a couple other gay people in the Navy, but not many. It was always a trick to talk about it at first. When you think you've spotted another "family member," you want to give them enough of a sign that you're also "family" so they'll tell you... but you don't want to be too obvious in case you're wrong.

There was one guy I knew who was so obviously out there. He talked about his sexuality and everything - I couldn't believe he was so open. The sad thing was that it would have been dangerous to have come out to him. If he's not worried about outing himself, knowing the possible consequences, it was easy to believe he'd just as quickly out me as well.

If they came out now, they would be disobeying orders to not come out.  Other soldiers would turn on them, not for being gay, but for breaking the honor code.   

Also:  In this recession, the military is raising entrance standards and lowering bonuses.   They're more than happy to kick people out.  When you cut the budget on any major employer, the first to feel it are the employees.   I lost my job of three years as a full-time national guardsman and now have to do just one weekend a month and work a full-time civilian gig.

Everyone that's either gay or lesbian has already come out and no one gives a shit as long as they don't make moves on the straight people. Declare it too loudly and then trouble finds you.

Why don't all the gay and lesbian people in the military just come out this instant so that when they try to enforce it again in the next few weeks, they'll all either have to be laid off en masse or accepted as human beings?