Final answer:
In the past, military personnel ineligible for Joint or DOD awards included those discharged under discriminatory policies like Don't Ask Don't Tell and those with undesirable discharges due to their sexual orientation. Discrimination also extended to African Americans under certain military policies. These policies have been repealed, allowing open service by individuals of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Military personnel who are ineligible to receive Joint or Department of Defense (DOD) awards would historically include those with certain types of discharges. The policy known as Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT), which prohibited openly gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals from serving, resulted in many being discharged and therefore ineligible for such awards. Under DADT, military members were not allowed to inquire about a service member's gender orientation, and those who were openly homosexual were required to be dismissed. Defense Directive 1304.26 also played a role in discrimination against individuals based on sexual orientation. African Americans likewise faced discrimination, as illustrated by cases such as Lieutenant Colonel Charles Young's attempted forced retirement due to discriminatory policies. While the undesirable discharge replaced the blue discharge category in 1947, it continued to be used against gay and lesbian service members, under policies that required the expulsion of all known homosexuals from service. However, all these discriminatory policies have since been repealed, and now, individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, may serve openly in the military without impacting their eligibility for awards.