Posted on Jun 5, 2015
Change is happening for the better. SECAF makes positive changes to Transgender military service policy, what are your points of view?
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I'm proud to be part of this change as this article is about me and my family
"The Air Force announced policy changes Thursday that will make it more difficult to discharge transgender troops, a move that mirrors one made in March by the Army and puts the Pentagon a step closer to allowing transgender people to serve openly.
Troops diagnosed with gender dysphoria or who identify as transgender are generally discharged from serving, based on medical grounds. Those decisions have been made by doctors and unit commanders. The new Air Force policy requires those decisions to be reviewed by high-level officials at Air Force headquarters.
"Though the Air Force policy regarding involuntary separation of gender dysphoric Airmen has not changed, the elevation of decision authority to the Director, Air Force Review Boards Agency, ensures the ability to consistently apply the existing policy," Daniel Sitterly, a top Air Force personnel official, said in a statement.
The Air Force and Army moves follow a number of statements from top Pentagon officials about dismantling the policy allowing transgender troops to be kicked out of the services. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said this year in response to a question about transgender service that ability to perform military tasks should be the standard for eligibility.
Air Force Secretary Deborah James expressed openness to allowing transgender troops to serve.
"From my point of view, anyone who is capable of accomplishing the job should be able to serve," James told USA TODAY. "And so I wouldn't be surprised if this doesn't come under review."
The Pentagon, as part of a review of medical eligibility rules, is examining the transgender issue. A decision on that is not likely for months. The last review was conducted in 2011.
The Air Force move puts the Pentagon on a path similar to the one it followed on the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which allowed gays and lesbians to serve unless their sexuality was discovered.
Until 2011, the decision to discharge gay troops had been raised to the Pentagon's top lawyer and personnel official and service secretaries. That requirement functioned as a moratorium, as no further dismissals were sought under "don't ask, don't tell."
A psychiatrist or psychologist must support the recommendation for discharge for gender dysphoria. A commander must also determine that the condition interferes with troops' performance of their duty.
Several close allies of the U.S. military, including Great Britain and Israel, allow transgender troops to serve openly."
Read the full story here: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/06/04/air-force-transgender-troops/28501835/
"The Air Force announced policy changes Thursday that will make it more difficult to discharge transgender troops, a move that mirrors one made in March by the Army and puts the Pentagon a step closer to allowing transgender people to serve openly.
Troops diagnosed with gender dysphoria or who identify as transgender are generally discharged from serving, based on medical grounds. Those decisions have been made by doctors and unit commanders. The new Air Force policy requires those decisions to be reviewed by high-level officials at Air Force headquarters.
"Though the Air Force policy regarding involuntary separation of gender dysphoric Airmen has not changed, the elevation of decision authority to the Director, Air Force Review Boards Agency, ensures the ability to consistently apply the existing policy," Daniel Sitterly, a top Air Force personnel official, said in a statement.
The Air Force and Army moves follow a number of statements from top Pentagon officials about dismantling the policy allowing transgender troops to be kicked out of the services. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said this year in response to a question about transgender service that ability to perform military tasks should be the standard for eligibility.
Air Force Secretary Deborah James expressed openness to allowing transgender troops to serve.
"From my point of view, anyone who is capable of accomplishing the job should be able to serve," James told USA TODAY. "And so I wouldn't be surprised if this doesn't come under review."
The Pentagon, as part of a review of medical eligibility rules, is examining the transgender issue. A decision on that is not likely for months. The last review was conducted in 2011.
The Air Force move puts the Pentagon on a path similar to the one it followed on the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which allowed gays and lesbians to serve unless their sexuality was discovered.
Until 2011, the decision to discharge gay troops had been raised to the Pentagon's top lawyer and personnel official and service secretaries. That requirement functioned as a moratorium, as no further dismissals were sought under "don't ask, don't tell."
A psychiatrist or psychologist must support the recommendation for discharge for gender dysphoria. A commander must also determine that the condition interferes with troops' performance of their duty.
Several close allies of the U.S. military, including Great Britain and Israel, allow transgender troops to serve openly."
Read the full story here: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/06/04/air-force-transgender-troops/28501835/
Transgender
US Air Force
Leadership
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
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I am sorry but I disagree with you. The US Military Forces are not a 'social experiment'. We require a disciplined force to be combat ready. Some members of Congress and liberal politicians like to use our military for social experiments just to garner votes in election years. Almost all of these experiments fail.
Being 'transgender' is a mental disorder that leaves someone with identity confusion, and if you are confused about who you are, you are easily confused about other things, too. This is a big problem in the heat of battle that could lead to failure of your 'muscle memory' putting yourself and your team's lives in danger.
Like the experiment of gays in the military or gay marriage in the military, transgender troops bring a big question of trust and reliability to your fellow troops.
Then there is the big question of capture by enemy forces. How do you think an enemy will treat you compared to your fellow POWs?
Finally, where do military social experiments end? Will pedophiles and drug addicts be allowed to serve? What about known rapists? How about people who have sex with animals? Former US Army PFC Bradley Manning is a transgender. He showed the world just how much he (she?) could be trusted and is currently serving time at the Fort Leavenworth Disciplinary Barracks, although President Obama commuted his sentence yesterday and he will be released in May 2017
The US has a population of about 325 million people, less than 1% serve in the military and less than 8% have ever served. About 2% of our population identify as gay or transgender. Of our population, about 30% are within the age groups the military seeks to fill its ranks. Not everyone qualifies. We need to recruit the very best from this demographic, that means no gays, no transgender, no untrustworthy people (straight or not). we have to maintain a disciplined, trusted, and combat ready force. The faith of our nation depends on it.
Being 'transgender' is a mental disorder that leaves someone with identity confusion, and if you are confused about who you are, you are easily confused about other things, too. This is a big problem in the heat of battle that could lead to failure of your 'muscle memory' putting yourself and your team's lives in danger.
Like the experiment of gays in the military or gay marriage in the military, transgender troops bring a big question of trust and reliability to your fellow troops.
Then there is the big question of capture by enemy forces. How do you think an enemy will treat you compared to your fellow POWs?
Finally, where do military social experiments end? Will pedophiles and drug addicts be allowed to serve? What about known rapists? How about people who have sex with animals? Former US Army PFC Bradley Manning is a transgender. He showed the world just how much he (she?) could be trusted and is currently serving time at the Fort Leavenworth Disciplinary Barracks, although President Obama commuted his sentence yesterday and he will be released in May 2017
The US has a population of about 325 million people, less than 1% serve in the military and less than 8% have ever served. About 2% of our population identify as gay or transgender. Of our population, about 30% are within the age groups the military seeks to fill its ranks. Not everyone qualifies. We need to recruit the very best from this demographic, that means no gays, no transgender, no untrustworthy people (straight or not). we have to maintain a disciplined, trusted, and combat ready force. The faith of our nation depends on it.
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I am just an infantry officer. I don't see this in the political light. I have been to combat. I have seen enough in my time in to understand the demands of the Army. My opinion isn't reflective of the current push to accept this.
I don't understand how this is going to make us more combat effective. I look at the past and see a contribute of a minority group that greatly impacted the war effort. The Navajo Code talkers were one of the greatest assets in the war. I just don't see how this will lead to a better Army or military. I am of course not talking about the need for equality. I believe it is a balancing act that should be in check. In some places in the Army equality should decide how a unit is structured and in some other places the mission should decide.
Should the Army offer assistance for such. I wouldn't mind some test boosters on the Army's dollar. But I can't get them. All of a sudden this equality is out of the window. There are some things that a standing Army shouldn't entertain. When gay soldiers came out I was in favor of that move. They serve honorably. There wasn't anything more than just changing a policy. But this would drastically effect more than that. I don't know how this would work in the Army or the Marines where more jobs are separated by the gender lines.
Can a transgender that now identifies themselves as a female serve on a Cultural Engagement Team. Then when they come back can then re-identify as a male to try out for Special Forces? This is something that I don't think an Army should be dealing with. But if the transgender do this it will only be a matter of time.
I don't understand how this is going to make us more combat effective. I look at the past and see a contribute of a minority group that greatly impacted the war effort. The Navajo Code talkers were one of the greatest assets in the war. I just don't see how this will lead to a better Army or military. I am of course not talking about the need for equality. I believe it is a balancing act that should be in check. In some places in the Army equality should decide how a unit is structured and in some other places the mission should decide.
Should the Army offer assistance for such. I wouldn't mind some test boosters on the Army's dollar. But I can't get them. All of a sudden this equality is out of the window. There are some things that a standing Army shouldn't entertain. When gay soldiers came out I was in favor of that move. They serve honorably. There wasn't anything more than just changing a policy. But this would drastically effect more than that. I don't know how this would work in the Army or the Marines where more jobs are separated by the gender lines.
Can a transgender that now identifies themselves as a female serve on a Cultural Engagement Team. Then when they come back can then re-identify as a male to try out for Special Forces? This is something that I don't think an Army should be dealing with. But if the transgender do this it will only be a matter of time.
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CPT (Join to see)
SSgt (Join to see) So if I was to feel that I should be a body builder and wanted to take Test Boosters and steroids would you oppose that while I am serving?
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SSgt (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see) in my opinion nope i dont however i also dont see where you are going with that comment.
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CPT (Join to see)
SSgt (Join to see) It would be elective for me. But if I were to do such a thing the Army shouldn't be responsible for my actions. Taking such shots wouldn't be something that would be something that should be dealt with. We are here to serve our nation. I understand that a lot of people want to serve but it really isn't an entitlement. Should the nation really go out of their to cater to to some? If so, how many other categories should the military cater too? Should it end with transgender? If a soldier is Mormon and wants both of his wives on tricare should he? I am just very weary of changing what is working right now. If an infantryman wants to alter their identity then he couldn't be infantry, or could she? I don't see how this is going to be something that makes the military more efficient at fighter wars.
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CW3 Kevin Storm
IMHO I believe some of the recent changes have left those who do not go with flow, are looked at as some sort of Neanderthal. But what of those who have religious beliefs or just don't accept that they want a transgendered person in the their barracks, shower, tent? Do we simply suck it up or get out? Ruin the career because we don't some version of T-SHARP? And what comes next, National Man Boy Love gets their day and can join the military? Lets legalize dope to while were at it, parents having sex with their kids? bestiality? When does the morality factor that I was taught in the service come into play? Ultimately I have to ask is this going to affect "good military order and discipline?" I find it hard to believe it won't have an affect. If it becomes legal, should tax payers to have to pay for the transformation? What changes would be needed for the UCMJ?
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Sexual assault has always been an issue military wide, not just on opposite sex. I believe you can be whomever you feel you should be, on that note however, your gender identity should be based on genetelia. If you have male genetals and identify as female, you should still bunk with the men (as an example). Once a sex change is completed, you should move accordingly. Regardless, this shouldn't be as difficult a conversation as many make it to be. Different isn't always bad.
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
And the facts state that birthing folks with the same gentilelia does not prevent sexual assault.
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
SFC (Join to see), when you start your post with comments about sexual assault and end it with being assigned billets based on gender it strongly implies that you believe that it does. Otherwise, you would just say that you think billeting should be done based on which bits you physically have.
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