Transgendered or not, if you are fit for the job then you are fit for the job. All that I would ask is that the person have completed their transition and that they are ready to be a soldier, airman, sailor or marine first and whatever sex they've transitioned to second. There will be practical issues to address along the way but now is a good time to get started doing so.
I don't think it would be possible to transition and maintain an existing military career at the same time considering everything transitioning involves. Qualified, fit, fully-transitioned individuals deserve the right to serve if they meet all the requirements to do so, but not until they've got the transitioning portion of their life settled.Well, it's not always that easy. You may not always realize you want to transition until after you've started serving, for example. With that said, I particularly agree on the last part: it's much better to let people serve their country and figure out how things work than to let bigots have their way and ban people based on stereotypes and other assumptions.
It's cute that he tried to disguise it as a cost cutting measure."After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you"
donald trump - 7/26/17
bwahahahahahahahahaha
commander in chief my ass.
I would say it depends on the length of service expected and circumstances.I don't think it would be possible to transition and maintain an existing military career at the same time considering everything transitioning involves. Qualified, fit, fully-transitioned individuals deserve the right to serve if they meet all the requirements to do so, but not until they've got the transitioning portion of their life settled.
How do you remain on active duty and ready to deploy if necessary while undergoing what is at *least* a year+ transformation that involved repeated visits to therapists, doctors and surgeons? It's just not possible.I would say it depends on the length of service expected and circumstances.
As far as cost goes, does anyone have any stats on the percentage of transgender people in the population or the cost of the surgery? I can't imagine there'd be that many people joining up and having the surgery, but that's just a guess on my part. That surgery has to be as invasive as it gets, so I'd guess anyone who opted for it would be pretty damned serious about it.
As far as letting them in, I'm all about recruiting the best and brightest for every position, so I say let's let them in.
As far as cost goes, does anyone have any stats on the percentage of transgender people in the population or the cost of the surgery? I can't imagine there'd be that many people joining up and having the surgery, but that's just a guess on my part. That surgery has to be as invasive as it gets, so I'd guess anyone who opted for it would be pretty damned serious about it.
As far as letting them in, I'm all about recruiting the best and brightest for every position, so I say let's let them in.
Regarding cost
"Out of an over $6 billion health budget for active duty members it's estimated that the cost for military trans health care is $8.4 million"
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jul/26/trans-health-cost-us-military-budget-pentagon
Regarding numbers, hard to say:
"There is no official data to rely on, but the most recent research available estimates there are no more than 10,790 transgender individuals on active duty or in reserve forces."
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40950946
so youve provided one scenario. great, you seem like a reasonable guy, theres gotta be some grey areas you can think of.How do you remain on active duty and ready to deploy if necessary while undergoing what is at *least* a year+ transformation that involved repeated visits to therapists, doctors and surgeons? It's just not possible.
While being transgendered should not bar you from serving, you have to take care of your own personal business before you can serve. The military should not accept someone who is unable to serve the same as other recruits are required to because they are in the middle of or want to begin transitioning.
Serving is a huge commitment that not everyone is qualified for or able to meet. Serving is not a right if you can't do the job because you've got other things going on in your life.
As as far as transgendered service men and women, get that part of your life handled and taken care of before you apply to serve. Nobody chooses to be transgendered or wants to feel like they've been born in the wrong body. It's still your responsibility to deal with the issue and not something the military should have to accommodate until any change you need has been made.
I don't see anything wrong with covering cost such as continuing hormone therapy or counseling for transgendered service members provided they had finished their transformation prior to enlistment. It's a relatively tiny, reasonable health care expense that is similar to that of a soldier who might need an inhaler for asthma or epipen for an allergy.Regarding cost
"Out of an over $6 billion health budget for active duty members it's estimated that the cost for military trans health care is $8.4 million"
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jul/26/trans-health-cost-us-military-budget-pentagon
Regarding numbers, hard to say:
"There is no official data to rely on, but the most recent research available estimates there are no more than 10,790 transgender individuals on active duty or in reserve forces."
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40950946
Would you apply that to any elective surgery? Let me play a real Devil's advocate here: what about elective pregnancies? We all draw the line somewhere, and I'm not sure there are any *wrong* answers, I just like to reflect on why we all draw the lines where we do.
I'm sorry, I think I misinterpreted your question. How do I feel about women who get intentionally pregnant in the military?Would you apply that to any elective surgery? Let me play a real Devil's advocate here: what about elective pregnancies? We all draw the line somewhere, and I'm not sure there are any *wrong* answers, I just like to reflect on why we all draw the lines where we do.
Yeah, that's a good idea too.What about an extended commitment if reassignmen
yea, i like this ideaWhat about an extended commitment if reassignment is elected?
I'm sorry, I think I misinterpreted your question. How do I feel about women who get intentionally pregnant in the military?
They are complete idiots and better be damned sure they are so highly qualified and vital to the military that their service outweighs the unnecessary burden having a baby will create. They've signed up for a term of service then made a personal decision to do something that makes them unable to fulfill that commitment. A woman who intentionally gets pregnant to avoid deployment could be considered guilty of malingering and should be discharged.
Serving in the military isn't a 9-5 job.
My understanding is it's not an automatic discharge any longer pending the job of the servicewoman. I suspect the Navy has far less leniency with their shipboard personal than other branches do. Many in command still view it as malingering if it interferes with a deployment.They did when I was in the Navy. Did they stop discharging women that cannot deploy due to pregnancy?
Nope. Life isn't fair and you can't have everything. If you are currently serving you should finish with your commitment before leaving the service to have your reassignment. If after your life is settled you want to apply for reenlistment then go ahead. Expecting the taxpayers to foot the bill for anything more than maintenance health care for a transgenders is wrong, IMHO.What about an extended commitment if reassignment is elected?