PENTAGON TURNS ON TRUMP – Announces Transgender People Can Serve In Military

PENTAGON TURNS ON TRUMP – Announces Transgender People Can Serve In Military

I’m actually surprised and saddened by this development. The Pentagon has just announced it will allow transgenders to sign up for the military starting January 1, 2018. This is despite President Trump not being for the move. This probably came about because of legal pressure. Two federal courts have already ruled against the military ban. Potential transgender recruits will have to overcome a lengthy and strict set of physical, medical and mental conditions that make it possible, though difficult, for them to join the armed services. At least that is something.

These new guidelines mean that the Pentagon can disqualify potential recruits with gender dysphoria, a history of medical treatments associated with gender transition and those who underwent reconstruction. These recruits would be allowed in however if a medical provider certifies they’ve been clinically stable in the preferred sex for 18 months and are free of significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas. Transgender individuals receiving hormone therapy also must be stable on their medication for 18 months. I can live with that. My concern is them not being able to serve in the field, or if they do, they turn into a liability instead of an actual soldier.

All these requirements make it difficult for a transgender to be deemed fit for military service. The Pentagon has similar restrictions for recruits with a variety of medical or mental conditions, such as bipolar disorder. So, transgenders are not being singled out here. “Due to the complexity of this new medical standard, trained medical officers will perform a medical prescreen of transgender applicants for military service who otherwise meet all applicable applicant standards,” Maj. David Eastburn, a Pentagon spokesman said.

The ban on transgender service members was ended by then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter last year. At that time, transgenders were allowed to serve openly in the military, which caused massive expenditures and confusion among the rank and file. President Trump tweeted in July that the federal government “will not accept or allow” transgender troops to serve “in any capacity” in the military. 30 days later, Trump issued a formal order telling the Pentagon to extend the ban. He gave the department six months to determine what to do about those currently serving. Looks like he’s got his answer.

This move today probably indicates that the military feels they will lose this legal battle. “The controversy will not be about whether you allow transgender enlistees, it’s going to be on what terms,” said Brad Carson, who was deeply involved in the last administration’s decisions. “That’s really where the controversy will lie.” I still feel this is a mistake. Our military is what protects us and they are only as strong as their weakest link. Now, they will have to address the issue of berthing, bathrooms and locker rooms. This is certainly not your father’s military anymore.

Terresa Monroe-Hamilton

Terresa Monroe-Hamilton is an editor and writer for Right Wing News. She owns and blogs at NoisyRoom.net. She is a Constitutional Conservative and NoisyRoom focuses on political and national issues of interest to the American public. Terresa is the editor at Trevor Loudon's site, New Zeal - trevorloudon.com. She also does research at KeyWiki.org. You can email Terresa here. NoisyRoom can be found on Facebook and on Twitter.

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