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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Defense Secretary Ash Carter testified on Capitol Hill in Washington in July 2015. Carter today announced that the Pentagon will let transgender individuals serve openly in the U.S. military, ending one of the last bans on service in the armed forces.
WASHINGTON » The Pentagon will let transgender individuals serve openly in the U.S. military, ending one of the last bans on service in the armed forces.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced the change today. Carter says it’s the right thing to do. He says only a person’s qualifications should matter, and that there should be no other unrelated barriers to service.
Carter’s announcement comes despite concerns from senior military leaders that the department is moving too fast and that more time is needed to work through the changes.
The changes will be phased in over a year. But by October 1, transgender troops should be able to receive medical care and begin formally changing their gender identification in the Pentagon’s personnel system.
Which bathrooms/showers/barracks are these transgenders allowed to used on Military property or out in the field?
on 2nd thought, the US should adopt the usage of one bathroom for all to use and do away with a 2 or 3 bathroom system. Just have one big bathroom/showers for all to use, no biasing of genders period.
How does it feel to be stuck in 1950?
Transgender people have been serving in the military for decades, without any incidents whatever. None. You can fabricate any alternate reality you want to.
You don’t understand that you’ve been sold a load of garbage about this. Republicans whip up their base by cheerleading about nonexistent problems – with people that can’t figure out what’s right or wrong. You’re called their base.
Decades? Really? What military have you served in? Here’s the real question, have you ever served in the military? For the 2+ decades I have served in, I have never seen or heard of any transgendered service members. If you have no proof, I suggest you shut your pie hole.
Oh aptly-named bubbabutt, you have fallen straight into klastri’s trap. Of course you wouldn’t have heard of any transgendered service members. That’s the whole point he was making. They’ve been there all along and the services are none the worse for it.
Isn’t it wonderful, our whole system for the military is to be changed to accommodate less that one tenth of a percent of the total number of service personnel. What useful purpose does this serve except to cause more trouble than it’s worth just to show how progressive we have become.
HanabataDays – Exactly. Veterans are now coming forward about their service and that they needed to keep it hidden. Vietnam era to now.
“Transgender people have been serving in the military for decades, without any incidents whatever.” So now the government is about to create problems.
I’m sure you’re right but there’s a big difference between “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and serving openly. By serving openly, there are lots of accommodations and changes that need to be made that will take time, cost money and which will probably not improve combat effectiveness. The scary thing is when things are done in the military for social benefit that are detrimental to their ability to fight wars. Even if it’s a short term problem that works itself out over time, it becomes a real problem if it’s taken advantage of by the enemy.
An interesting parallel is found with the Roman army towards the end of the Empire. They let more and more barbarians join the army and, instead of maintaining their standards, they accommodated for their new troops. The newer troops complained of how heavy the Roman shield, sword and pylum (a type of spear) were. So the army changed their gear to accommodate the troops. Didn’t work out too well for them.
fdgodek – That’s the same nonsense argument – even using the same words and phrases – that were used when the military was integrated. And then again when gay people were openly allowed.
Do you ever get tired of using the same failed talking points?
Uh, not really Fdgodek. The Auxilia had been part of Rome’s military during the Republic and to a certain extent, even during the second and third Punic Wars. From the time of the Principate of Augustus, (Octavian) he Legions recruited from the ranks of Roman citizens but the Auxilia, non-citizens, derived from a number of sources, even the Batavian Barbi.
From the time the Equites were no longer required to provide service in the mounted cavalry, the Auxilia comprised most of Rome’s mounted units. In some of the provinces, it is estimated that approximately 60% of the Roman military forces were comprised of non-citizens.
There were also pathways, much like our contemporary military by which a soldier could earn citizenship after a number of decades of service to Rome.
Let’s see how they perform in foxholes, under constant enemy fire; betcha they’ll be crying for their mommies.
Why do you hate the armed forces so? Do you think it’s appropriate to criticize those brave people from the shelter of your parents’ basement?
There are stories now coming out about transgender member of the military service about their remarkable bravery, including in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Willfully and pridefully ignorant people who don’t understand what transgender is equate it with being effeminate. It’s sad and pathetic to comment about something from a platform of total ignorance.
From the article, not only will transgender individuals be allowed to serve, their gender reassignment will be covered. Taxpayers will be picking up the tab for the therapy, procedures and hormones. It actually becomes a good reason for transsexuals to join the military if they can’t afford the surgery. Before, you’d have to go to prison to get the government to pay for a sex change. Now you can serve your country and get one. Talk about a new take on the GI Bill!
Did you actually read your comment before you posted it? This is how you think?
Really?