US Military To Provide Free Sex Change Surgeries for Qualified Recruits
Times are a changing and I am looking forward to the new recruiting commercials:
Transgender men and women can serve openly in the United States military following the repeal Thursday of Pentagon policies that forced them to keep their gender identities secret or risk a discharge.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter said those policies discriminated against “talented and trained Americans,” and did not represent the values of the United States military as he announced his decision at the Pentagon nearly a year after he vowed to repeal the ban. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers blasted Carter’s decisions as “politics over policy” during a time of war.
“Our mission is to defend this country, and we don’t want barriers unrelated to a person’s qualification to serve preventing us from recruiting or retaining the soldier, sailor, airman, or Marine who can best accomplish the mission,” Carter said. “We have to have access to 100 percent of America’s population for our all-volunteer force to be able to recruit from among them the most highly qualified and to retain them.”
The new policy will be rolled out over a one-year period. Effectively immediately, Carter said, troops cannot be discharged, denied reenlistment or involuntarily separated solely because of their gender identity. But it will be about a year before the military begins to openly recruit transgender individuals to join the service. Even then it will only allow transgender individuals who have completed any gender-related medical treatment to join the military, and it will require certification from a doctor that they’ve been “stable in their preferred gender for 18 months,” according to Pentagon documents. [Stars & Stripes]
Here is part of the policy I have concerns with. Considering all the pay and benefits currently being taken away from troops the DoD some how found the money to pay for expensive sex change surgeries and hormone treatments?:
Also beginning Oct. 1, the Military Health System will begin providing transgender troops “all medically-necessary care” related to gender transition, Carter said. A military doctor will determine what medically-necessary care is needed for such individuals on a case-by-case basis. That care could include gender reassignment surgery or hormone therapy, a senior defense official said. It will not include any cosmetic surgery, added the official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the policy publicly.
The costs to the military associated with allowing open transgender service will be relatively low, the defense official said. The military was only likely to incur about $4 million to $14 million per year in additional medical costs to provide the medically-necessary transition care.
You can read more at the link, but I also think this is all the more reason why there has to be one physical fitness standard now. How is it fair that someone biologically male, but identifies as a female gets to take the female physical fitness test? This puts them at an advantage against both male and female troops by taking an easier fitness test and thus scoring more points for promotion.
Mixed views on this. Not being in anymore I no longer am compelled to go hunting down every AR that would shed light but I’d say a fresh look at 25-501 needs to happen if they’re going to pick up HRT tabs for transgenders. I remember a good amount of hub-bub regarding diabetes and a 2nd “don’t ask don’t tell” for soldiers who had it. If they’re going to pay for HRT they need to pay for other regimens.
GI’s concerns about unfairness with the APFT are unfounded and biased as his are only looking at MTF’s. HRT will “neuter” any advantage a MTF would have but at the opposite end of the spectrum the FTM’s would be getting an “advantage” from the testosterone injections. Any comment on that?
All in all I’d not want to be any of the openly serving trans for quite some time seeing as the military’s still trying to deal with women in the military and no matter what the regs the serving environment’s not going to be welcoming for well over a decade.
Smokes,
Are you sure a Male to Female taking estrogen actually is brought down to the same body composition and strength levels as a natural female?
I recall an MMA fighter that had transitioned from male to female and was easily running through natural females because he/she was much stronger.
The whole thing is an unnecessary distraction which will only cause problems and not contribute to the overall strength of the military.
I can’t say for sure, but I would be willing to bet that transgenders have a higher rate of mental disorders than the average person.
I wonder if there will be any people out there who join the military just so they can get a free sex change operation? Think about it … you get the operation for free – and you get a full paycheck while you are convalescing. Afterwards, you can request to be chaptered out because the military isn’t for you.
I’ll ignore that bait about mental disorders… As I’m no medical professional no I can’t say for sure that the Estro would be a 100% offset but what’s an offset anyway? Everyone performs at different levels. I do know that the APFT is being used as an excuse what with all the perma-profiles and fat bodies that are allowed to stay in as it is. APFT is something that really isn’t important for everyone but it’s so ingrained with core training it’s never going away.
As a 25B my ability to perform physical tasks was almost never a factor in my job, nor is it for most MOS’es. Occasionally I had to lift something heavy but the majority of heavy stuff is 2+ person lifts as it is so unless you’re looking for a bad back you aren’t solo’ing it anyway.
Who says the military can’t put language into contracts that stipulate if you get that surgery you are required to stay in X amount of years or be responsible to repay the costs? Isn’t something along those lines in place for officers in regards to their college time?
The article says, “..medically-necessary care.” It further says, “It will not include any cosmetic surgery …” Someone deciding they want a gender reassignment surgery would be more inline with cosmetic surgery, not medical necessity. Most civilian health insurance probably wouldn’t reimburse for that either. But, complications from the surgery and hormone therapy might result in medical necessity situations.
BTW, a woman transitioned to being male will still have a uterus and will still require female specific care. Men transitioned to female will still have a prostrate and will require that exam.
prostrate -> prostate
Let’s not kid ourselves.
The side effects of this will cause disruption and cost the taxpayer far more than any benefit derived from collecting all the master strategists and one person killing machines known to inhabit the tranny community.
…though it is likely most of the problems with the F-35 are due to not having enough trannies on the project.
Send more trannies.
Sounds legit…
@Smokes, not all transgenders get the surgery. There are plenty of transgenders that remain biologically male, but identify as female. The bottom line is that the PT test is going to need to get updated to be job specific so no one is getting an advantage.
@Smokes, by the way speaking of overweight people, do you think they should be provided free liposuction surgery if they request it?
Think of the cost savings if all branches switched over to a unisex dress uniform.
All things being equal, billeting will be much easier since anyone can room with anyone else. Will it even be necessary to keep track of gender on personnel records anymore? It would probably be bigoted, actually.
On that note, there will be barracks rats that switch hit and sleep with numerous members of both genders.
I gotta tell you guys, sounds like a great time to re-enlist.
“US MILITARY TO PROVIDE FREE SEX CHANGE SURGERIES FOR QUALIFIED RECRUITS”
I’m happy about the new US military policy to provide free sex.
…buy why would they change surgeries for qualified recruits?
“not all transgenders get the surgery. There are plenty of transgenders that remain biologically male, but identify as female”
Snip it or zip it, you drag queen wannabes! If you still got the package you didn’t make no delivery, girlfriends. You ain’t no transgender. You just a crossdressin’ pervert. Tuck yo’ junk and shut yo’ mouth, ho.
I think once we open that can of worms … all bets are off … because lord only knows what might result from someone going through gender re-assignment but not getting plastic surgery. Think of all the lost work hours that will result from the emotional stress. And what’s going to happen when a soldier who went through gender reassignment commits suicide because he/she couldn’t also get plastic surgery?
Donald, where’s your trousers? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHfjcq3BJno
Chickenhead makes a good point.
Can military cross-dressers now opt to wear the opposite sex’s uniform without facing repercussions? I guess the Army needs to update 670-1 to state who can actually wear the male and female uniforms?
Holy jebeezus… it’s threads like this that are comedy gold.
GI: Yes we’re all aware not every person undergoes the physical transition it still doesn’t change the fact that you’re using the APFT as a excuse to deny patriotic trans’ers the opportunity to perform military service. Just say it, enough with the “for the children” tactics.
GI: Unless a SM is valuable enough to keep and their weight has become a serious health issue there’s no reason for the lipo because APFT is BS. You’re right that APFT needs to change, there needs to be 2 versions, one for CS and one for CSS. Why was I held to 11B physical standards when 11B’s weren’t held to my intellectual standards?
CH: You like em snipped because it’s easier to lie to yourself when you’re doing the dirty stuff you do with the ladyboys.
Andy: They do right now, they’re all cross-dressing as the class C uniform is the same for all.
Don’t think I’m going let you gaggle of hypocrites forget I’m fully tracking that you are all completely focusing on MTF’s and completely ignoring FTM’s just like the military does on the whole. Not a single CP I was on ever said sack jit to a hardened lesbo in a bar or any other time while it was open house on the “lighter” guys.
Be realistic, you guys just don’t want non-standard dudes in the military that don’t jive with whatever macho image was “cool” back when you were in. Here’s reality though, the boy’s club days have come to an end and no amount whatever-phobic boo-hoo’ing on here is going to stop it. Suck it b1tches. 😎
The only problem with that, Smokes is that the boy’s club days were effective at fighting wars (when allowed to) and whatever we are heading towards now will not be.
Also, since you mentioned transitioning from both sexes, just exactly which APFT standards will these SM’s be held to? If they failed the male standards, did they just identify as a female that day? Would it be transphobic to fail them, even though they have a diick?
What does the military have to gain by wading into these waters? What do we gain as a nation? Are we safer or are we simply allowing a fighting force to be further weighed down by yet another social justice distraction?
@Smokes, where did I say they cannot serve? I said they should not be given an advantage over their peers; big difference. I also don’t think at a time when benefits are being cut that paying for expensive sex change operations and hormone treatments should be a Pentagon priority.
As far as obese people you obviously are a bigot and want to deny patriotic Americans from serving their country. You just don’t want non-standard dudes in the military that don’t jive with whatever macho image was cool back when you were in. 😉
So… what are you saying?
Yes while you didn’t use those exact words it’s no secret you’re very against any non born-in-the-blue males from serving in combat. There are many examples of this on the site in the form of complaints about neutered APFT standards and other “advantages” being showered upon categories of citizens who have long been robbed their opportunity to serve and fight for their country.
As for the $’s what do you want? The military’s long paid for gobs of stuff they probably shouldn’t have been but here’s where you want to draw the line? On something that specifically targets a subset that’s been fighting just to be treated like a regular citizen? Why not cutback on the Lasik? Or like you said, the Lipo? Would you be this against paying for treatment of sickle-cell (if it’s treatable and the military pays for it, I don’t know much about sickle-cell, go with it)? Oh yes I did go there…
I just don’t know what it is that’s so hard to understand with you Sons of Alabama about public service being for, performed by, and open to the public; ALL THE PUBLIC. If that means dudes who want to put on a dress, women, or chicks who stuff their fruit `o looms with socks then so be it.
Cutting this short lest it become a book. 😛
@Smokes, you have provided no examples other than unsubstantiated innuendo which is surprising considering your usually well thought out comments. As I have made perfectly clear over the years I have no issue with anyone serving in combat arms as long as they meet the same standards. As these PT test results show only the female recruits that really want it are going to be able to pass which is a good thing. What I am against is changing standards to simply increase demographic numbers instead of ensuring the best recruits make it through the training.
As far as your statement about public service being open to everyone than why are you against obese people being able to serve openly?
I have an aversion to work. I self identify as a lazy ass. Why should I qualify for service just because I don’t want to do anything. It’s not like I want to be like this, I was born this way.
Money please, and thanks…if you don’t give me a job, you’re a bigot.
“I don’t know much about sickle-cell”
I know… “correlation does not imply causation”… blah blah blah…
…but I heard it was caused by handling food stamps.