Is Gender re-assignment an elective procedure as is plastic surgery for augmentation or tummy tuck?

I do believe that sex reassignment surgery (SRS) is elective and should be treated as such (just like breast augmentation, tummy tuck, rhinoplasty etc.). Therefore-if and when it becomes "legal" to be transgender in the military-I think that it should be authorized in a similar fashion as most other elective procedures (i.e. must have commander's approval, must not be performed during a timeframe that interferes with a member's deployment readiness during their assigned cycle, must be paid for out-of-pocket, etc.). This is not to be confused with procedures deemed medically necessary, such as the case with reconstructive surgeries after disfigurement due to disease or trauma. Additionally, I believe that SRS requires a psychological evaluation and a minimum 1 year of counseling prior to the procedure...which should probably be an allowable cost, as it is under the umbrella of mental health care.

With that said, I do NOT believe that prisoners should be entitled to have any elective surgical procedures done or initiate hormone therapy! That is asinine that it would even be considered. If Chelsea Manning was on Tricare-covered/MTF approved hormone therapy prior to her sentencing/incarceration, then she should be allowed to continue with hormone therapy-but initiating hormone therapy and/or SRS while incarcerated gets a resounding NO from me.

Did the DOD accept the lowest bidder's contract to perform the surgery? I know there are plenty of people who would rip them off for free.

Screw Him/Her/It. Why should we the people pay for this butthead before or AFTER he leaked secrets. Put him in prison and he can get "treated like a lady" all he wants w/o the operation.