Posted on Jun 1, 2015
How would you, as a leader, address a Service Member with gender identity issues?
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In light of the recent publicity of Ms. Caitlyn Jenner, you now have a Service Member under you who has been battling similar gender issues. Service Member confides in you, and would like to discuss what could be made available to them- note Chelsea Manning as well.
How would you handle this? Having a more open-minded view about a topic like this, I'm curious as to how the more conservative leaders would approach this.
How would you handle this? Having a more open-minded view about a topic like this, I'm curious as to how the more conservative leaders would approach this.
Soldiers
Transgender
Leadership
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 37
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It's very simple. If you were born with an X and a Y chromosome and, you have a penis, you're a man. If you were born with two Y chromosomes and a vagina, you're a woman. God made you that way and you can, or should, do about that.
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we had an issue like this in our unit. we didnt really deal with it, we were ordered by 1SG not to even talk about it under threat of UCMJ. the guy ended up being chaptered, not because of this, but because he was a complete failure as a soldier. had no military bearing whatsoever.
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SGT John Rauch
I suppose it was, we caught the guy wearing womens under garments and had a full plastic grocery bag of used condoms, so yeah, there was some talk going around. especially since we were downrange when all of this happened.
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SGT John Rauch
the problem was mainly with the guys who shared a tent with him, the guy was nasty. the whole tent smelled, he was always staring at people like they were a big hunk of steak that he couldn't wait to rip into, and corrective action was useless on him. the crazy thing was, that he was actually a decent soldier in a garrison environment. not really sure what happened.
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send them to the metal health people. No one in the military unless they are in the mental health field has any need to deal with this. it is a stresser and could get you in trouble
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I would let them know, male or female, LBGT or not, I am here for them. With the that being said, standards must be upheld.
I would refer them to talk to professionals in the military, and if those professionals didn't help, seek an outside support group. No matter what, I would be there to talk and try to help.
I would refer them to talk to professionals in the military, and if those professionals didn't help, seek an outside support group. No matter what, I would be there to talk and try to help.
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SSgt (Join to see)
Update: SrA Logan Ireland and his wife have put a face (and a live person) behind this issue. Your gender, sexual preference, political stance, religion doesn't matter when shots are fired. Protect my 6, and I got yours.
Transgendered members have my full support. You are willing to lay down your life for America, pay taxes and go to war... Do it. People don't understand and that's okay. Help teach them.
Also, I have a friend who surprised me by not only personally vouching for SrA Ireland but lending his full support for him despite his religious and political affiliations.
Transgendered members have my full support. You are willing to lay down your life for America, pay taxes and go to war... Do it. People don't understand and that's okay. Help teach them.
Also, I have a friend who surprised me by not only personally vouching for SrA Ireland but lending his full support for him despite his religious and political affiliations.
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The first thing we would have to establish it is "not" the responsability of the (tax payer) military to cover any possible future surgeries, and then if a soldier went through with it the VA should be relieved of covering any issues mental / physical from any surgeries that were performed.
After that was established I believe the individual should be counseled with respect and dignity, but they will continue to be treated as the person they enlisted as whether male and female regardless of how they feel.
After that was established I believe the individual should be counseled with respect and dignity, but they will continue to be treated as the person they enlisted as whether male and female regardless of how they feel.
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It wasn't too long ago that homosexuals were allowed to serve openly. That took awhile. I can't imagine the military even considering allowing any service member to undergo a transformation of genders while enlisted. That being said, the front-line supervisors may want to address the issue with the unit First Sergeant and/or Commander and have that individual talk with a counselor. I just don't think the military ranks are ready for transgendered troops.
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SSgt (Join to see)
I think Active Duty and military personnel will treat this as it was when DADT was lifted.... Meh. Don't care, business as usual. Even before DADT, we all knew who was LBG! None of us Airman cared or some didn't even know about it... Because we all embrace the suck and have each other's backs.
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I would direct that SM to professionals more suited to dealing with those problems than I.
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SSgt Thomas A Tullis Jr
Gender issues are a touchy subject. As such I wouldn't be qualified to assist the military member but would highly recommend they seek professional assistance.
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