What are your thoughts on the Army paying for Manning's sexual rearrangement surgery? Is this a waste of American taxpayers' money?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 18:19:35 -0400

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2016 6:21 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 18:21:42 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member that mofo is a convict, all he should get by law is a cell, some food and basic medical care, not an elective surgery

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2016 6:23 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 18:23:28 -0400

This is elective surgery. Hell no!

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Sep 15 at 2016 6:26 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 18:26:43 -0400

I wonder what the political roaches were up to in making it happen. It sure wasn't the standard denial for elective stuff.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2016 6:31 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 18:31:31 -0400

Let him starve himself to death.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Sep 15 at 2016 6:35 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 18:35:30 -0400

1) Manning was medically diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder while SERVING.

2) We're responsible for Manning's medical.

Regardless of whether we like it or not. The DISORDER (underlying cause) can be corrected. The term "elective" is a misnomer as most people seem to thing it means "optional" as or "unneeded."

"Elective surgery or elective procedure (from the Latin eligere, meaning to choose) is surgery that is scheduled in advance because it does not involve a medical emergency. Semi-elective surgery is a surgery that must be done to preserve the patient's life, but does not need to be performed immediately."

3) Cost is irrelevant. When we removed Manning from society, and removed Manning's capability to choose medical options, we took on the burden of paying for them in addition to the obligation of paying for those associated to all veterans.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Sep 15 at 2016 6:42 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 18:42:52 -0400

If we want to claim the High Road and claim to be better than any Muslim Brotherhood Lead Country or Banana Republic. Yes we have to foot the bill. Otherwise all our Claims to any Moral Superiority are Null and Void.

Response by SFC George Smith made Sep 15 at 2016 6:57 PM

SFC George Smith — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 18:57:10 -0400

total waste of money when they could take care of the Vets who earned their benefits...

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2016 7:56 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 19:56:41 -0400

I wonder how many surgeries others did not get funded.

On the other hand perhaps the surgery will be cheaper that all of the law suits.

Still my vote would be no.

Response by PO2 Marty Sharpe made Sep 15 at 2016 8:20 PM

PO2 Marty Sharpe — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 20:20:21 -0400

A waste. It should come out of Manning's pocket. Make that kind of money available to members or dependents where it can be used for a good cause. I am not against the surgery,just don't want to pay for it.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Sep 15 at 2016 8:52 PM

SPC Erich Guenther — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 20:52:39 -0400

He has to get an Army picked Doctor to agree that it is necessary first for his/her well being And then his chain of command has to approve it. Thats how the new regulations work and they only work that way for transgenders that were enlisted already before the new regulation was bpublished. Transgenders that enlist these days have to be secure in their sexuality before they enlist including the organs because the Army will not pay for the surgury. As for the question, I would say YES it is a waste of money but I would wait to see if the Army Doctor recommends it and the current Chain of Command approves it first because my suspicion is he is doing this for the drama it invokes.

Response by SSG Stephan Pendarvis made Sep 15 at 2016 9:16 PM

SSG Stephan Pendarvis — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 21:16:43 -0400

10 years ago....I would have said yes. But I have been broken down and reprogrammed...soooo....No Manning is a human with rights. And we should support whatever Manning wants.

Response by CPO Bill Penrod made Sep 15 at 2016 10:48 PM

CPO Bill Penrod — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 22:48:09 -0400

Don't get me started. Hell it takes years to get simple compensation claim approved by the VA. Now they want to do sex change operation for a trader. Lets see if I apply for a big dick what's the chance it'll be approved...........

Response by SGT Tim Soyars made Sep 16 at 2016 12:36 AM

SGT Tim Soyars — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 00:36:23 -0400

Screw it. Give him a dull bayonet and a box of Band-Aids and tell him it self care....

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Sep 16 at 2016 12:42 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 00:42:40 -0400

People that have broken no laws don't get that kind of Government payment assistance for sex changes , why should a jailbird ?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2016 4:04 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 04:04:32 -0400

It is an interesting choice.
Few persons convicted and serving a long prison term would think it a good idea to make oneself prettier. Seems like a choice that will be fraught with consequences.

But this piece of crap deserves to rot in a cell forever. This looks suspiciously like "Chelsea" is angling to be a cause celebre, exploiting a political climate that has decidedly become much more accommodating and sympathetic to transgender issues.

I for one think that we ought not forget why Manning is locked up in the first place and spend our taxpayer's money on something more productive than what Manning's nether regions look like.

Response by SGT David T. made Sep 16 at 2016 7:40 AM

SGT David T. — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 07:40:14 -0400

As much I want to say no, I must agree with Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS they were diagnosed while serving and thus their medical needs are the responsibility of the Army.

Response by PFC Kevin Farrell made Sep 16 at 2016 7:58 AM

PFC Kevin Farrell — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 07:58:14 -0400

total bullshit

Response by SSgt Boyd Welch made Sep 16 at 2016 9:28 AM

SSgt Boyd Welch — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 09:28:23 -0400

This is cold but since his service was NOT honorable, he deserves nothing. We can't get critical medical treatment for those wounded in battle and here we are giving elective surgery to the least deserving....

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Sep 16 at 2016 9:41 AM

SFC Joseph Weber — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 09:41:57 -0400

I suppose it would be good practice for some Army doctor to take into the civilian world when he gets out.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2016 11:17 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 11:17:04 -0400

Manning should have his surgery after all other vet's medical needs are taking care of, hell I have a hard time getting an appointment for my eye glasses and I did twenty!!

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Sep 16 at 2016 11:26 AM

MSgt Michael Smith — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 11:26:15 -0400

Like it or not, if you imprison someone, you have to provide them food, shelter, and medical care. If a MD psychiatrist recommended this procedure for him for his mental health, then you have to pay. Don't look at this as some sort of quality-of-life issue, like power windows on a car. You have no frame of reference or understanding of what it is like to be transsexual, and how it effects your mental health.

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Sep 16 at 2016 12:13 PM

SFC J Fullerton — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 12:13:52 -0400

He needs to live with his penis and his crime until he has paid the time.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2016 5:19 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 17:19:02 -0400

hell no

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2016 10:12 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 22:12:20 -0400

I suspect this will be an exercise in tongue biting for a bunch of folks. This is the collision course set by a political agenda of gender policy shifting sand. We would all do well to remember we are not policymakers, but policy enforcers. There is likely a larger theme of equity in providing incredibly expensive medical care to a tiny fraction of patients versus increasing access to care for a much larger population given the extreme budget challenges we face. We give heart transplant to those on death row...and ignore tens of thousands with substance abuse in neighboring cells. The media picks the stories we read and then paints the opposing viewpoints to drive the factions farther apart. It's tragic. The noise drowns out the original question all together. It doesn't matter if it's fair... we don't get to decide if it is right.

All you get to do is vote...and then carry out the Boss's edict.

Response by SFC Daniel McIntire made Sep 17 at 2016 7:30 AM

SFC Daniel McIntire — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 07:30:07 -0400

This is an individual's choice! Unless it is proven as "service connected" injury/illness, it needs to be the individual's responsibility. Sexual rearrangement surgery would be next to be impossible to be proven "service connected".

Response by ENS Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2016 11:05 PM

ENS Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 23:05:54 -0400

It's a slap in the face..

Response by MAJ Raúl Rovira made Sep 18 at 2016 12:34 AM

MAJ Raúl Rovira — Sun, 18 Sep 2016 00:34:48 -0400

Personal decision, use personal funds.

Response by SSG Maxwell Goodman made Sep 18 at 2016 5:05 PM

SSG Maxwell Goodman — Sun, 18 Sep 2016 17:05:44 -0400

I believe a very much a waste of my tax dollars. If he wants to be a girl then he/she should pay for it. He should get personal health insurance and pay for it that way. Make him have to pay for a deductible at least

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Sep 22 at 2016 11:33 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 11:33:56 -0400

Very much a waste. This is a condition that was not caused by military service and therefore should not be paid for through the military. It is ridiculous to think that as long as they are in a stable gender when they enlist, they can get free reassignment to whatever they choose. This is not service connected and should not be treated as such.

Response by 1SG Mike Case made Sep 22 at 2016 1:26 PM

1SG Mike Case — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 13:26:29 -0400

I couldn't get the Army to pay for my braces!

Response by A1C Amber Planting made Sep 22 at 2016 1:28 PM

A1C Amber Planting — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 13:28:13 -0400

Wow, all you ignorant transphobic people. Seriously, get over yourselves. You have no right to tell purposely misgender someone, that's an act of hate and violence on all trans people when you do that. CHELSEA Manning using she/her/hers as her pronouns, and she was a whistleblower, she did nothing to compromise the safety of any military units, she exposed war crimes, and is being punished for it. Too hell with that, not only should her medical expenses be covered completely, she needs to be fully pardoned, and apologized to, and the people who committed the actual CRIMES should be punished.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2016 1:42 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 13:42:52 -0400

I cannot believe this would pose as a serious question.
Ridiculous to even consider.