With recent key military members discussing transgenders in the military what are your thoughts?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 12:44:45 -0400

here is a great video video and article about transgender troops im proud to be one of the the 15,500, proud of my service and part of this change. here is a great example of whats going on but what are your thoughts

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/04/opinion/transgender-at-war-and-in-love.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/04/opinion/let-transgender-troops-serve-openly.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=opinion-c-col-top-region&region=opinion-c-col-top-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-top-region&_r=1

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Response by Sgt Mark Ramos made Jun 4 at 2015 2:36 PM

Sgt Mark Ramos — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 14:36:10 -0400

There are 0.3% percent of the US population that are transgender. With such a small percentage attracting such a large focus I tend to think the issue is not really about whether any particular person would add value to the military service or not. It is more about making a small percentage seem normal and accepted. I think the military is being used as a vehicle to "normalize" a viewpoint.
I'm not saying transgender people should be ostracized. They are obviously uncomfortable with who they are and need understanding and acceptance.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2015 3:09 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 15:09:24 -0400

Personally, if someone is able ot do the job, I couldn't care less how they identify or if they're transgender. That said, it does raise a question about certain standards, PT in particular. If someone transitions from male to female do they test as a female? Wouldn't that be an unfair advantage? And on the flip side, if someone goes from female to male, are they help to male standards or female? I know it's a touchy subject but one that has to be talked about.

As far as transgender service goes, again, I don't care. If you can do the job you can do the job. If you're purple and have three heads, I don't care. Job performance is job performance.

Response by Lt Col Timothy Parker, DBA made Jun 4 at 2015 3:47 PM

Lt Col Timothy Parker, DBA — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 15:47:19 -0400

Adm. Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs at the time, testified to Congress about homosexuals serving in the military (the topic was the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell). I'
m quoting from Robert Gates' book Duty (pg. 435):

"Mr. Chairman, speaking for myself and myself only, it is my personal belief that allowing homosexuals to serve openly would be the right thing to do. No matter how I look at the issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens. For me, it comes down to integrity, theirs as individuals and ours as an institution."

What makes transgender different? Just because it may not be well understood by most of us doesn't make it wrong, or make transgenders unfit for duty. We crossed similar bridges in the past (race and gender come to mind) and made corrections. Just my humble opinion.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2015 5:32 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 17:32:05 -0400

Who cares think we waste more time discussing useless topics then we need to.

Response by SSgt Marshall Franklin made Jun 5 at 2015 12:12 AM

SSgt Marshall Franklin — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 00:12:09 -0400

with the way the laws are changing and the way the government is rethinking I think it's time for the military to join the rest of the world. it could be one of these homosexuals or trans sexual individuals in a wartime situation they could save everybody's life. the military needs to change the way they look at things.I'm not gay I'm hetero and I am NOT transexual. but I have no problem working or serving with somebody that is.

Response by PO1 Kerry French made Jun 5 at 2015 5:29 AM

PO1 Kerry French — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 05:29:06 -0400

NO. We have to have standards. Not everyone does or should qualify for military service.

Response by SrA Jason Stiefer made Jun 5 at 2015 4:00 PM

SrA Jason Stiefer — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 16:00:26 -0400

Crap like this makes me want to leave social media! I'm certainly glad I'm not in "today's" military!

Response by MSgt Jim Wolverton made Jun 5 at 2015 6:33 PM

MSgt Jim Wolverton — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 18:33:37 -0400

I see some issues/questions in all of this, the first is: are there any medical issues that come with gender reassignment that could make someone inelligible for military service? If the military allows TG service members in, is the military now responsible for that person's medical care as a result of a procedure performed prior to entering service? Also, what if a current service member decides that they are TG, will the military be forced to foot the bill for gender reassignment surgery?

Response by MSgt Jim Wolverton made Jun 5 at 2015 6:40 PM

MSgt Jim Wolverton — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 18:40:07 -0400

Now, while I have zero issue with anyone serving, we have FAR too many more important problems in the military that need to be fixed first before addressing this.

Response by MSgt Michael Gaddis made Jun 5 at 2015 6:58 PM

MSgt Michael Gaddis — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 18:58:18 -0400

All of this bullshit diversity garbage defeats the purpose of have a UNIFORM military. What is the point of basic/boot camp...to break down the individual and build them back up to be part of a larger or uniform team.

I could care less what people do regarding their personal life. However, it becomes a problem when leadership tries to force acceptance of lifestyles that go against one's religious beliefs. This in it's self creates division instead of uniformity.

I'm glad I'm retired and don't have to put up with ignorant shit like this anymore. There are way more important things leadership should be focusing on other than gender issues! I would love to see how much of the defense budget is pissed away on this crap. Even if it's $1...that money taken away from training, operations, supples, and equipment that can't be used for the mission!!

If you think you are a different gender than what you are at birth...you shouldn't be allowed in the military. Why...because you have serious mental issues that should be dealt with as a civilian. The military isn't the place to decide or to be used as a social experiment by progressive civilians who've never served a day in their life! It's the place you train to support and defend our nation. Mental health care providers need to be focused on the war fighters...especially those with PTSD...not idividuals with gender issues.

Lastly, if my thoughts and comments offend you..call MEO...oh wait...I'm a retiree!!

Response by Capt Al Parker made Jun 5 at 2015 7:58 PM

Capt Al Parker — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 19:58:36 -0400

BARF

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2015 10:55 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 22:55:29 -0400

I feel like when start accommodating everyone for every small issue or difference, we start loosing the structure and unity in the military. I have no problem with who you are outside of work, but when ur at work you are going to adhere to the standards just like everyone else. If you are a male then u adhere to the standards the military sets aside for males. If you are female then u will do the same. There can not be a grey area in the military. I think that everyone has the right to be who they feel like they should be, but at the same time the military is not the place for individuals. That's why we all have the same uniform (per branch), everyone had to act the same, everyone follows the same rules. The military is all about equality and equal opportunity, and that is exactly how it's supposed to be, but we need to take a step back and ask ourselves if we should accommodate the less than 1% to affect the majority. This, just like the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" is a sensitive issue. It will be interested to see how this pans out.

Response by MSgt David Haupt made Jun 7 at 2015 11:01 AM

MSgt David Haupt — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 11:01:53 -0400

Who cares? Can transgender pick a weapon and fight or do their job? Before I retired I had the privilege to serve with all types. I can say this. I had three Lesbians who at anytime, you could call them and say pack your stuff up we are going to X Y and Z. Their response was "roger that" I think the media is taking this way out of proportion. I never once had any problems with any who served. This was even before the "Don't ask, don't tell" repeal. We knew who was gay or straight and you know what they did their job just like anyone else. Why is this a discussion anyways? We all signed on the dotted line to protect and serve. No one held a gun to our heads and was told to sign. We have bigger fish to fry with the retirement changes, possibility of losing certain CAS aircraft, and ISS.

Response by TSgt James Carson made Jun 8 at 2015 2:22 PM

TSgt James Carson — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 14:22:29 -0400

Don't permit sex changes on the tax payers dollar. If a person feels they need to change their sex, allow them to pay for it and get on with the primary mission.

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Jun 10 at 2015 12:02 PM

TSgt Kenneth Ellis — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 12:02:27 -0400

Is this what RP is for? It's about serving your country. Not prompting your life style or agenda. If that is what you went in the military for, you should separate and persecute people who believe in traditional marraige. You can change the spikot but not the plumbing.