Transgender Vets Want Their Surgeries Covered

I believe you are correct. Also, those that get the surgery tend to only be satisfied with it for a short time (10 years or less if i am not mistaken) and have a much higher suicide rate

Sgt (Join to see) - I've heard of the same thing too. I don't think that Vets would be able to get that option, just like if someone wanted to get rid of excess skin; even that is only based on the benefit of the person's health (if someone had 50 pounds of skin and it hindered them from daily life or hygiene, I believe that would be a legitimate reason for a lapband procedure). I understand that they want to identify themselves as the gender but they would probably have to go with another doctor and pay out of pocket for the services.

Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin - Exactly. I think if the military is going to pay for something, they need to look at it in terms of combat readiness. Yet the argument can be made that someone who is transgender may not be FMC because whatever could result from them not having surgery. As we both have pointed out, the coin can be flipped 100 times and still other questions would come up.

What argument? Go ahead and flip the coin and tell me how by not giving them the surgery, their readiness will be affected.

Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin - What about mental readiness for combat? We tell our Soldiers to get their house in order prior to deploying. I would think that for someone having to deal with personal identity, there could be a burden placed on their mental readiness.

Again, I am not saying the Army should or should not pay for this type of thing. Personally, the military has bigger issues to deal with but when you stop and look at it, the answer is not so easily found.

I realize you're playing devil's advocate here and all but I'm sorry, that is a stretch to invoke "mental readiness" as a reason for any elective medical procedure to ensure combat readiness. Especially if you cannot guarantee the procedure would actually resolve any issues. Look at Jenner for example... There are reports coming out that he's considering reversing his operation because things are worse for him now.

Those who are treated for breast cancer will require implants after a mastectomy. My wife, a survivor, is a recipient of those implants. Believe me, we would rather have not needed them...

Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin
My mother went through the same. I understand that. My statement was based on what is viewed, not exactly what I think.

I understand, I just don't want it implied that anyone can go in an request breast implants. There has to be a medical need. The one exception is for training, where the military will accept a few cases which might not be medically required, to practice for those that are. Same goes for things like liposuction and other elective surgeries which might have conditions for a medical need.