Pentagon to pay for soldier's gender transition surgery

SPC Cody Voye-- When a fighting force has members that require surgery to physically alter themselves due to a mental issue then I think you have reached a new point in your organization.

Thanks my friend SSG(P) (Join to see) for reminding us that taxpayers foot the bill for everything the US Military does including surgery. It is DoD which approved the policy and process but the taxpayers are the ones pays for it.
“The treating doctor deemed this surgery medically necessary, [so] a waiver was approved by the director of the Defense Health Agency,” she said. “The Supplemental Health Care Program will cover this surgery in accordance with the department’s interim guidance on transgender service members.”
I recognize that cosmetic surgeons are the linchpin for this process.
It makes perfect sense IMHO that military capabilities will not be used for gender reassignment surgery since there seems to be a robust capability in the civilian hospital system.
I would prefer the military focus on life saving capabilities first.
I am very thankful for the military burn-unit plastic surgery capability for those wounded veterans and family members who have been severely burned or others requiring extensive cosmetic surgery.
FYI LTC Orlando Illi MSgt Robert C Aldi Capt Jeff S. CPT Jack Durish SFC Stephen King LTC Stephen C. LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. SGT Gregory Lawritson Cpl Craig Marton Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Capt Seid Waddell MSgt Danny Hope LTC (Join to see) SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL COL Mikel J. Burroughs

Ladies and gentlemen, this soldier is SSG Patricia King, a member of rally point. You may not approve of her treatment, but I can assure you it isn't 'cosmetic', it was life saving.

All I ask is that you show her the same respect and compassion you would for any other soldier here.