What are y'all's thoughts on this from senior NCOs and field grade leader aspects?

To many it's just another day in the Army. Since I have been in:

-repeal of don't ask don't tell
-recognize same sex marriage
-females in combat arms branches

I think the Army is a microcosm of society and just follows the current political climate at times. I'm sure there will be a whirlwind of issues from this but we drive on.

It's interesting that this program was happening in Lackland AFB:


https://www.airforcemedicine.af.mil/News/Display/Article/2673086/59th-mdw-treats-transgender-service-members


"In order to have medical interventions you have to have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria," said Chari' McMahon, 59th Medical Specialty Squadron THMEU licensed clinical social worker. "Gender dysphoria is a marked incongruence between the gender assigned at birth and the gender that you most closely align with causing clinically significant distress."

Once the diagnosis has been made, treatment at the THMEU begins.

"Once the provider sends the referral to our case managers, then our nursing staff reaches out to the member directly to arrange time for them to come out for the medical temporary duty assignment," said McMahon.

During the TDY, THMEU creates an individual medical treatment plan which patients follow at their home-stations medical treatment facility.

"One of the benefits of having a centralized case management for all of the Air Force is that everything comes through us, but patients' individual treatment facilities provide the continuing care," said McMahon.

Not all medical treatment plans include surgery or hormones and may cover anywhere from a few months to multiple years of care.

"Each plan has a timeline in it and it's a projection of the different interventions that the patients may need," said Lt. Col. (Dr.) Joshua Smalley, 59th Medical Specialty Squadron THMEU flight commander.

In order to build an encompassing plan, providers in the THMEU review the patient's medical records and schedule appropriate appointments such as nutrition, mental health, endocrinology, dermatology, legal, TRICARE, and speech therapy should they want to seek voice training during their transition. Patients also attend a gender expressions group.

"This is an opportunity for transgender service members to really develop a peer group of other transgender service members and provide support along the way," said McMahon. "We want them to be able to build that connection and walk with each other through the process."

If services aren't available locally, the THMEU's providers are available near or far through virtual health providing hormone therapy and mental health appointments.

"We are working to assist our service members to move forward in a way that affirms who they are and allows them to be the absolute best service members they can be," said McMahon.

As a result, the Air Force is dedicated to ensuring equality and supporting all service members.

"I love seeing patients come back because so often I see them when they're starting out," said McMahon. "They're uncertain about what the next steps are, what the military can do for them, how they can really be who they are. Being able to see them when they come back and they're able to live fully in their affirmed gender. They're just happier. They're healthier, and being able to see the impact of how assisting them on their journey has really helped them thrive is amazing."

CanyonAg77 said:

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I see the hoops the military was jumping through to recruit and keep transgenders, and I recall knowing an otherwise very athletic candidate being rejected for doing one less than the minimum pull-ups.

Also recall that our kid nearly was rejected because a doctor wrote "sinusitis " on a medical report from age 10, instead of "common cold"

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many such cases.

I have my own views on the matter that probably align with most of y'all. However, looking at things objectively, I'm not sure we have actual data to show how TGs perform in the military compared with other recruits. The data may exist, but I just am not aware of it.

I come across TG service members a decent amount, and I do notice that they tend to have more visits to medical professionals of various specialties than you'd expect for how long they have been in service. However there are also non TGs that have way more visits as well.

Similarly, there are TGs that are very functional and good workers that I have come across that I don't know how often (if at all) they are utilizing medical. While there are many non-TGs that I know are, what are often referred to as, frequent flyers of medical - some to the point where they just add to the work burden of others.

I've personally never met anyone that joined just to get the military to pay for their TG hormones or surgery. But I've been told by colleagues that they have met these individuals.

The way the military handles mental health (really all potentially medically disqualifying conditions) has changed a lot in the last 20ish years. Before, it was a quick outprocessing and you move on with your VA rating. Now it takes months. Additionally, no one wants to be the one testifying in front of congress about a service member that that committed suicide that was separated for mental health instead of getting the help they needed. Has led to a culture of risk aversion. That's why now, even if you get admin separated for conduct issues, you can still get VA benefits for mental health/TBI.

I do agree that the military should focus on what will keep it effective in combat. But I'd bet it's hard to predict who will be effective and who won't. I just got back from a cold weather/mountain warfare exercise, and the number of otherwise healthy young men that were flopping and claiming pain/inability to breathe or something or the other was shocking. The question is, in my mind, is how do we screen for mental fortitude and resilience? There are certainly plenty of desk jobs that are non-deployable where it won't matter if you're on hormones or not. And TBD on how recruiting is going to go over the next 10+ years. What happens when the typical/ideal recruits just aren't signing up, and the ones that do don't have the mental fortitude to do what they need to do? But that's going down a rabbit hole beyond the scope of this thread.

Just another day in America?

BQ78 said:

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Quote:

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"They're uncertain about what the next steps are, what the military can do for them, how they can really be who they are.

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This right here tells me exactly what is going on, it's about them and not the mission.

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Perfect summary.

Apply don't ask don't tell to TG troops so we can go one with life. Men and women wear the same uniform so who cares what you identify as…

BiggiesLX said:

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Apply don't ask don't tell to TG troops so we can go one with life. Men and women wear the same uniform so who cares what you identify as…

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actually they don't wear the same uniforms...

What are WTBs?

Also, hard to say which direction society in general is going to go. 40 years ago I'd bet no one thought homosexuality would be as accepted in society as it is today. If transgenderism becomes equally acceptable, then I do think it's only a matter of time till the military has to find a way to incorporate them (will be forced to).

And something higher ups will need to figure out is whether it's better to have a larger force with people that are less capable at certain jobs, or a smaller force that is more selective. Like if you fill the supply, admin, desk jobs with these people, would it allow you more flexibility with others? I saw a TG MP once, despite being on testosterone, had a hard time subduing a tiny male sailor.


That being said, how long until this is acceptable in society (and eventually the military)?
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v&v=23987282744193870

WTB Warrior Transition Battalion. or WTU or whatever the new name is. Basically a unit of "injured" Soldiers being processed out. It is fantastic for those that really need it but like everything it is abused.

BQ78 said:

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Wear the same uniform but can't perform the same duties if they undergo surgery and if they haven't done the surgery, they can wear the uniform of their birth sex.

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At the end of the day if they can't perform the job then they'll be recycled, reassigned, or whatever. Just like the fat boys who can't PT or the sick call warriors who are dead weight, they are always outnumbered by those who give a ***** It maybe unfair but we can't control who they let in.

Scoopen Skwert said:

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WTB Warrior Transition Battalion. or WTU or whatever the new name is. Basically a unit of "injured" Soldiers being processed out. It is fantastic for those that really need it but like everything it is abused.

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OH! Yeah, definitely. I remember a gunny that was burned all over his body. Like severe burns, head face, everything. His humvee caught fire. He was still trying to do a desk job and legit only went to medical when something was actually wrong. And then I see some corporals who say they can't drive a vehicle because their ankle hurts, when the unit is short on drivers and I see these corporals walking around without any limp.

If we had the power to expedite out processing, and people started losing paychecks for hanging around on light/limited duty for prolonged periods of time, I bet a bunch would suddenly find the motivation to work.