Military Transgender Ban Coming Soon

[Guest]

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/23/us/politics/trump-military-transgender-ban.html?mtrref=undefined&gwh=2EE7D1CF9D35102F8040F346A82F4A44&gwt=pay

[Timber Wolf]

Well, he appears to be showing his true colors. We know better what to expect from him now, and we know it might come without warning to blindside us. I haven't found any real redeeming qualities to this man as president as yet.

 

Lots of love,

Timber Wolf?

[JodyAnn]

Fatso (excuse me I mispelled POTUS again) has his finger on a hot button again. I think the military will submarine his plan. They understand the realities of this bonehead move. POTUS does not. He is pandering to his base again.

[JBfox]

 So I signed my declination of orders statement a day or two after his initial twitter tirade. When my window opened up to reenlist, and I was picked up for drill sergeant orders, I wanted to reenlist. Sure I can be mad at the army for all these little things, but in the end it's no big deal, and it's something that can be pushed through. I was uncertain, and I really juggled whether to get out or not, but that tweet did it for me. I will not, nor cannot allow even the slightest possibility of someone to take that away from me.

 TBH I've been very cynical about something like this happening since he got elected, but the staff I've been working with were all very confident that it wouldn't. I am upset that I'm having to get out, but at least it'll be on my terms, and not his. Either way though, it's very frustrating to see that a man like him can say that I'm not good enough.

~JB

[Jani]

I'm sorry to hear this.   We're losing good, competent, experienced military personal and that is wrong.  You are more than good enough!  It's the current leadership that is not good enough.  I hope you can find peace and will move along to have the kind of career you envision in a different field of endeavor.  

Jani 

[Carolyn Marie]

I admit that I haven't read the official "advice" or whatever its called,  but the descriptions I'm reading in the press paint a confusing picture.  It appears Mattis may have considerable leeway about what happens with active duty folks, and folks in the middle of transition.  It does not sound like any currently out trans service members will be forced out, at least not for many months, and even those not yet out may get a reprieve if they come out now.

The one area which seems certain is that no out trans person will be able to enlist.  What happens to those few enrolled in service academies is a muddle.

It doesn't surprise me that this order is full of uncertainty and holes.  That seems to be the Trumpster's way of doing business.

I hope that our conservative brothers and sisters who voted for him can console themselves with all the wonderful things he's doing for/to our country (yes, that is sarcasm).

Carolyn Marie

[MarcieMarie12]

Basically it gave Mattis a green light/discretion to dismiss troops if they are "undeployable" for being transgender.  How that is defined and how that works out is what the Pentagon needs to figure out. The big issue is preventing transgender troops from enlisting. It also will make any thinking of coming out of the closet to stay in the closet with the host of issues that brings. Also as you pointed out anything that Mattis does decide on will probably end up in the courts and get reviewed and overruled by congress.