DoD Issues Yet Another "Clarification"

[Carolyn Marie]

https://japan.stripes.com/community-news/dod-official-updated-transgender-policy-based-treating-all-dignity

 

Maybe its just me, but I am still confused.  

 

Carolyn Marie

[Josie Beth]

It’s very vague but I’m reading between the lines here. If someone is already in treatment for gender dysphoria then they can remain in the military and potentially retire because they are grandfathered into the 2016 policy. They get a waiver by default. If they have not enlisted yet or are enlisted and seeking treatment, then depending on their job description and whether or not their treatment would interfere with that job if they were deployed, they may or may not get a waiver. For example if someone was in the infantry, treatment for gender dysphoria would probably disqualify them for a waiver because they would not be able to fulfill their duties in most cases to the same standards as their peers. However someone in a support unit like records, or quartermaster who would be based in a very safe area during a deployment would more likely be able to perform their duties to the same standards as their peers and gain the waiver. Those who don’t get a waiver would go through medical out processing and probably be barred from re-enlistment without a flag that negatively effects them seeking employment in the civilian world. There’s probably now a clause that protects them from harassment during the out processing or treatment phases and there may even be an opportunity to reclass for a different job in certain situations if the medical evaluation determines that they are still able to be an asset to the military. But I’m sure that certain people in leadership will figure out work arounds for that just like they figured out how to get around the prohibition of corporal punishment in the early 90s. Instead of beating soldiers they figured out how to make the soldiers beat themselves with walls and door jambs (etc). I actually had to endure that a few times myself.

[SugarMagnolia]

What's the reason for why someone being treated for gender dysphoria would not be able to perform their duties to the same standards as their peers? This seems pretty arbitrary.

[MarcieMarie12]

Maybe thats the point. Being arbitrary means that if the person is liked, does their job well the commander will look the other way for a the deployment to end normally so they don't have holes to fill. On the other hand, if the person is a problem, they might just use it as an excuse to get the transperson kicked out.

[Miss Night]

Wow where was all this in 82. I went to a USAF shrink for help. Told him I for some reason I did not understand I wanted to be a woman. Next thing I know I was discharged with Honnerble discharge. I was an E 5 with 10 years of service. 

[Traci Lynn]

Obviously it was written vaguely, for the express purpose of disqualifing soldiers based on mos and not performance. Some things never change in the DOD, they may have been forced to change policy, but still creating a loophole to not follow the same policy. Would changing your gender really make you a lesser soldier? Are women soldiers then rated as inferior soldiers as a matter of internal policy? Yes I am  a retired Army Veteran, that served in a combat arms mos.