i'm afraid it's rotten to the core...
Posted on 11/15/2017 5:23:40 PM PST by markomalley
The top military leader of the Army on Wednesday stood by the service of transgender soldiers after one received a waiver for gender reassignment surgery, amid the Trump administration’s ongoing debate over whether such troops should be allowed to serve.
“We all, everyone in uniform, we took an oath; we took an oath of allegiance to the Constitution,” Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley told reporters at the Defense Writers Group in response to a question from The Hill. “And embedded within that Constitution is an idea, and it’s an idea that says you and I, no matter whether you’re male or female, gay or straight or anything else, whether you’re black or you’re white or whether you’re Protestant or you’re Catholic or you’re Jew or you’re Muslim or you don’t believe at all, it doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor or famous — it doesn’t matter. None of that matters."
“And that’s what we adhere to in the military. It’s a meritocracy in the military. It’s based on standards," he continued. "If you meet the standard, great. If you don’t, then thank you very much for your interest and do something else. So that’s the message, and it has been the message for going on two years or more for the United States military. And that’s kind of where we all stand, I believe, from [Joint Chiefs] Chairman [Gen. Joseph] Dunford on down. It’s a standards-based military, full stop. And that’s the way it is.”
The Pentagon announced Tuesday night that the Defense Health Agency approved a waiver for a soldier to use the military’s health benefits to pay for gender reassignment surgery.
A waiver was needed because the surgery was performed at a civilian health facility.
The soldier in question declared transgender status in August 2016, acting Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told reporters Wednesday. The soldier tried to schedule the surgery “a couple of different times” over the last year, he added.
The surgery was performed at a civilian hospital in Pennsylvania, McCarthy said.
McCarthy said he did not have any more information on this specific case since the Defense Health Agency handled the waiver and he was just informed of it Tuesday.
The Obama administration in summer 2016 lifted the ban on transgender troops serving openly.
In July, President Trump tweeted that he would ban transgender troops from serving, and in August, issued a memo prohibiting the military from enlisting transgender people and from using funds to pay for gender transition-related surgery.
Several groups filed lawsuits against the policy. Last month, a judge temporarily blocked the ban on service. The judge did not directly rule on the issue of coverage for surgery, but the ruling had the effect of allowing surgeries to proceed by telling the Pentagon to "revert to the status quo" before Trump’s policy.
Asked Wednesday about communications with transgender soldiers since July, McCarthy said the working group to study transgender service ordered by Defense Secretary James Mattis has met with them.
“We have communicated throughout the force about how this process was going to work. I believe the transgender working group being run by Office of Secretary of Defense [personnel and readiness], they have had discussions, interviews with soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, and that the findings are still ongoing,” he said. “Obviously still working, the legal aspect is in conjunction with the courts. This process is still ongoing, but we have a legal track, we have an internal policy formulation, so we still have a ways to go with this process.”
The number of transgender soldiers awaiting surgery is unclear.
Army Sgt. Maj. Daniel Dailey said the number is in flux as the soldiers talk with their doctors about the right course of treatment.
“It’s not a definitive number because every soldier has a different case,” Dailey said. “Each one of those individuals works that care plan through their provider.”
Weirdos like Milley are showing a glaring national weakness, and by their effeminacy and perverted nature, are begging for foreign enemies to attack the U.S.A. Get your straight sons and daughters out of the service, and prepare yourselves to defend your country against the foreign invasion invited by indecent and incompetent leadership.
So much for Medical Readiness Transformation, every Soldier is a deployable Soldier. Unless they have gender confusion then come on in and we’ll make someone else deploy while they have their nether regions adjusted.
i'm afraid it's rotten to the core...
Yeah, and so did Bergdahl, but he walked.
Sleep safely in your beds America, your LGBTQ Army is on the job!(shudder)
It is one of those “penumbras” we have heard so much about in recent years!
We are not talking about some combat vet who had his legs blown off, nor his face macerated getting reconstructive surgery.
This is an ELECTIVE and medically UNNECESSARY operation.
They don't give people "free" facelifts or boob jobs simply because they joined the military and "want" them.
I guess I'm going insane, as this is unthinkable in a sane world.
..........the General must have a secret. I think he’s leaning Trannie himself.........or gay.................not much difference.
This whole subject just boggles a sane mind.
Sounds like the answer given by a political hack.
My ARMY has gone to hell in a basket. What the hell does transgender surgery have to do with the Constitution? The higher military ranks have been “pinked” over the past 8+ years and are now just plain STUPID. We have VETERANS denied medical care but we must follow the Constitution for transgender surgery?? WTF.....over?
And never mind the whole "fit to serve" thing, eh?
And no - people who can't accept the way they were born are not fit to serve. They are mentally ill and have no business in the military whether at the pointy end or at the logistics end.
............”was THAT your answer, General”?
RLTW
Yes, that means we must welcome everyone into the military, including those who decide to have their “penums” removed & want. to wear bras…
Sarcasm OFF?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.