Free Republic

The U.S. Army just made it official—transgender individuals are no longer allowed to enlist, and all gender transition procedures for current service members are coming to a halt. This isn’t a suggestion. It’s a directive. The Pentagon is shutting down an era of social experiments within the military, and the message is clear: identity politics have no place in national defense. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s memo leaves no room for doubt. Effective immediately, new enlistments of individuals with gender dysphoria are paused, and gender-related medical procedures—including surgeries and new hormone treatments—are off the table. The military isn’t a platform for...

Coverage of the wars in Ukraine and Gaza is mostly dominated by talk of weapons. Reporters and analysts focus on suicide drones, on shell deficits, on targeting algorithms. But for all the attention devoted to modern weapons and munitions, both conflicts are proving that modern war still comes down to people.... ... Before Covid, fewer than 3 in 10 Americans in the prime recruiting demographic — ages 17 to 24 — were eligible to serve in uniform. Those numbers have shrunk further since the pandemic began. Only 23 percent of young Americans are qualified to enlist without a waiver.... In...

      During the past two decades, the number of married GIs grades E-1, E-2, and E-3 has more than tripled. There are now twice as many military family members as GIs, and many young servicemen lack the maturity to deal with marriage. This has occurred because our military provides private quarters and extra pay for married personnel.  As a result, 31% of enlisted GIs marry before age 21, compared to only 7.5% of civilians.  Many teenager warriors believe they have ample pay and benefits to support a family, but later learn that unexpected financial problems force them into debt, and...

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Lisa Fay doesn't agree with the war in Iraq, but she's joining the Army anyway. A four-year stint, the Oceano teen said, will allow her to receive the training she needs to become a mental health specialist, which could lead to a career in social services. When he enters the Army next spring, Jason Scaroni already will have a degree in computer science from Cal Poly. But he would like the Army to pay off his student loans. The Army will pay up to $65,000 in school loans. Scaroni has around $30,000. "So that will...