This week the Pentagon announced that those who identify as transgender would be allowed to openly serve in the United States military. This being one of the last bans to be lifted regarding who is allowed to serve the armed forces. How cool is that? It has been an exciting last half-decade for those who not that long ago were not allowed to serve in the military. Not to forget it was just four years ago that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was repealed and just last year the repealing of a ban on women serving in units in ground combat assignments.
The first changes to be seen are medical guidance, documentation, and such for those currently serving. Later this year transgender people will be able to receive medical care and will be allowed to change their gender identifications in the official system. The transition will be completed by the following year that will allow transgendered people not currently serving to enlist as long as they meet the requirements and have been stable with the gender they identify as for 18 prior months. This time period seemed to be a compromise between the officials of Army and Marine Corps who suggested two years and officials of the Navy and Air Force who thought just one year would do.
In a broad sense any serviceperson will be allowed to use the bathroom, housing, uniforms, etc. that they identify with after they have legally transitioned. There is an 18-page document that discusses the policy in depth. The individual services are responsible for hammering out the specific details.
There are roughly, in the upper end of the estimates, 11,000 transgender active duty service people who will be affected by this decision. America is now amongst some other 18 countries that allow transgendered people to serve in their military.
Expected backlash to this is actually pretty low as this decision has seemed to be coming for some time now. The Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, who put up this policy change stated:
“We don't want barriers unrelated to a person's qualification to serve preventing us from recruiting or retaining the soldier, sailor, airman or marine who can best accomplish the mission. We have to have access to 100% of America's population.”
According to Carter, this has been needed and will lead the overall change in society's views and standards regarding transgendered folks. I couldn't agree more with the secretary, and maybe the rest of the country can soon become more open and accepting, like our military has.
