- Senator Ernst is just wrong
We have railed against the waste of money, mission-focussed training and resources imposed on the inadequately funded military for some time.
And we have been shocked by how 24 “Republicans” could vote against the “Hartzler Amendment”:
But now this via The Daily Caller : (excerpt)
Mattis Orders Full Review Of Any Military Training That Has Nothing To Do With Warfighting
Secretary of Defense James Mattis has ordered a full review of any military training not directly relevant to warfighting.
Mattis told the services to conduct a review of the “requirements for mandatory force training that does not directly support core tasks,” according to a Friday memo obtained by Military Times.
In other words, Mattis wants a full examination of all the hours of burdensome, irrelevant training service members have to undergo before deployment.
. . .
“Mattis has recently involved himself in various personnel issues, particularly by encouraging Congress to block an amendment by GOP Rep. Vicky Hartzler to the annual defense budget bill that would have prevented Department of Defense funds from being used to pay for transgender medical treatments. Hartzler’samendment failed after 24 Republicans voted against it.”
But no need to consider the costs of transgender recruitment, retention, accommodation, readiness, etc??? If so, Mattis is partially mad. Continuing from The Daily Caller:
During his presidential campaign, Trump spoke to a veterans’ group in Oct. 2016 and said “we’re gonna get away from political correctness” in response to a question about social engineering in the military.
“But you’re right, we have a politically correct military and it’s getting more and more politically correct every day. And a lot of the great people in this room don’t even understand how it’s possible to do that.” he said.
So then this week exercising his role as commander in chief, to his great credit Trump publicly states that transgenders can no longer be accommodated by the military. On that he is on solid ground. Consider these links/excerpts, first from a recovering gender dysphoric person and then the comments of a recent combat veteran.
Why Trump Keeping Trans People From The Military Is A Good Decision
President Trump is correct to block trans soldiers’ attempts to emulate the opposite sex because it will not strengthen our military nor provide transgender people long-term help.
. . .
A 2011 long-term follow-up of transsexual persons undergoing sex reassignment surgery found that “Persons with transsexualism, after sex reassignment, have considerably higher risks for mortality, suicidal behavior.” The results of a survey in the Netherlands published in 2003 found that major mood disorders, dissociative disorders, and psychotic disorders are present in 79 percent of transgenders. A 2014 study found that more than 60 percent of this population suffer from co-existing mental disorders.
This population attempts suicide at a rate of 40 percent. Even after the full surgical change, they still attempt to end their lives. All of this indicates that the vast majority of gender dysphoric people are not mentally capable of the high-stress conditions of military life. Indeed, it suggests it’s cruel to put people like this into the pressure cooker that is war.
The compassionate thing to do for a transgender soldier would be to keep him or her from the military then provide expert care to help resolve the underlying psychological issues that often give rise to gender distress. The cruel thing, both to the soldier and his or her unit, would be to put other people’s lives into the hands of such a tender, distressed person.
Combat Veteran: War Is No Place For The Gender Confused
“After stepping on each other’s nuts living in the same can for five months, guys were at each other’s throats,” Salzman added. “The stress made it worse.”
For Salzman, the intensity of the war theater is so great that many of the men who were not even suffering from mental issues often snapped, particularly the younger troops. Due to servicemembers being in such close quarters with each other, “any tiny little personal issue they had suddenly became a mountain.” Salzman further pointed out that introducing servicemembers to the team who are “mentally, emotionally, or physically confused or in turmoil” will inevitably lead to people getting killed.
Transgenders in that environment are a “ticking time bomb.”
Now we see that our Senator Joni Ernst is one of the six so far opposing Trump transgender ban.
Well we certainly refer her to the links above for further reflection and wonder if she has bought into the idea that anyone who :”meets the qualifications” should be able to serve, (apparently mental stability is not a qualification). If so what about age restrictions as regards enlistment?
Of the four ~~ primary branches ~~ the top age limits for enlistment are Army 34; Navy 34; Marines 29; Air Force 27.
No offense to the Air Force and Navy but we have heard stories about the rigors of their basic training. Many a 45 year old could hack it and in declining but substantial percentages, 50 to 60 year-olds.
So why the limits? In great part health costs, presumptions of increased injuries (not well balanced but that is a primary reason given). With transgenders you build in essentially more predictable average health costs and one hell of a lot of other accommodation costs and problems. Senator Ernst has great military experience, but we have talked to others with as much or more relevant experience, officer and enlisted who are appalled (but not surprised under Obama) that the military has ever entertained transgender service. Trump has talked to / heard from far more Senator Ernst.
