The topic of transgender persons and their ability to service in the United States armed services is a controversial topic that triggers people into emotional states. However, the truth is the recent changes are consistent with military standards that have been long upheld. What the Biden Administration allowed for ALL military members, not just transgender, was not inline with the Uniformed Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), and the Trump Administration is just bringing our troops back into standards. Despite the negative press, it has nothing to do with anything sexual, religious, or prejudicial. It is all based on the UCMJ and Readiness.
I speak as someone who knows. I’m an Air Force veteran and one of the rare 1% of Americans who has served my country. I was educated on the UCMJ in accordance with Article 137, as ALL military members are. Sadly, I’ve seen the decline of our standards thanks to progressive liberals, and as a women who had to prove myself qualified along side the men I served with, it sickens me.
Remember that EVERY service member MUST pass Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) to enlist or receive commission. These standards are not supposed to lag once you enter into your contract. Actually, you can be DISCHARGED for not meeting the standards, and that INCLUDES weight (each branch has its own regulations on top of the UCMJ. This particular code applied to Army: Chapter 16, AR 135-178).
Back to point, many arguments can be made using the UCMJ Code of Conduct relating to WHY transgender persons should not serve in the military. I could use Article 133 for officers, Article 134, which applies to everyone, and even the basic MEPS disqualifiers alone regarding genitalia, mental health, and medical dependency (the article I linked is dates 2012, so you cannot say it has anything to do with Trump or Biden). For me, it is this part that settles the argument because if you are taking a medication to affirm your gender, then that is a life-long DEPENDENCY. A diabetic who needs insulin is disqualified because medication cannot be guaranteed in the theatre of combat. Why would transgenderism be treated differently? That is neither equity or equality.
Let’s add the MEPS standard that states any neurological disorder causing “alteration of personality” is an automatic disqualification from service. There’s another solid reason for why transgender persons should not serve. Afterall, gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) directly alters the brain. If that happens on a good day, imagine what happens when a soldier has to stop treatment cold-turkey because they’re in combat and unable to get their prescription. They have now become a dangerous liability to their team.
Readiness is the word of the day. It is the word you’ll hear from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and which SHOULD be the most vital aspect in this whole debate about transgender persons or ANYONE who is serving. If you are in the service and non-deployable for 6 to 12 months, depending on your branch, then you usually begin the process of discharging from duty. You must maintain readiness.
Let’s go a step further to close out the reason WHY the decision to remove transgender persons from the military has come down. The final reason (if you need it), is simple economics. A person’s Military Service Obligation (MSO) is standardly (for enlisted, but can be 6/4 and is different for pilots and officers) 4 years active/reserve (on duty) and 4 years inactive, or IRR (able to be called back to duty if we need to bulk troops up for any reason, usually war). This is important when you consider transgender service members and what I told you about the non-deployable rules.
Transgenderism has come with progressive liberals who have demolished our standards and blatantly disregarded the UCMJ. See, transitioning can take an average of 2-3 years to happen, not to mention that after care is life-long. If you are serving a 4 year contract and spending 75% of that in medical care for your gender reassignment surgery, then I have to assume you ONLY joined the military so they’d pay for it. You certainly didn’t join to SERVE YOUR COUNTRY or you’d be working and not in treatment. It is “service before self,” after all.
I gave up my liberties to serve for freedom. I don’t have to agree with someone to defend their right to have their opinion. However, if you swear an oath to our nation, THEY COME FIRST. That is the deal. If you are unable to do your duty, then you are unfit to serve. Hence, this is the reason for the ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court to side with the Trump Administration. It has been and should continue to be our military standard because anything less PUTS PEOPLE’S LIVES AT RISK.
J.M. NORTHUP 