Coast Guard Academy supports transitioning (male to female) cadet

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acecreator71

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It's come to my attention that the Coast Guard Academy is supporting a current cadet who is transitioning from a male to a female. The cadet is now welcome in the women's showers/restrooms/living spaces and will be treated as if they were born a female. I was wondering if the other service academies support this as well.
 
What's interesting to me, politics aside is that any type of gender affirming surgery within 18 months is an auto disqualifier, and even then you can still get DQ'ed if more surgery is anticipated even if 18 months has elapsed. But once you get in, it's all good? How is it fair to others that are DQ'ed before entrance, or gain entrance and then are subsequently discharged when the develop another medical issue?
 
Evidently (see link), once one is on active duty (as CGA, WP, AFA, USNA cadets/mids are), anything goes w/r/t sex assignment. And by the looks of this video, it would seem that height/weight standards may also be up for grabs in that situation.

www.army.mil

Living authentically saves Soldier’s life

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Coming out as a transgender female saved Maj. Rachel Jones’ life. The U.S. Army Sustainment Command Cyber Division chief, G6 (Infor...
www.army.mil www.army.mil
 
Can't say much in this situation about height and weight, only because most of the branches now have a pretty significant obesity problem. H/W apparently went out the door years ago. With that being said, how does one obtain and keep a TS/SCI clearance (which a cyber officer almost certainly has) when you have had depression and suicidal thoughts all of your life? Better yet, how did they pass DODMERB when they entered the Army? Depression with suicidal thoughts is auto DQ.
 
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USMC Crayons said:
Can't say much in this situation about height and weight, only because most of the branches now have a pretty significant obesity problem. H/W apparently went out the door years ago.
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I was on AD in the '80s, and at that time height/weight was taken seriously. If a soldier didn't make body fat standards (measured by height/weight or tape if over height/weight table), then you got flagged and put on a program. Does that not happen anymore? Did they loosen the tables?
 
USMC Crayons said:
Can't say much in this situation about height and weight, only because most of the branches now have a pretty significant obesity problem. H/W apparently went out the door years ago. With that being said, how does one obtain and keep a TS/SCI clearance (which a cyber officer almost certainly has) when you have had depression and suicidal thoughts all of your life? Better yet, how did they pass DODMERB when they entered the Army? Depression with suicidal thoughts is auto DQ.
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Fair question. I'm sure each case has to be reviewed individually.
 
USMC Crayons said:
Can't say much in this situation about height and weight, only because most of the branches now have a pretty significant obesity problem. H/W apparently went out the door years ago. With that being said, how does one obtain and keep a TS/SCI clearance (which a cyber officer almost certainly has) when you have had depression and suicidal thoughts all of your life? Better yet, how did they pass DODMERB when they entered the Army? Depression with suicidal thoughts is auto DQ.
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DEI is now the primary mission of the military, and government in general. All else yields to it.
 
JMPO but wouldn't it be almost impossible to actually go thru a full transition in an Academy? I am thinking about the hormones, body changes, surgeries, and generally missing class or training? I can understand once someone is finished training being able to fully transition, but during academy training??? Also how is missed time accounted for, if they transition over three years and are unable to fully perform, deploy, or serve during that time is it just waived or is the service time extended to provide for a full ADSO?? JMHO but waiving their ADSO for transitioning seems a little unfair to those who don't transition and have to deploy, fight, or go to restrictive and dangerous areas.

I know DEI is the governing force right now, but you would think there would be restrictions on certain "wants" while in training status? It would seem to me that every LBGTQ+ person who wanted to transition, but could not afford it or did not have insurance would just join the military and get it done for free and also avoid most if not all of the ADSO??? Guess I am just confused as to how one can train and transition at the same time🤷‍♂️
 
Impulsive said:
JMPO but wouldn't it be almost impossible to actually go thru a full transition in an Academy? I am thinking about the hormones, body changes, surgeries, and generally missing class or training? I can understand once someone is finished training being able to fully transition, but during academy training??? Also how is missed time accounted for, if they transition over three years and are unable to fully perform, deploy, or serve during that time is it just waived or is the service time extended to provide for a full ADSO?? JMHO but waiving their ADSO for transitioning seems a little unfair to those who don't transition and have to deploy, fight, or go to restrictive and dangerous areas.

I know DEI is the governing force right now, but you would think there would be restrictions on certain "wants" while in training status? It would seem to me that every LBGTQ+ person who wanted to transition, but could not afford it or did not have insurance would just join the military and get it done for free and also avoid most if not all of the ADSO??? Guess I am just confused as to how one can train and transition at the same time🤷‍♂️
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Perhaps it isn't a full surgical procedure. I'm really not sure. The email we received referred to the individual as "transitioning" but I guess I'm not fully aware what it means. My cadet is home on break and filled us in on the rest- that he/she is allowed in the women's showers and is now officially referred to as a female at the academy, even though they were born a male. But perhaps it isn't a surgical change. I guess I should've clarified that.

Obviously a very controversial subject, but I was really surprised a military academy allowed this; surgical or not. And curious if the other academies were doing the same.
 
I can see a lawsuit on the horizon...:) All it is going to take is a group of biological (can I still say that?) females to file a harassment suit because their personal privacy was taken away and they had to shower or bathe with a person of the opposite sex, and not by choice!

The Academies, or an isolated base or combat IMHO is not a place for anyone undergoing psychological treatment (I believe that it is standard for transitioning individuals to be undergoing psychological counseling), whether it be drugs for depression or pain meds for a surgical issue. Normally in the past I thought that mental health issues were disqualifying for military service? I guess the shortage in new members and overall strength has now eliminated that DQ.
 
Impulsive said:
I can see a lawsuit on the horizon...:) All it is going to take is a group of biological (can I still say that?) females to file a harassment suit because their personal privacy was taken away and they had to shower or bathe with a person of the opposite sex, and not by choice!

The Academies, or an isolated base or combat IMHO is not a place for anyone undergoing psychological treatment (I believe that it is standard for transitioning individuals to be undergoing psychological counseling), whether it be drugs for depression or pain meds for a surgical issue. Normally in the past I thought that mental health issues were disqualifying for military service? I guess the shortage in new members and overall strength has now eliminated that DQ.
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I feel this is the same argument that was made for repealing DADT. Lots of “this could happen, that could happen, something could happen, etc.” … nothing really ever happened…readiness was not destroyed or degraded. Servicemembers have been transitioning for a while now…not tracking anything that really has made a dent in readiness. We can’t even figure out how to reduce plain sexual assault in the military…why start making assumptions about an issue when it isn’t a problem. I have been at two units with transitioning servicemembers, it’s been a non-issue (in fact, everyone was supportive because they had a built reputation of being performers and team players). We have UCMJ articles, laws, and CMEO processes that apply to EVERYONE if they need to be utilized for any type of sexual assault or harassment.

At the end of the day, as long as the person performs based on merit, follows the rules, and has established morals/ethics…what’s the issue? Isn’t that what we want from any service member…whether they are of the biological sex or transition? Good leaders always think about how to best utilize the team’s talents…that typically doesn’t always need to be sex related (at least in the Navy).
 
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