Guidelines released by the Minister of Defence
Pete Hegseth
states that
transgender service members
must leave active service by June 6 voluntarily.
Following that date, the military will begin conducting involuntary conscriptions.
separations for transgender service members who are on active duty.
On Wednesday, the Army provided additional instructions on how they will recognize and engage with soldiers experiencing gender dysphoria.
Documents acquired by CBS News disclose.
In February, Hegseth stated in a memorandum
While transgender service members should be respected, recent internal directives within the Army require personnel to use the gender assigned at birth when referring to them, rather than their chosen pronouns.
The guidelines feature a set of criteria that the military will employ for identifying service members who may be experiencing gender dysphoria. These conditions encompass prior requests for exceptions related to hair-grooming regulations based on their assigned sex at birth or initiating
medical treatment plan related to gender dysphoria.
According to the guidelines, other indicators encompass “open behavior” exhibited on social platforms or in physical interactions, revealing a gender identity different from one’s birth assignment. Additionally, this can involve a confidential discussion between a commanding officer and a service member where the latter discloses experiencing gender dysphoria.
A commander is anticipated to initiate a medical record review upon becoming aware of any such criteria. Additionally, under the department’s updated policy, service members will now have their identities addressed during routine health examinations.
Although Hegseth stated in the February memo that transgender service members would be “treated with dignity and respect,” he has publicly lambasted them.
He stated at a military conference, ‘We’ve had enough of guys in skirts; it’s time to move on,’
Florida
this month.
Likewise, although the Army guidance instructs soldiers to demonstrate “the highest level of professionalism and treat everyone with dignity and respect,” the latest policies conflict with societal standards for transgender individuals, particularly regarding the use of their chosen pronouns.
A transgender service member who is an infantry officer and
Afghanistan
The veteran, Major Kara Corcoran from the Army, stated to CBS News on Friday, “With the enforcement of these guidelines…it becomes more detrimental compared to the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ era since it actively seeks out and aims to classify transgender individuals or anyone displaying signs of gender dysphoria.”
“Since 2016, transgender service members have been serving openly without negatively affecting readiness or unit cohesion,” she stated. “Many thousands of these personnel have seen combat, having been deployed to conflict areas and performed their duties admirably.”
According to the
Department of Defense
Gender dysphoria refers to a “significant mismatch between someone’s felt or outwardly shown gender and the sex they were designated at birth, persisting for at least half a year, often accompanied by circumstances leading to considerable emotional turmoil or difficulties in personal, professional, or societal aspects of life.”
The Army guidance shared on Wednesday suggests that identifying with a gender other than the one assigned at birth goes against standards of truthfulness and discipline.
The phrasing is akin to an executive order released by President
Donald Trump
In January, they stated that the values of transgender service members do not align with the “humility and selflessness required” for military personnel and are “incompatible with” the “team cohesion” necessary within the armed forces.
A representative from the Army informed CBS News that new directives were distributed after May 8 due to the ongoing voluntary departure of personnel.
The representative further stated that “When mentioning soldiers, pronouns should correspond to their gender at birth. Additionally, for maintaining proper decorum and discipline, forms of address such as ‘sir’ or ‘ma’am’ should align with an individual’s biological sex.”
“The Army recognizes the selfless service of all who have volunteered to serve our great nation,” they added. “We are in the process of ensuring the Army is aligned with recent policy changes to Soldier requirements. Regardless of potential outcomes, every Soldier will be treated with dignity and respect.”
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