Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps chiefs convened with Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work to discuss gender in the service on Thursday, June 22, and they came out of the meeting having agreed that the military will postpone the formal enlistment of transgender soldiers for six months.
As was determined by Obama Defense Secretary Ash Carter, the deadline for the services to have developed policies to oversee the addition of transgender people to the force, was to be July 1. However each service head admitted to needing more time to assess some questions and possible conflicts that have come up concerning all of the changes they imagine would have to be instituted, specifically for infantry, it is reported. Officials from the Navy have reportedly pushed for a one-year delay to sort out their challenges, while the Army and Airforce each wanted a two-year delay on transgender enlistment.
Transgender servicemembers have actually been allowed to serve openly since October of last year, when the right to medical care and recognition of their gender change on Pentagon records was granted. Before leaving office Carter mandated that each service be prepared to receive transgender soldiers who meet physical and medical standards and have been stable in their more recent identity for at least 18 months. There are already a recognized sum of 250 servicemembers who are in the process of transitioning between genders. But according to a RAND study, there are likely between 2,500 and 7,000 among the active duty ranks, and between 1,500 and 4000 in the reserves.
Source: kiro7.com
