Transgender soldiers can openly serve in the Army and the force will provide hormone theropy, mental health care and surgeries they might require, according to a force-wide memo issued out last week.
Full Answer
How will the military care for transgender soldiers?
Military medical providers will provide medically necessary care for transgender Soldiers following guidelines by the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs and the Army surgeon general, Stitt said. "Every Soldier is different," Stitt said.
How long does the Army have to change its transgender policy?
The Army will then have until September 2022 to adjust existing instruction blocks to train personnel on gender dysphoria and any changes to DOD and Army transgender policies. "Department of Defense policy allows transgender personnel to serve openly,” Stitt said.
What does the New Army Directive 2021-22 mean for transgender soldiers?
Army directive 2021-22 changes the service’s retention, separation, in-service transition, and medical care standards for transgender personnel and refines entry criteria for individuals with gender dysphoria, following Department of Defense guidance, said Maj. Gen. Douglas F. Stitt, military personnel management director.
How much does the Pentagon spend on treating transgender troops?
Earlier this month, Military.com reported the Pentagon has spent $15 million in the past five years to treat 1,892 transgender troops, including $11.5 million for psychotherapy and $3.1 million for surgeries - a relative drop in the bucket compared to the mammoth $35.6 billion for descretionary health care spending in the proposed 2022 budget.
What does the military do about transgender soldiers?
The new policy directive states that military medical providers “will diagnose and provide medically necessary care and treatment for transgender soldiers,” and that if a soldier receives a diagnosis “that gender transition is medically necessary,” they will be provided that care.
What is the Army's 3 tier training model?
The Army will be enacting a “three-tiered training model” to ensure that the new policy is fully integrated throughout the force, which will be launched over the next year.
What is gender dysphoria?
Gender dysphoria is defined as “a feeling of discomfort or distress that might occur in people whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth or sex-related physical characteristics,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
How long do you have to be self identified to serve in the military?
It also says individuals must meet a requirement of 18 months of stability in their self-identified gender, and they will be able to serve in their self-identified gender. The update is a reversal of previous guidance from former President Donald Trump’s administration, which said individuals were disqualified from the military unless they had been ...
When will unit level training end in 2022?
Unit-level training will come last. All training must be finished by June 25, 2022 — a year from Friday, the Army announced. The news comes barely a week after the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it would expand benefits for transgender veterans to allow them to complete the gender confirmation process.
Can transgender people serve in the army?
Transgender individuals are once again welcome to serve in the U.S. Army, and do so in their self-identified gender, the Army announced on Thursday. “A soldier’s gender identity will no longer be a basis for involuntary separation or military discharge, denied reenlistment or continuation of service, or subjected to adverse action ...
How long do transgender people have to be in the army?
Transgender candidates previously had to serve in their biological sex and prove they have been mentally and physically stable for 36 months before enlisting or commissioning in the Army. Under the new policy, new recruits can serve in their self-identified gender and only have to demonstrate 18 prior months of stability.
How much money has the Pentagon spent on transgender people?
Earlier this month, Military.com reported the Pentagon has spent $15 million in the past five years to treat 1,892 transgender troops, including $11.5 million for psychotherapy and $3.1 million for surgeries - a relative drop in the bucket compared to the mammoth $35.6 billion for descretionary health care spending in the proposed 2022 budget.
What is gender transition care?
To qualify for gender-transition care, soldiers have to be diagnosed with gender dysphoria. According to the American Physicatric Assosication, gender dysphoria refers to psychological distress resulting from an individual's biological sex conflicting with their identity. Treatment from the Army will consist of four elements: "hormones, ...
What are the elements of Army treatment?
Treatment from the Army will consist of four elements: "hormones, psychotherapy, real-life experience, and surgical intervention ," Col. Deidra Briggs-Anthony, assistant deputy of health affairs for manpower and reserve affairs explained. But not all soldiers will require all four components for their transition.
Can transgender soldiers serve in the army?
Transgender soldiers can openly serve in the Army and the force will provide hormone theropy, mental health care and surgeries they might require, according to a force-wide memo issued out last week.
Can a soldier's gender be a cause of involuntary separation?
A soldier's gender identity will no longer be a cause for involuntary separation, denied reenlistment or other adverse action, according to the memo. The Army's new policy follows President Joe Biden's executive order on his first week in office in January repealing a Trump-era ban on transgender troops.
Is the Army fitness test gender specific?
While the Army's previous fitness test had a dramatic difference in standards between men and women, it is unclear if the new test will incorporate gender-specific standards as leaders continue to tweak it.
What is the DoD's revised transgender service member policy?
DoD’s revised transgender Service member policy ensures your medical care is brought into the military health system (MHS), protects your privacy when receiving medical care, and establishes a structured process whereby you may transition gender when medically necessary.
What are the responsibilities of a transgender service member?
It is important that you are aware of your obligations and responsibilities with regard to the support and management of Service members who are transitioning gender. You are responsible and accountable for the overall readiness of your command. You are also responsible for the collective morale and welfare and good order and discipline of the unit and for fostering a command climate where all members of your command are treated with dignity and respect.
What is PRT in the military?
PRT is a fundamental requirement of your military service. You are required to meet the PRT standards based upon your gender marker in your Service’s personnel data system and in accordance with Service regulations. Similar to other circumstances where Service members may not meet standards, it is important that you consult regularly with your MMP to ensure you can meet standards (i.e., fitness). If you are unable to meet the standards, it may be necessary to request an ETP.
What is the Transgender Handbook?
The handbook is designed to assist our transgender Service members in their gender transition, help commanders with their duties and responsibilities, and help all Service members understand new policies enabling the open service of transgender Service members. The handbook includes advice, questions and answers, and scenarios.
When you receive a request from a Service member for medical treatment or an ETP associated with gender transition, must
When you receive a request from a Service member for medical treatment or an ETP associated with gender transition, you must consider the individual needs associated with the request and the needs of your command. The table below outlines your responsibilities for Active and Reserve Component Service members requesting in-service transition. In making a decision on the request, your responsibilities include:
Do transgender people need hormones?
Not all transgender Service members need cross-sex hormone therapy. Male or female hormones may be prescribed by medical providers in order for transgender Service members to develop the physical characteristics of their preferred gender if that is part of their transition plan.
Do you have to disclose your gender to the military?
Out of respect for all Service members, as mentioned earlier, you should not disclose someone’s gender identity without their permission, unless the disclosure is made for ocial use.26
When was gender dysphoria diagnosed in the military?
were diagnosed with gender dysphoria by a military medical provider (MMP), or had . that diagnosis confirmed by a military medical provider, prior to April 12, 2019.
What is transgender person?
Broadly, the term “transgender person” refers to individuals . whose internal sense of gender (gender identity) is different from their biological sex. Gender dysphoria, by contrast, is a recognized medical condition that refers to the .
What is gender dysphoria?
gender dysphoria or who have a history of medical treatment for gender transition , such as cross-sex hormone therapy or sex-reassignment surgery. • Both policies require transgender individuals without gender dysphoria, like all. Service members, to meet the standards associated with their biological sex.
What is the 2018 military policy?
The 2018 policy, like the 2016 policy, prohibits denying entry to the military or . involuntary discharge from the military solely on account of gender identity.
What is gender reassignment surgery?
reassignment surgery is the medical component of gender transition. For those Service . members who were diagnosed with gender dysphoria, or had such a diagnosis . confirmed, by a MMP prior to April 12, 2019, or subsequently granted a waiver, .
Is a military service academy exempt from gender transition?
are considered exempt from the new policy and may undergo gender transition. Currently contracted ROTC and Military Service Academy cadets/midshipmen with a . diagnosis of gender dysphoria, confirmed by a military medical provider prior to April . 12, 2019, are considered exempt and may undergo gender transition.
Does gender dysphoria have a policy?
dysphoria or with a history of medical treatment for gender dysphoria, whereas the 2018 . policy does not. The 2016 policy provided accommodations primarily in two respects. First, under the 2016 policy, persons who had received cross-sex hormone therapy or sex-.
When will the Army update gender dysphoria?
All training on the updated policy must be completed no later than June 25, 2022, Stitt said. The Army will then have until September 2022 to adjust existing instruction blocks to train personnel on gender dysphoria and any changes to DOD and Army transgender policies.
How long can you serve in the army with gender dysphoria?
Under the new guidance, this duration to meet standards is now 18 months of stability and the person can serve in their self-identified gender.
What to do if you can't meet a medical criterion?
If an individual cannot meet a medical criterion, they can request a waiver for evaluation under DOD and Army policies. The standard for approval will be determined individually and must be in the Army's best interests after a thorough review of the individual's potential.
What documents are required to validate a self-identified gender?
Applicants must present documents to validate their self-identified gender, such as a birth certificate, U.S. passport, or a certified copy of a court order reflecting one's self identified gender, the policy states.
Can transgender people serve in the military?
WASHINGTON -- Transgender personnel and individuals with gender dysphoria who can meet the Army's standards for military service can now serve openly in their self-identified gender, according to a new policy approved this month by the Army secretary.
Can you change your gender in the DEERS?
Once a Soldier is stable in their self-identified gender, they can then request to change their gender marker in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System , or DEERS. Once the change is complete, all policies and standards for that given gender will then apply, the policy reads.
Is the Army still under equal opportunity?
Equal opportunity. The Army must continue to operate in an environment free from harassment and unlawful discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation, Stitt said. Training on the new policy will be necessary to ensure proper integration throughout the force.