I’ve been thinking a lot about the debate on transgender individuals serving in the U.S. armed forces, especially after seeing arguments like those from former Congressman Trey Gowdy.
He nailed some key points in a response to a reporter: Nobody has an inherent right to serve.
The military isn’t an equal opportunity employer—it’s about winning wars. They discriminate based on age, height, weight, eyesight, flat feet, criminal history, low IQ, anxiety, and more. If something detracts from readiness or lethality, it’s a no-go.
As he put it, “The Military has one job: Winning War. Anything else is a distraction and a liability. War is VERY unfair, there are no exceptions made for being special or challenged or socially wonderful. YOU must change yourself to meet Military standards and not the other way around.”
Those are valid concerns for maintaining a fighting force. But here’s where I see room for nuance: Not every military role demands frontline lethality or grunt-level physicality.
The armed services are vast, with MOSs (Military Occupational Specialties) in tech, legal, intelligence, cryptography, logistics, and more that rely on skills, expertise, and brains over brawn.
I served in the USMC back in my early twenties, handling cryptographic electronics—fixing secure comms gear, not charging into battle.
Sure, every Marine is a rifleman at heart, but let’s be honest: If we’re relying on desk jockeys like me for combat, the situation’s already gone to hell, and it won’t matter much anyway.
I transitioned later in life, choosing to embrace my femininity more than my masculinity. It wasn’t a mental issue; it was a personal evolution, and I still carry both sides in different proportions.
People like me—qualified, dedicated, and serving honorably—have been expelled under bans, not because we couldn’t do the job, but simply for who we are. Why?
If we meet the standards, pass the physicals, and contribute without issue, how does that hurt readiness?
The military needs diverse talents to function as a whole machine, not just combat arms. Banning capable folks from support roles feels like cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Strength comes from inclusion and of course, merit, not arbitrary exclusions. Let’s focus on winning wars by tapping every resource our country has to offer, including trans service members who prove they’re up to the task.
What do you think—fair point, or am I missing something?
Dr. Gwen Patrone
USMC Sgt.
5 Responses
Gwen, I probably shouldn’t wade in here given that I’m from the far side (of the Atlantic) but I found your post both interesting and thought provoking. But I think it’s worth giving an external, and hopefully neutral, perspective.
As usual, there are arguments on both sides of the fence. For obvious reasons, I know next to nothing about US Military recruitment but to play devil’s advocate, could your well made point about banning capable folks not be equally be applied to other disqualifying attributes you list? And presumably, whilst MTF trans (but not FTM) would still have to register for The Draft, their trans status would effectively exempt them from conscription should the worst happen which contrasts with, say Ukraine where they remained subject to the ban on males leaving the country?
In the end, we probably just have to look at adding trans to the list of disqualifying attributes as one of the parameters of life we have to work within. We can argue that it’s irrelevant or we can argue that it’s a valid exclusion, neither side is necessarily right or wrong, but in the end, any employer has the right to determine who they will or will not consider for recruitment.
But that said, I think you’ve raised an important point in terms of expusion/discharge. It’s one thing barring entry but another to effectively retrospectively apply the rules and to all intents and purposes say ‘the rules have now changed which means that you never should have been recruited in the first place’. Even putting acquired expertise to one side, the training overhead must have been massive and to disregard that in the name of ideology seems a little short sighted.
adding us to the US Military would require a complete make over of the model where everyone goes through basic training.
that model is probably out of date with technology being as it is not everyone needs to know how to shoot a gun and perhaps there should be more civilian employees.but on the other side-what happens to the National Guard? When they are activated to say put down a riot you are down to the old fashioned nitty gritty. Do you tell the civilians that it’s ok to stay home?
Gwen,
While a member of CDers.com I often exchanged personal messages with a Candian serving as a ( male ) Major she then applied to be registered as transgender and continued her career as a female ( M…) , I have heard of several in the UK armed forces . The point M made was she had cost the Candian government a great deal of money to train her , she hadn’t lost any of those abilities so it was cheaper to retain her services , I believe she had served in front line action in somepoint in her career . She had a great sense of humour , we shared so many stories I still miss her now .
Women have a very useful role to play in the armed forces , some roles and abilities are suited more for them than men . Armed forces aren’t totally about a fighting force , trained to defend their country they are also trained for peace keeping and humanitarian roles , helping out when distasters strike . Lets not forget Ed Woods served in the US army during WW2 even if he was wearing female underwear at the time .
While we may not fully agree some countries allow women to serve on the frontline so why exclude capable transgender people ? I would argue that they are more reslient and tougher because of their fight to survive .
I turned 18 in 1966. I had just graduated HS. At that time they were drafting 19 yr olds. It was hard to get a job if you were draftable. Dec 26 I volunteered my draft. I was in the Army in February. I could have answered the questions at the induction physical truthfully and gotten deffered. 8 months after I was sworn in I was sent to Vietnam. I was in a unit that put parachutes on supplies. I had almost 11 months in country and was injured, non combat and sent to a hospital in Japan and then back to the USA. The day after I was injured I was going to go to Taipei and have a girl dress me up. That didn’t happen. I was lucky, 6 of us on my block in Queens NY went to Vietnam. 3 went to Infantry and was killed. 3 of us came back.
In my opinion The military is not the place for our community.
“TRANS IN THE MILITARY?”
Say it ain’t so Joe!
Everytime I see this one come up I chuckle quietly. I was in the USAF in the 70’s. If you declared you were gay it was an immediate one-way ticket home. I know this for a fact because in basic training at Lackland AFB my DI – (Drill Instructor), told me: Airman, get down to the squadrons commander’s office and tell him you’re gay and get the hell outta my Air Force. I know a faggot when I see one…
Not only did I not go, I became an honor graduate in my basic training “flight” consisting of 35 guys. That psycho prick had to recognize and honor me at the end of basic training. I guess he didn’t know his faggots very well after all.🤣
While in the AF my “trans” blossomed. I saw myself as trans back then, meaning transvestite. Old fashioned term for crossdressers -as nobody called it cd’ing much back then. You were a transvestite if you liked wearing women’s clothes. A “TV” was the term most often used. I lived off-base and had a part-time second job when I was in the AF so I could afford to be out of the dormitories. I was in downtown San Antonio, near a local department store I could walk to. Nearby also was a lesbian bar and an adult bookstore. I lived alone. Didn’t take me too long to fill a couple of closets with female finery. This was the first time I’d ever fully dressed. Discovered “TV” magazines in the adult book store. Wow. They look like girls! All this happening during my tour of duty when I was in the USAF🤣. I did had girlfriends too, when I was there but never told them about my alter ego. I knew I wasn’t going to stick around when my tour was up so I never felt the need to share THAT particular idiosyncrasy with any of the girls I dated while stationed there. (Real girls, not TVs btw…) I even made friends with a couple local redneck dudes who ended up moving into the same building as me. They never ever had a clue. We’d go out partying to all the shit-kicking country bars and nightclubs. At the time my feeling about my hobby, was that I like doing something that society overall, just cannot understand. I don’t understand it myself. And I don’t need to tell anyone about it, for sure.
This whole “trans/military” thing can be legislated til the cows come home but it’s not going to stop it. Change all the rules you want, real life will find a way. We had gay people whom I worked with at my base… good guys too. Good at their job. They just didn’t talk about their homosexuality. It wasn’t called gay back then. We never asked them – but you knew who was who. Without talking about it constantly. Nobody wants to hear and be reminded about someone’s sexual preferences 24/7. It just didn’t happen and wasn’t a thing. So life went on, and everyone was mostly happy as much as I could tell. People valued discretion and privacy more back then. Society had so much more class. People didn’t need to shout from the rooftops they were gay or trans. And then start demanding separate rules just for them. Seemed way more civilized back then.
I figured out on the first day of basic training that this “Air Force” thing was not my game and I didn’t make the rules. If I wanted to keep playing – I had to follow their rules. Why? Because they said so. Or I could just say I was gay and go home to mama. Easy decision. And one that helped me become who I am today. It’s no different now either. People of any persuasion can still join up and thrive with the right attitude towards it. No matter who they are. I look back with many fond memories of my time in the service. It helped make me the girl I am today!🤣