News @lemmy.world HellsBelle @sh.itjust.works 2w ago

Transgender troops face a deadline and a difficult decision: Stay or go?

apnews.com Transgender troops face a deadline and a difficult decision: Stay or go?

As transgender service members face a deadline to leave the U.S. military, hundreds are taking the financial bonus to depart voluntarily.

For many, it is a wrenching decision to end a career they love, and leave units they have led or worked with for years. And they are angry they are being forced out by the Trump administration’s renewed ban on transgender troops.

Active duty service members had until Friday to identify themselves and begin to leave the military voluntarily, while the National Guard and Reserve have until July 7. Then the military will begin involuntary separations.

Friday’s deadline comes during Pride Month and as the Trump administration targets diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, saying it’s aiming to scrub the military of “wokeness” and reestablishing a “warrior ethos.”

“They’re tired of the rollercoaster. They just want to go,” said one transgender service member, who plans to retire. ”It’s exhausting.”

15 comments

It doesn't really seem like they have a choice, does it?
- Same choice minorities have always enjoyed.
  
  Lay low and do your grisly work at the spear point of imperialism hoping you won't be pushed out in front of it.
  
  Or drop off the last US ladder out of poverty and consign yourself to a service sector that'll leech you dry before you turn 50.
- Get out now, potentially collect early retirement. Or wait until they kick you out, come back with full back pay if someone remotely sane becomes president later. Either choice is a bit of a gamble unless you were planning to separate soon anyway.
it is a wrenching decision to end a career they love,

Uh... If anyone loves their career bombing brown people in the Middle East and protecting genocide, I think they might be a piece of shit.
- Most of US army people's career is to sit on their ass and waste government money on nothing. Only very small portion is actually involved in killing.
  
  And some of them are doing aid missions or patrolling areas to deter invasions, and some are doing defensive cyber to protect US elections or to counter other nation-state hackers or their subcontractors who ransomware hospitals. It's not always murdering brown people.
  
  true, most are probably stateside or reserve role or deployed to a friendly country. some of the branches, the combat roles as enlisted are usually filled fast so theres limited options.
Seems pretty clear to me. Why would you risk your life if the army doesn’t even want you there?
- They pay a living wage and will hire the dumbest people you know? 🤷‍♀️ I wouldn’t choose to work there but I can see how some people feel pressured into it
In my wild dreams I see them carrying out a positive version of the Business Plot
E Pluribus Nihil

15 comments