Luke Seiler
Mrs. Denault
Language 10
February 12, 2017
Is Transgenderism in the Military Harmful to the Military? Transgenderism is a very controversial topic in today’s society and culture; however, transgenderism becomes an even more controversial topic when it refers whether or not transgenders should be allowed in the military. This brings up the question is transgenderism in the military harmful to the military? Statistics and research says that transgenderism is harmful to the military because of the economic cost, the qualifications, the unfairness to one gender over another, and finally the ability of being deployed on a moments notice. The first point that is needed in seeing if transgenderism is harmful to the military would…show more content… As Ryan T. Anderson said “The mission of our armed forces is winning wars and protecting the nation. We must prioritize military readiness and mission-critical purposes first. Placing individuals who might be at increased risk for suicide or other psychological injury in the most stressful situation imaginable—the battlefield—is reckless.” In order to qualify for the military there is a fitness test when you at first join. In order to pass the test to get into the military men have to be able to do 2 pull ups, 35 sit ups in two minutes, and a 1.5 mile run in 13:30, those differ drastically from the female IST (The Initial Strength Test) which the test for the females is a flexed arm hang for 12 seconds, 35 sit ups in 2 minute 30 seconds, and a 1 mile run in 10 minutes and 30 seconds. Those are two different test with the female test being a little easier than the male. Then there is the yearly fitness test or the PFT (The Physical Fitness Test) the males will perform a dead hang pull-up, abdominal crunches, and a 3.0 mile run; however, the females haft to do a flexed arm hang, abdominal crunches, and a 3.0 mile run with a pull-up option. Now the male PFT and the female PFT seem very similar, but in the PFT you are ranked based on how you perform compared to other soldiers of your sex. For example Let’s say that your a male to female transgender and you go into…show more content… The mission of the military as Ryan T. Anderson said, “The mission of our armed forces is winning wars and protecting the nation…” We cannot complete this mission when our soldiers are not ready to fight and they are at an increased chance of depression. In putting a person with suicidal tendencies in a highly stressful situation in which they may be forced to kill may lead to the suicides of hundreds of soldiers. Transgenders also may not be ready to be deployed at any time since transgenders have the upkeep, surgery, and therapy along with the recovery from all of those. Due to this lack of deployability transgenders could not serve their country in the military. (Live