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Air Force eases rules on transgender troops

by Mark Hensch - 06/04/15 7:15 PM ET

The Air Force will announce Thursday that it will offer more protections for its transgender service members against potential discharge.

Troops diagnosed with gender dysphoria or who identified as transgender were typically discharged in the past on medical grounds, according to USA Today.

Doctors and unit commanders were previously in charge of those diagnoses, it reported.

{mosads}The Air Force’s new measures will require such judgments to receive review from high-level officials at the military branch’s headquarters.

“Though the Air Force policy regarding involuntary separation of gender dysphoric Airmen has not changed, the elevation of decision authority to the Director, Air Force Review Boards Agency, ensures the ability to consistently apply the existing policy,” Daniel Sitterly, a top Air Force personnel, said in a statement.

USA Today reported that the Air Force’s decision echoes an earlier move by the Army in March.

That measure made it harder to oust transgender Army service members without review by top officials.

The changes reflect the Pentagon’s gradual push for greater inclusiveness for potential service members across the armed forces.

Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James expressed openness Thursday to ending any restrictions against transgender soldiers entering the military.

“From my point of view, anyone who is capable of accomplishing the job should be able to serve,” James said. “And so I wouldn’t be surprised if this came under review.”

USA Today said the Pentagon is examining the military’s transgender guidelines while it reviews its medial eligibility rules.

A decision on its final policy is not expected for several months.

The publication also reported that estimates identify about 15,000 of the military’s 1.3 million active troops as transgender.

It’s unclear how many have been discharged, as the Pentagon does not keep records on that statistic.

A psychologist or a psychiatrist must currently approve any recommended troop discharge due to gender dysphoria.

A unit commander must then determine that the condition disrupts the individual’s required performance.

USA Today listed Britain and Israel as two close U.S. allies that have allowed openly transgender troops into their militaries thus far.

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