US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter has launched a “working group” to study the effects of “welcoming” transgenders into the US military. Importantly, not unlike the “working group” commissioned to study the repeal of DADT, it would seem the conclusion is foregone [emphasis added]:

“At my direction,” Carter said, “the working group will start with the presumption that transgender persons can serve openly without adverse impact on military effectiveness and readiness, unless and except where objective, practical impediments are identified.”

Notably, the DoD press release copies the language of Ashley Broadway-Mack’s homosexual activist American Military Partner Association, calling current policies on transgenders “outdated” though never quite saying why the policies should now be considered obsolete.  Carter also said he knows there are US troops who — apparently — are serving despite regulations saying they can’t, and the corrective action is to change, not enforce, the rules:

“Moreover, we have transgender soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines – real, patriotic Americans – who I know are being hurt by an outdated, confusing, inconsistent approach that’s contrary to our value of service and individual merit.”

To be fair, Secretary Carter makes a fairly strong point, and one that is probably more broad than he realizes:

We have…real, patriotic Americans…being hurt by…[a] confusing, inconsistent approach that’s contrary to our value of service and individual merit…

We must ensure that everyone who’s able and willing to serve has the full and equal opportunity to do so, and we must treat all our people with the dignity and respect they deserve. Going forward, the Department of Defense must and will continue to improve how we do both. Our military’s future strength depends on it.

Seems like “real, patriotic” Christians would qualify under that directive, as well.

Many could justifiably say Christians in the military are being “hurt” by policies that are applied inconsistently or incorrectly — something even implied by Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James during congressional testimony. Similarly, one thing retired Army Chaplain (Col) Ron Crews and Michael “Mikey” Weinstein agreed upon during congressional testimony was the confusion reigning over policies regarding religious expression in the military.

Yet no one at the Department of Defense is calling on policy reviews to ensure Christians in the military can serve “openly” in an environment of “confusing” regulations and adverse actions that are arguably “contrary to our value of service and individual merit.”

Secretary Carter said “we must treat all our people with the dignity and respect they deserve.” Should Christians in the military be treated with dignity and respect as well?

According to the Secretary of Defense, “our military’s future strength depends on it.”

Also discussed at the Colorado Springs Gazette, the LA Times, Stars and Stripes (twice), Christian Science Monitor, The Religion Clause, CBN News.

ADVERTISEMENT