Reading: http://sofrep.com/36747/transgenders-in-the-military-exist/
Reaction:
I agree with Brandon Webb in that holistic thinking must be kept close at hand when contemplating this issue. I also agree that in the society as a whole, transgenders deserve respect, tolerance, and we should move forward as a society to learn how to better understand them. They should give respect in return, and should avoid portraying minor issues as if the Taliban just attacked them.
I say this in light of exhibits A and B:
Of course, everyone in this Country is free to express themselves as they see fit. I believe so strongly, in fact, in regards to free expression, that I'd give my life in defense of transgenders from a violent attack, no matter the motivation of the attacker. America should not be tolerant of intolerance, and that ethos needs to extend in all directions.
Having said that, Brandon appears to believe (additionally) that holistic thinking on this topic means the military should reflect the holistic values of the entire society. Well, with all due respect, I have some news to share: the entire society believes a bad day is when the mall closes early on Sunday. It is not a proper analogy, Brandon.
If the military was merely modeled after society's values, we'd be overrun. What works for society doesn't mean it will work in the military. Ya'll get the premise and understand why, correct?
I saw a T-shirt recently in a shop that had a US flag on it and it said "back-to-back world war champs." I didn't buy it, but nonetheless, the t-shirt means something. It means that what we have/had for a modus operandi in the military isn't broken. We have been successful in combat without conforming to the standard of regular society. We have not, and should not, feel compelled as war fighters to chase society towards total relativism. The military exists to shoot bad people in the face. And to repeat without unnecessary delay until the enemy is defeated. That's it.
If you want a great business example of fixing something that isn't broken, research Coca-Cola's campaign of New Coke. Watch the brief intro to the video, then go to about 4:40.
I have about four years downrange, 3.5 in a combat environment. Those of us that were there know that men and women in the military fuck each other all the time in combat zones. 18 month Big Army deployments, are you surprised?
BIAP was basically a large city with MRAPS, cheesecake, yoga studios, and trailers where my estimate is that two out of every three women were getting nailed on a regular basis. By men from both inside and outside of their unit. Once, after arriving at FOB Falcon in South Baghdad, I had Joes from the 1st CAV tell me to "avoid the females" because there had been a few incidents of women extorting men for cash after some sort of sex act occurred between them (or it was threatened that they would sound the rape whistle). I took their advice, and steered clear.
I am sure the Army did an investigation of the above incident(s), but it is a clear example of how women, when co-deployed for long periods alongside combat soldiers and in close quarters, is problematic, and is an unnecessary distraction. America has won many wars without women in, or alongside, combat arms (different from happenstance combat, or isolated incidents of combat where it was unexpected, serving in combat arms means to live in an environment entirely dedicated towards finding, fixing, and destroying the enemy). Combat arms is an aggressive "mental place" to reside while one is in a unit.
If you refuse to believe this about our military, that this sort of fraternization happens, then just keep those American flag stickers stuck over your eyelids. The rest of us will sort through and deal with reality. Bottom line, while I was never in a unit with women, from stories I've heard this sexual fraternization dynamic fucked up unit cohesion something fierce. And that was with non-combat arms units, where a fucked up dynamic didn't mean life and death, at least as much as it does in combat arms.
The issue of females in a combat environment is relevant, because, as homosexuality is introduced into the combat equation, it means the likely scenario of additional group dynamic complexity to war fighting. This is not needed. After all, what happened to KISS principles? Especially in combat?
Bottom line, I believe holistic thinking does apply to transgenders in the military, but by way of understanding that the mission of the military is to keep the main thing the main thing. After all, we have a track record of success.
Let's stick with that.
Reaction:
I agree with Brandon Webb in that holistic thinking must be kept close at hand when contemplating this issue. I also agree that in the society as a whole, transgenders deserve respect, tolerance, and we should move forward as a society to learn how to better understand them. They should give respect in return, and should avoid portraying minor issues as if the Taliban just attacked them.
I say this in light of exhibits A and B:
Of course, everyone in this Country is free to express themselves as they see fit. I believe so strongly, in fact, in regards to free expression, that I'd give my life in defense of transgenders from a violent attack, no matter the motivation of the attacker. America should not be tolerant of intolerance, and that ethos needs to extend in all directions.
Having said that, Brandon appears to believe (additionally) that holistic thinking on this topic means the military should reflect the holistic values of the entire society. Well, with all due respect, I have some news to share: the entire society believes a bad day is when the mall closes early on Sunday. It is not a proper analogy, Brandon.
If the military was merely modeled after society's values, we'd be overrun. What works for society doesn't mean it will work in the military. Ya'll get the premise and understand why, correct?
I saw a T-shirt recently in a shop that had a US flag on it and it said "back-to-back world war champs." I didn't buy it, but nonetheless, the t-shirt means something. It means that what we have/had for a modus operandi in the military isn't broken. We have been successful in combat without conforming to the standard of regular society. We have not, and should not, feel compelled as war fighters to chase society towards total relativism. The military exists to shoot bad people in the face. And to repeat without unnecessary delay until the enemy is defeated. That's it.
If you want a great business example of fixing something that isn't broken, research Coca-Cola's campaign of New Coke. Watch the brief intro to the video, then go to about 4:40.
I have about four years downrange, 3.5 in a combat environment. Those of us that were there know that men and women in the military fuck each other all the time in combat zones. 18 month Big Army deployments, are you surprised?
BIAP was basically a large city with MRAPS, cheesecake, yoga studios, and trailers where my estimate is that two out of every three women were getting nailed on a regular basis. By men from both inside and outside of their unit. Once, after arriving at FOB Falcon in South Baghdad, I had Joes from the 1st CAV tell me to "avoid the females" because there had been a few incidents of women extorting men for cash after some sort of sex act occurred between them (or it was threatened that they would sound the rape whistle). I took their advice, and steered clear.
I am sure the Army did an investigation of the above incident(s), but it is a clear example of how women, when co-deployed for long periods alongside combat soldiers and in close quarters, is problematic, and is an unnecessary distraction. America has won many wars without women in, or alongside, combat arms (different from happenstance combat, or isolated incidents of combat where it was unexpected, serving in combat arms means to live in an environment entirely dedicated towards finding, fixing, and destroying the enemy). Combat arms is an aggressive "mental place" to reside while one is in a unit.
If you refuse to believe this about our military, that this sort of fraternization happens, then just keep those American flag stickers stuck over your eyelids. The rest of us will sort through and deal with reality. Bottom line, while I was never in a unit with women, from stories I've heard this sexual fraternization dynamic fucked up unit cohesion something fierce. And that was with non-combat arms units, where a fucked up dynamic didn't mean life and death, at least as much as it does in combat arms.
The issue of females in a combat environment is relevant, because, as homosexuality is introduced into the combat equation, it means the likely scenario of additional group dynamic complexity to war fighting. This is not needed. After all, what happened to KISS principles? Especially in combat?
Bottom line, I believe holistic thinking does apply to transgenders in the military, but by way of understanding that the mission of the military is to keep the main thing the main thing. After all, we have a track record of success.
Let's stick with that.
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