The Army began mandatory transgender sensitivity training this week; other branches not ready

Compulsory transgender sensitivity training in the Army began this week.

The Army has ordered transgender sensitivity training related to the military’s lifted ban on transgender troops, a move made under the Obama administration last year. Then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s decision to rescind the ban gave the military one year to implement new policies related to transgender soldiers and officers.

"This training is mandatory for all uniformed members, as well as Department of the Army civilians,” Lt. Col. Jennifer Johnson, an Army spokeswoman, told USA TODAY in an email.

“The Morning Blaze” crew had the story on Wednesday’s show, and Kris Cruz talked about his own military experience and explained why diversity doesn’t need to be forced on soldiers already serving alongside each other. He wanted to know: Why do you need special protocol to “assist” transgender people who are just trying to serve their country?

The Army and Marine Corps have both asked for more time to implement the new policies before accepting more transgender troops. Under Carter’s plan, the military must add policies specifically for recruiting soldiers and for commissioning officers who are transgender. Graduates from the Air Force and Army service academies couldn’t be commissioned as new officers last month because these special standards haven’t yet been laid out.

“So now we’re stopping people from serving because we have not gotten a transgender protocol and how to deal with transgender [people],” Kris objected. He summed up his policy for fellow military members who are transgender: “’Are you transgender? OK. I don’t care.’”

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