Veteran blasts trans military ban in the wake of recruitment woes: Cis men are 'too scared to serve'

[tulipsandroses]

"A lot of red-blooded, alpha-male, patriotic American men are actually too scared to join the military."

Donald Trump has officially reinstated his transgender military ban with an executive order giving Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth 60 days to implement its directives. In addition to criticizing its blatant bigotry, many fear the order – along with Hegseth’s beliefs that women shouldn’t serve in combat – puts military readiness at risk at a time when recruitment numbers are already low.

Because the reality is that cisgender American men are not flocking to enlist.

Joseph worked on the 1st Marine Division staff from 2004 to 2007. At the time, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was still in effect, banning gay and bisexual people from serving openly in the military. He said it was “baffling” to watch the military discharge perfectly capable gay and transgender servicemembers as recruiters scrambled to find people willing to fight in Iraq.
“We needed people to fight and were begging people who didn’t want to serve while kicking out those that did,” Joseph wrote. “What dawned on me then is something that Peter Hegseth will learn… that a lot of red-blooded, alpha-male, patriotic American men are actually too scared to join the military. And a lot of women and gay and transgender and queer Americans aren’t.

SNIP---
He said the military specifically targeted women at this time, with many flooding the non-combat roles and impressing leaders. The need increased after the United States went into Afghanistan and Iraq after 9/11. Eventually, women began serving in combat roles out of pure need.
“There were two lessons we learned from Iraq,” Joseph said. “The first was that when you put women in combat roles, they rose to the task. The second was, why beg straight white men to serve when gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans are so willing to?”
He emphasized the continued belief that women and LGBTQ+ military members are weaker than others. “But those feelings run face-first into an uncomfortable reality that Hegseth, military brass, recruiters and combat units continue to face,” he explained. “Military recruiting is down and the problem is that men simply do not want to serve.

SNIP--
“Hegseth will learn that a lot of men who claim to be patriots are only as patriotic as putting a flag on a truck, chanting ‘USA’ at a sporting event, or trolling anyone who criticizes the U.S. online, are just too scared to serve. And if he wants to keep the U.S. military in a state of combat readiness, he will have to go ‘woke’ aka rely on the women and men who he thinks should not serve this country.”

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/01/veteran-blasts-trans-military-ban-in-the-wake-of-recruitment-woes-cis-men-are-too-scared-to-serve/

[SteveMarrs]

1. This skinny 6 ft 130 lb weakling joined in '83.

Why? Dad said to me once, if you need a job this is a good place to start. Today I look back and thank my dad and drill sgt. Burris for giving me the boost I needed. You know what, I am going thank Dad Thursday when I sit by his bed comforting him in his last days.

[Skittles]

4. USAF was my first "real job"

I absolutely detest people like Cadet Bonespurs judging ANY military folk.

[xmas74]

2. My brother made a similar comment after 9-11

He'd finished his enlistment and decided to attend college. While in a government class he heard plenty of cishet guys claim they were too "valuable" to serve. Otoh he heard plenty of women and members of the LGBTQIA community express an interest in serving their country in whatever way they could. He said a few women enrolled in ROTC classes on campus and another asked him what to expect at Basic because she just enlisted in the Reserves.

[Skittles]

3. repukes literally do not see trans folk as human

repukes are DISGUSTING, ESPECIALLY CADET FUCKING BONESPURS