The numbers I've seen reported are the low thousands, but I suspect it's in the hundreds. Emjay's number of 800 sounds reasonable to me. There can't be many. I've known many gay folks over the years, but I can't say I've ever knowingly met a transgender.
I don't trust Trump's motivation - I suspect this is a sop to religious conservatives, not a response to morale or cohesion issues in the military. But blindsiding military leadership is, fundamentally, disrespectful to our armed forces. I know how it goes - if you aren't willing to follow orders, the choice you have is to leave. That's the nature of the military, and I don't disagree that the Coast Guard Commandant's days are likely numbered. But I applaud him for standing up for those under his command.
"Blindsided" Sometimes that is what happens in the military. Sometimes the troops are rudely awakened from gentle slumber in the wee small hours, and told to be in formation, outside or on deck right away.
Or blindsided like I saw a fellow. He had been trying to get out of the Army, by claiming he had LSD flashbacks.
There came the day when the services were going to downsize, and start getting the problem people out, post haste. My boss, the battalion personnel officer, told him to get his gear and report by afternoon. He was scheduled to be driven to Frankfort for a plane, taken to Ft. Dix for out-processing the next day..
He was stunned. Bewildered, blindsided. He had no idea his antics would actually result in his discharge.
If they gave him a less-than-honorable discharge, I suspect you would be concerned he was "blindsided."
This admiral wasn't blindsided. He knew well ahead, he would need to decide what to do if the tranny policy changed. He decided.
Now he can go to a liberal college, and be a professor f social change, gender change, career change or whatever.
