By James Nault, USNA ’81, ret Navy Captain
In late June, the U.S. Army, through the Army Sustainment Command’s Public Affairs office, published a story about one Major “Rachel” Jones, pictured above, who is the Army Sustainment Command Cyber Division chief, G6 (Information Management).
Jones is transgender, and the story has generated massive online criticism from almost everyone in the online world, including Jordan Peterson, and others. . . .
. . . .Where to begin.
First, how did Jones, or anyone for that matter, ever meet the mental health standards to be admitted into the armed forces in the first place when he “struggled with depression and suicidal ideation for most of h[is] life,” “lived every day deeply depressed and suicidal,” and “grew up depressed and suicidal to the point that [he] always had a plan to end [his] life.”
The military, obviously, can be a very stressful environment, not the least of which is that you face death from time to time, either in the combat environment, or from mother nature herself.
Stable, well-adjusted individuals who can cope with that kind of stress are who are needed, not people who are chronically depressed and suicidal.
In fact, such individuals are not only a danger to themselves and others in a wartime environment, but consume massive amounts of military medical resources that are required elsewhere for maximum combat effectiveness.
It is stating the obvious to say that such individuals should not be serving in the military.
Second, how did Jones pass the pre-deployment medical screening required to ensure that those who deploy overseas, potentially into hostile war zones, are not suicidal and a threat to themselves, others, and the mission?
Third, how does Jones pass the Army Physical Fitness Test or meet the Army’s Height and Weight Standards. Officers who are out of standards have a corrosive effect on combat effectiveness that can affect an entire command and should not be tolerated.
Fourth, why does the Army’s own photo profiling Jones should Jones holding two pride flags, and not American flags, which are nowhere to be seen in the story.
Fifth, I would like to state for the record that when I was Commanding Officer of USS Toledo (SSN-769), an attack submarine, I did not have a purple whale plush toy on my desk. Just saying.
In all seriousness, this is the latest example, in a continuing string of disturbing developments, of the U.S. military prioritizing the individual over accomplishing the mission, as we have reported:
- Navy Drag Queen Recruiters – Definitive Evidence that the Military has Lost Its Way
- Sen. Tom Cotton Introduces Bill to Stop Teaching CRT in the Military
- Pentagon Burdens Warfighting Commanders with New Transgender Policies for Military Personnel
- Priorities: Defense Dept. Holds Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion “Summit” As Military Fentanyl Overdoses Surge
- Nearly 70 Percent of Military Personnel Have Witnessed “Growing Politicization” of Armed Forces, New Poll Reveals
In my opinion, the U.S. military has completely lost its focus on prioritizing combat effectiveness. Profiling military personnel with significant self-reported mental health issues, including suicide, does little to convince me otherwise. . . . (read more on Legal Insurrection)
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