By Michelle Thibeau, USMA 2014 grad
The Defense Department’s decision to eliminate identity-based observances such as Pride Month is a necessary step toward refocusing the military on its core mission: warfighting.
The military exists to defend our nation, not to serve as a platform for social engineering.
Prioritizing readiness, unit cohesion and operational effectiveness over identity politics strengthens the force and ensures that every service member is held to the same rigorous standards.
The military’s primary objective is to prepare for and win wars. Identity-based celebrations create unnecessary distractions that divert attention from this mission.
More concerning, the emphasis on identity over capability raises critical questions about mental and physical readiness, particularly among transgender service members, who experience significantly higher rates of mental health issues than their peers.
A study published in LGBT Health found that transgender service members suffered greater rates of anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and suicidality.
A study from Federal Practitioner highlighted that transgender veterans and service members have worse mental health outcomes and higher odds of suicidality than others.
These statistics pose significant risks to military effectiveness and unit cohesion.
Beyond mental health, ongoing hormone treatments required for gender transition introduce complications. Hormone therapy can cause mood fluctuations, decreased physical performance and unpredictable health effects, which can impair combat readiness.
The military enforces strict medical and fitness standards because every service member must be at peak health to perform their duties effectively. There are no exceptions for other medical conditions, and gender dysphoria — a diagnosis classified under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illnesses — is no different.
Ending the celebration of “identity months” may seem like a small victory. Still, it is an important step toward restoring a warrior culture that values service, sacrifice and skill over personal identity.
The military is not a social club; it is an institution dedicated to national defense.
The effectiveness of a fighting force depends on unity, discipline and resilience, not ideological division.
Dividing service members into identity groups invariably weakens morale and cohesion.
Military success depends on unity, not diversity quotas or ideological programs.
As I previously highlighted, research suggests that transgender individuals experience higher rates of PTSD, depression and substance abuse, but symbolic celebrations do nothing to address these issues. The military should focus on serious policy changes that prioritize mission effectiveness over self-expression.
Rather than dedicating resources to identity-based programming, the Defense Department should direct its efforts toward addressing service members’ real challenges.
Data reveals that people with gender dysphoria attempt suicide at nine times the rate of the general population. Service members with this diagnosis are also nine times more likely to require mental health interventions.
The military should prioritize robust mental health services rather than symbolic gestures that do little to address underlying issues.
In removing identity months, the Defense Department reaffirms the core values that make the military strong: character, discipline and performance.
Every service member should be judged by their ability to meet the rigorous demands of military life, not by personal identity.
Data shows that transgender service members experience higher rates of mental health struggles, raising legitimate questions about deployability and fitness for duty.
The military must ensure that all service members meet the high standards necessary for mission success.
This policy shift is not about exclusion; it is about maintaining a combat-ready, resilient force focused on the mission.
The military’s success depends on unity, capability and discipline.
Removing identity-based celebrations is a step in the right direction, ensuring that the armed forces remain the most effective fighting force in the world.
• Michelle Thibeau is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and is deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
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