MEMORANDUM FOR SECRETARIES OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS
SUBJECT: Transgender Service Members
Effective as of July 13, 2015, no Service member shall be involuntarily separated or denied
reenlistment or continuation of active or reserve service on the basis of their gender identity,
without the personal approval of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. This
approval authority may not be further delegated.
The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness will chair a working group composed of
senior representatives from each of the Military Departments, Joint Staff, and relevant components
from the Office of the Secretary of Defense to formulate policy options for the DoD regarding the
military service of transgender Service members. The working group will start with the presumption
that transgender persons can serve openly without adverse impact on military effectiveness and
readiness, unless and except where objective, practical impediments are identified, and shall
present its recommendations to me within 180 days. Pending the issuance of DoD-wide policy
following the submission of the working group's report, any
interim guidance issued by the Military Departments will be coordinated with, and subject to the
prior personal approval of, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. If
questions relating to the service of transgender members arise, the Military Departments should
address them to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.
What about Fitness Standards... Males and Females have different standards. Height and Weight as well.
cc: DepSecDef CJCS USDs
DoD, GC ASD(LA) ATSD(PA)
SUBJECT: Transgender Service Members
Effective as of July 13, 2015, no Service member shall be involuntarily separated or denied
reenlistment or continuation of active or reserve service on the basis of their gender identity,
without the personal approval of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. This
approval authority may not be further delegated.
The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness will chair a working group composed of
senior representatives from each of the Military Departments, Joint Staff, and relevant components
from the Office of the Secretary of Defense to formulate policy options for the DoD regarding the
military service of transgender Service members. The working group will start with the presumption
that transgender persons can serve openly without adverse impact on military effectiveness and
readiness, unless and except where objective, practical impediments are identified, and shall
present its recommendations to me within 180 days. Pending the issuance of DoD-wide policy
following the submission of the working group's report, any
interim guidance issued by the Military Departments will be coordinated with, and subject to the
prior personal approval of, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. If
questions relating to the service of transgender members arise, the Military Departments should
address them to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.
What about Fitness Standards... Males and Females have different standards. Height and Weight as well.
cc: DepSecDef CJCS USDs
DoD, GC ASD(LA) ATSD(PA)
