The Navy’s top enlisted sailor offered his support for transgender sailors currently serving in the Navy during a visit to a Navy base in South Korea last week, the Stars and Stripes reported.
“We are honored and blessed to have you on our team, and you will continue to have my support,” Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (IW/SG) Steven Giordano told Stars and Stripes following an all hands call on April 27 during a visit to the U.S. naval base in Chinhae, South Korea.
“We treat all sailors with dignity and respect, we treat all sailors fair and equitable.”
Giordano wasn’t quoted as saying anything further on the subject, but his Army counterpart, Sergeant Major of the Army Daniel Dailey, echoed comments previously made by his boss, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, at a Pentagon press conference April 20.
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In recent testimony, all of the service chiefs said they haven’t seen any negative impacts on unit cohesion because of open transgender service.
“I agree with the chief. We haven’t heard any issues or concerns, and I personally have not had any issues or concerns,” Dailey told reporters, according to a CNN report.
Secretary of Defense James Mattis was questioned about his intent to ban transgender service in some situations, but declined much comment.
Mark D. Faram is a former reporter for Navy Times. He was a senior writer covering personnel, cultural and historical issues. A nine-year active duty Navy veteran, Faram served from 1978 to 1987 as a Navy Diver and photographer.
