text: As a current serving member with over 21yrs service in the infantry and as a firefighter, I have served with and currently serve with women and transgender. I was an instructor at the infantry Battleschool and I instructed/evaluated, and passed very fit and competent women. I have worked for a female Platoon commander that was one of the best officers I've worked for. I have served alongside women on multiple deployments to Bosnia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan. In the fire trade I am currently an instructor with plenty of female recruits. We also have transgender firefighters at some of our firehalls. There has never been a time that their abilities, dedication, sacrifice, motivation, fitness, has ever come into question. Too many men still feel insecure. They somehow try to use the excuse.... it's a distraction, they can't meet the same physical standards, etc. There's so much ignorance going around. It blows my mind.