William Petroski

bpetrosk@dmreg.com

The top uniformed officer in the Iowa National Guard said Monday that no accommodations are currently being made for transgender soldiers and airmen.

Maj. Gen. Tim Orr, adjutant general of the 9,100-member Iowa National Guard, told reporters at a news conference at Camp Dodge that the Guard falls under federal laws and regulations of the U.S. Department of Defense, which has not provided specific guidance or regulations regarding transgender military members.

"We know that we will probably see something in the future, but until that comes out, we have not made any accommodations in our facilities at this stage. No, sir," Orr said.

Asked specifically if the Iowa National Guard has any soldiers or airmen who currently identify as transgender, Orr replied, "Not at this point in time, none."

Orr spoke Monday at Gov. Terry Branstad's weekly news briefing, which was held at the Gold Star Museum at Camp Dodge to highlight upcoming Memorial Day events and attractions at the museum. Camp Dodge is located in Johnston.

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., last week that being transgender isn't a bar to making it in the U.S. military because the top priority is accomplishing the mission.

"It's the quality and readiness of the force that matters. That's the goal. Keep that in front of us," Carter said, according to Military.com.

The secretary said the Pentagon is still developing policies regarding transgender personnel, adding that "practical issues" will need to be considered.