Pentagon officials announced last week that they would provide resources for active-duty transgender soldiers to undergo gender confirmation surgery, as advised by their doctors.

After it was revealed that incarcerated Army Pvt. Chelsea Manning had been given authorization to undergo gender confirmation surgery, a Defense Department spokesperson announced last Monday that the option to pursue the procedure is available to all transgender active-duty troops.

The move is a significant one as it clarifies the scope of medical treatment available for trans soldiers. In previous statements, the Defense Department deemed confirmation and cosmetic surgeries "elective" and not covered by the military health system.

While the benefit does not apply to non-active duty Tricare beneficiaries, spokesman Air Force Maj. Ben Sakrisson said that starting on October 3, the military would cover therapy and hormone treatment for non-active duty trans soldiers.

On June 30, Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced that gender dysphoria is no longer a disqualifying condition for service. Under the new policy, transgender troops must work on a transition plan with a military doctor before undergoing hormone treatment or surgery.

Earlier this month, Chelsea Manning's attorneys stated that the Army had agreed to cover the cost of her gender confirmation surgery, putting an end to the soldier's five-day hunger strike.

A recent report estimated that between 1,300 and 6,600 active-duty personnel are transgender and that between 30 and 120 troops might eventually seek out hormone treatment or gender confirmation surgery.

h/t: Military Times