Bradley Manning wants to become a female

I know it's horrible, but my mum said he would be very popular in prison if he identifies as a female.

I'm confused about this quote though:

Why would gender-identity issues have anything to do with his performance in the army? and why should he have been removed? are they saying he should have been removed from his position because of it? or am I reading this wrong? (likely). If it is saying what I think it's saying, why is his DEFENSE saying it?

I was unsure of whether to call him "him" or "her" in this case, but I suppose he is still legally a man.

Call her a her. She believes that she is a woman, respect her identity.

As for why she should have been recalled, I'd imagine there could be a reasonable amount of judgment issues stemming from unsolved gender issues? Maybe?