Military

[Guest DylanK]

Hi,

Ive been recently thinking of joining the military, but I am kind of curious about what exactly the experience would be like. Has anyone here been in the US military? I hate the fact that I would have to be known as my feminine name and as a female, but I desperately need the money to pay off a 4,000$ engagement ring as well as school loans. If anyone could offer any advice or anything really, it'd be a great help.

[Guest Huff]

I'm a vet.

Don't join the military just to get money. Do it because you want to be a soldier (or sailor, marine, airman, or, god forbid, a coastie).

Once you sign the line, no transition until you're done AND if you have a female partner, you'll have to keep that under wraps... which could be hard to do if you're actually in a long-term relationship.

That said, I loved being a soldier. I miss the uniform, the getting up at 4:00AM to run around like a bunch of idiots, training to do cool stuff, etc, etc. It's an OK place if you can settle for being a masculine female rather than a transguy.

If you have more specific questions about basic training or deploying to Iraq or army life in general, PM me.

MK

[Guest Leah1026]

Hi,

Ive been recently thinking of joining the military, but I am kind of curious about what exactly the experience would be like. Has anyone here been in the US military? I hate the fact that I would have to be known as my feminine name and as a female, but I desperately need the money to pay off a 4,000$ engagement ring as well as school loans. If anyone could offer any advice or anything really, it'd be a great help.

If you're going to join I'd suggest either the Air Force, Navy or Coast Gaurd. The Army and Marines are just a little too..... fatal right now. The key is to try to pick a career field that you can do in civilian life for decent money. Barring that dump loads of money into an education fund and go to school when you get out. The military has been a step ladder up for countless folks. I used my education money to pay for most of my schooling when I got out and (not bragging) now I make $70k.

And now for the mandatory "be careful" note: Transsexualism automatically gets you discharged from the service if they find out. So don't go talking to folks about trans stuff because you could find yourself administratively discharghed PDQ. The US is so far behind many other nations. Did you know you can transition while on duty in Canada? And you can serve in Britain and other countries as well? One caveat about Canada: They allow you to stay in and finance your transition IF you are a career person and have a good record. Transalation: You can't just join and transition immediately.

AF vet

[Guest Viccy]

Dylan , I am a Marine and proud of it. That said you have to think carefully here , money is not a reason to join. If you do decide to join to to serve your country , think about what you want out of it .... a career or just a step up , military service opens alot of doors for you. Now , MOS (military occupational skill) is something you have to have in mind and prepare for or you could end up in a field that does not transulate into civilian life as mine. If you are looking for a career after the service and you are looking to devlop a skill then I would have to say , recommend the Air Force or the Navy would offer your best chance at a future after the service. Do not get me wrong the Army offers good skills and the Marines offer great skills along with a tough grit and discipline, as we say "A Few Good Men" not evryone can make into the Corps were they can into other services. Good luck in your desicion.

[Guest Chad Micheals]

Hi,

Ive been recently thinking of joining the military, but I am kind of curious about what exactly the experience would be like. Has anyone here been in the US military? I hate the fact that I would have to be known as my feminine name and as a female, but I desperately need the money to pay off a 4,000$ engagement ring as well as school loans. If anyone could offer any advice or anything really, it'd be a great help.

the best is to join up in air force, navy or army gaurd... they all play big cash but you need to realy think about it and take to the recuters and ask more and more what they can give..

if your not fit in body ur going to be.. but if you in transion its not going to be easy at all.. i'm active duty army and was int hwe gaurd.. i'm hinding a part of myself for beign in but i love what i do.. you better love what you do ti do this job...

i'm re-uping down range so i can buy a house and doing my top surgery out of my own punch... but i'l still in college and all that.. if you want in for cash don;t do it.. be a soldier for the life you be doing...

email me or im at any time batiras {AT} yahoo.com to talk ok i'll be gone in the field for 60 days but i'll find a way to check it ok

[Guest Alice4016]

I'm sorry I can not recommend the military to anyone...don't become another statistic...work at burger king if you really have to. Why sign your life, your transition, your relationships away? You said you only needed the money..then work a regular job...don't get caught up in the recruitment nonsense! It's a bad choice if your in for the money...

Peace, love, and health,

Alice

[Guest Ashley Laura]

I recently joined the Marine Corps. Let me tell you, BIG MISTAKE. The benefits are just not worth giving up your freedoms for 4-5 years of your life. Medical is a joke, they give you Motrin for everything. Poor pay, poor work environment, poor housing. The chowhall food is disgusting. It's really unhealthy and not very tasty. No wonder we have to pt so much. Just to stay as healthy as if we had just eaten normal food. You will be micromanaged by a bunch of people who really don't have any more of an idea than you do what is going on. And in order for me to go home and visit my family, I have to get approval from at least 6 different people. It's just worth the trouble.

This is, of course, just one person's experience and opinion.

[Guest DylanK]

Hey,

Thank you for everyone who responded, it helped. After flip-floping alot, I have (mostly) decided that I'm going to join the Air Force. I just have a few questions for anyone who has been in that, that are sorta keeping me from a definite answer, and I can't really ask anywhere else. =P. If anyone knows any of the answers, it would be amazing. i can't really ask some to a recruiter if I want in, or I just can't find it on Google.

1. (lol) Do you have to wear a skirt with the AF dress uniform?

2. How discrete do you have to be in consideration to a significant other. My fiancee is all excited and wanting to post little "My Airman" stuff on her myspace and stuff and I dont know how...safe? that is... I get her wanting to proud and it makes me feel great that shes using all the things, I just dont know how in debt they look at the people around you? I guess I might being a little paranoid, but rather be safe than sorry, yanno?

and just one more,

3. I dont really know how to word this question without being really blunt, as my fiancee next to me keeps saying it out loud, but... uh, does ...underwear of choice matter? lol I dont wear the....girly....stuff, and I wanna know if they would even give that a second thought. lol.

Thank you again.

[Guest harvester52]

I was in Air Force JROTC in high school. I know it's not the same thing, but even in the JROTC, they VERY clearly drew the gender lines. They even checked my shoes to make sure I was wearing the WOMEN's shoes they issued me (even though I told them that I needed men's shoes because the shape of women's shoes hurt my feet.) I had to wear a uniform that was tailored to a woman's body (when I have a very masculine, athletic build) that was horridly uncomfortable. The women were issued skirts, but we had the option of wearing pants the year I was in. The very next year (luckily I got out), biological females HAD to wear the skirt. It was a very unpleasant experience for me.

[Guest Huff]

I was in the army, so I can't answer you for sure about the AF, but here's my experience for what it's worth...

1. (lol) Do you have to wear a skirt with the AF dress uniform?

in the army, yes. not often, but yes.

2. How discrete do you have to be in consideration to a significant other. My fiancee is all excited and wanting to post little "My Airman" stuff on her myspace and stuff and I dont know how...safe? that is... I get her wanting to proud and it makes me feel great that shes using all the things, I just dont know how in debt they look at the people around you? I guess I might being a little paranoid, but rather be safe than sorry, yanno?

Well, they won't go looking for that kind of stuff, so you're mostly safe there. It's the fact that she won't be able to live with you that is going to be the most bothersome... consider joining the reserves or air national guard - it'd be WAY, WAY easier to keep your fiancee and be in the service and solve your debt issue all at the same time.

3. I dont really know how to word this question without being really blunt, as my fiancee next to me keeps saying it out loud, but... uh, does ...underwear of choice matter? lol I dont wear the....girly....stuff, and I wanna know if they would even give that a second thought. lol.

Umm... yeah... they'll notice if you're wearing men's underwear and that would draw unnecessary attention. That won't be as much of an issue when you're out of the initial training where you're in barracks living conditions and under the nose of drill instructors. So, show up to Basic with plain white female briefs and just kind of suck it up for a few months until you really get the feel of how things are.

Hope that helps.

MK

[Guest raydub]

i cant lie.. ive mulled it over quite a few times over the past 3 years or so.. whether to join the Marines or not. in grad school as my life was falling apart (early 2006) , i contacted a recruiter. was in the best shape of my life too.. had been practicing martial arts and kickboxing for almost a year by then i think. i would have gone to OTC.. luckily (depending on how you look at it) i told him about the tatoo i had on my wrist .. and even though it could be covered with a watch band he told me that they wouldnt take me because of it. (the Staff Sergeant had also mentioned earlier in the discussion that i both did more situps/day than he did and ran longer than he did on any given Sunday.) its kinda funny, but im still a little bitter about it. my dad was a Marine (not for long though because of early on-set type 2 diabetes) and my grandfather an Army man. even then though i despised the women uniform and only saw myself in the mens dress uniforms despite my denial at the time...and the amounts of liquor i could put away. lol.. im MUCH better now.

i say that to say that i still sometimes consider joining. strange as it may sound, i love the idea of pt.. weapons training.. the discipline.. the structure. i think id make a good marine.

anyway....*shakes it off*

..yeah. Good to see youre making decisions to better your future Dylan.

Take care man.. and BE SAFE in there (if you do indeed decide to join).

Ray

[Guest Cal]

Shoot...after reading through this, I'm not sure I want to join anymore.

You have to wear a skirt sometimes??

Like you HAVE to? Oh my goodness sexist..

D: