TG Vet Name Changes: Army Won't Update DD-214

[Carolyn Marie]

http://www.csnphilly.com/article/transgender-vets-want-army-change-names

Carolyn Marie

[Guest LizMarie]

DoD's policy on this is absurd but so is everything at this point about DoD's continued positions on transgender service members so it's not surprising.

[Charlize]

I am amazed at the "citizen soldiers" of our nation. They seem to function independently from our government and in some instances almost in opposition. Having had social security, medicare and a passport changed recently i had little trouble once i'd gotten the forms just right. That was a nuisance but certainly not as bad as what faces our brothers and sisters who are leaving the DoD. It is an interesting organization sometimes liberal as in integration due to race and yet so backward in other ways. Old school i guess. They are doing better with the gob community now how about the T.

Hugs,

Charlize

[StephanieVikingGirl]

Well, I had not thought about it before seeing this news, but now that I have, it is disturbing. I sometimes tell people of my military service, and while I am still many months away from changing my name, it would be nice if my records had my new name. I was Army National Guard (ARNG) of Maryland from 1986 to 1992, and then on independant ready reserve (IRR) from 1993 to 1994. I wasn't the typical gung-ho infantry sergeant, but I got the mission accomplished. I hope the Department of Defense gets into the 21st century on this, and accepts our service as they would any other patriotic citizen. A simple name change on our DD-214s would be a move in the right direction,

Stephanie the Viking Girl (formerly a Dragon Team Leader in HQ platoon, A company, 1st battalion, 115th regiment, 29th Infantry Division and kinda proud of it)

[Guest JaneShannon]

So name changes in the military are not a big deal. It us common for women who marry and take their husbands name, and common for hispanics who have corrected their names to mtch their ethnic conventions. There is no reason their systems cannot reflect your legal name.

What they cannot change is your old documentation. Past evaluations and awards will always reflect one's legal, military, name at the time. I also doubt the military will change the sex in a form from male to female.

As far as the difficulties. For the US military, it is all volunteers. No one has been forced to join for decades. When you aagree to join our ranks you agree to live within military systems and standards. However, I do agree the military is both shockingly progressive and conservative at the same time.

[StephanieVikingGirl]

Hmmm, well I have never used my veteran status except to get discounted tuition at Napa Valley College, so I could study Viticulture, and Enology. I had to give them a copy of my DD-214 for the veteran's discount. Since I am much, much closer to changing my I.D. documents, I wonder what will happen if I need the DD-214 for future discounts. I am guessing that I will have to provide additional documentation showing that my name was legally changed. This will of course "out me as trans" to whatever institution I am trying to get veteran's status from methinks. Yep, I volunteered for Army National Guard service way back in 1986 when I was just 27 years old. Since my unit didn't get deployed, I don't get much in the way of benefits (practically nil in fact). So a few discounts, and the ability to get a VA loan should I ever buy another house is the best I can get. Pretty soon, I might not be able to get that without outing myself. Oh, well.

Stephanie

[Ravin]

In Arizona, you can get a veteran endorsement on your state I.D. I did this at the same time I had my name changed over, so iI can just show that for discounts. Most places for informal purposes like discounts will take member cards from orgs like VFW or American Legion, VA cards, etc., as well.

I figure for anything like federal job application where there's priority hiring and such, background checks would also be a factor so it's not worth trying to hide then.

[StephanieVikingGirl]

Hi Ravin,

I don't know if California has anything like Arizona's state I.D. thing., but I should be able to look it up, thanks. I don't belong to any of the organizations you listed, but I am a member of the Pentagon Credit Union. I don't know if that would help get veteran discounts though, probably not. Since my unit wasn't deployed I don't get veteran preference points for Federal employment purposes. I am very familiar with background checks. I used to hold a TS SCI clearance with the DOD, and a Q clearance with the DOE. I held those clearances for many, many years. I am proud of that. Hmm, maybe after my name/gender change I could apply for some clearance required jobs. I had thought that I was through with that segment of my life, but who knows, never say never.

hugs,

Stephanie

[Guest JaneShannon]

Old military documents cannot be the only thing with your old name on it. How would something like your college or high school diploma work to prove the old you is still the new you? I don't mean any, not a tiny bit, of disrespect. It is just a question?

[StephanieVikingGirl]

Hi Jane,

You brought up an excellent point that I hadn't thought of yet. Since I am going to change my name/gender on I.D. documents pretty soon, in fact I am kinda only waiting on enough money for a decent wardrobe of female clothes. I do have a lot of old name documents to consider. College diploma, and transcript from the University of Maryland, Letter of Appreciation for service as a member of the Iraq Survey Group, etc.. Hmm....Oh well, I guess those things kinda rule out going stealth if I need them for a job, and they want documentation. Fortunately society is becoming more trans friendly nowadays, especially here in California. I was just discussing my possibilities of future employment as Stephanie with my 82 year old friend Richard Graeser, and he was saying how I could only make so much in the wine industry whether it be tours, or tasting room. We then discussed whether I might be interested in pursuing another administrative type employment, but that would require documentation from my previous career. He did compliment me on how much more feminine I am looking nowadays (he has known me a long time before I came out as trans). I am eating some Trader Joe's Pork Loin Chops, and sipping 2002 Graeser Winery Merlot as I type this (he gives me free wine for helping bottle occasionally).

Stephanie

[gennee]

I tried getting a new copy of my DD-214 a couple of years ago. They said that they couldn't do anything because my file was put in an obsolete area because I served in the seventies. That really struck me as crazy and weird.

[Guest JaneShannon]

Gennee,

One of the archives had a fire a few years ago. Your stuff could have been in there. However, I'd think if your records were lost you should be able to have it recreated. You might check with your VA, transition center, or retirement services office (if you are retired)

[Guest LizMarie]

You brought up an excellent point that I hadn't thought of yet. Since I am going to change my name/gender on I.D. documents pretty soon, in fact I am kinda only waiting on enough money for a decent wardrobe of female clothes.

Side issue - the fastest way I found to expand my wardrobe was thrift shops. And just this last Monday, I discovered that one of our local Salvation Army stores has half off on Mondays for those over age 50 and half off for everyone on Saturdays. So guess where I'm going back this Saturday? Right now all my business suits (all three blazer/skirt combos) are from thrift shop finds. And three of my favorite casual skirts and the 7 or 8 blouses that I like best are all thrift shop finds as well. And so are 6 of my 8 pairs of shoes.

And I now return you all to your regularly scheduled DD-214 discussion.

[StephanieVikingGirl]

Thanks for the suggestion! All three of my skirts came from a church yard sale shortly after I "came out". Unfortunately since I didn't try them on, only one of them fits properly. Now that I pass well enough, I will check out thrift stores to add to my meager wardrobe. The DD-214 can wait for years, not really that important at this moment. Thanks again.

Stephanie

[Guest CassieX]

Just out of interest. You can update your Veterans prefernce document to reflect you current name. The only document that i have come across that I could not presently update is the DD-214. Having a DD-214 that does not reflect your current legal name is not an impediment to using it to update other documents, you just have to prove you had a legal name change. Yes, that could be potentially embarrassing for some but considering all the places you have to change documents, I quickly stopped caring about that.

Cassie