Ok Forced To Think About This

[Guest Sakura_Stingray]

ok first of all i will say a few things

my mom's b/f has been pushing me to go into the navy ever since i got out of highschool because he was in the navy and stuff.....my mom told me my grandpa was in the navy also.....i would rather have no affiliation to the military in any way i do not trust them and since i am planning to start therepy and hormones and all of that i do not think it should ever be an option for me.

but my mom is insisting on me to think about it and she said that i could go into the airforce instead but still.......i guess what i am trying to say is for me to equaly think about my path i would like to know how the military treats trans and if they have medical plans to help transitioning.......to me if these are not key standings i will not consider thinking about it any further so please i will take any info given to me even though i dread military actions and degrading status levels.

[Guest StrandedOutThere]

Umm... I've never been in the military, but I know people that have. I'm thinking that probably isn't a place you'd want to be while transitioning. Hopefully others can weigh in with a little more concrete info.

[Guest ~Brenda~]

Hey Sakura!!

Your decision to go into the military or not should simply be... do I want to be a soldier. Is the military life for me? Getting to know you a little, I don't think the military is for you!! As a matter of fact, if you have any real doubts about joining the military, don't bother. Part of the military training is to wash out the non-committed. I don't know what to say to you that you can tell your mother, but you could say... Yeah, I could join the navy and then wash out, then what mom?

Just some ideas....

bernii

[Guest April63]

What do you mean when you said that you don't trust the military? Don't trust that they defend our country?

April

[Guest Sakura_Stingray]

lol the not trusting part determines which government official, or which higher ranked officials are absolutely sane to keep not only the country safe but the people who are in their programs......so far what i see is no respect by the high ranked officials to their lower ranked combatants who are actualy doin something....those kinds of evil intentions i have sworn to keep myself far away from

[Sally]

What do you mean when you said that you don't trust the military? Don't trust that they defend our country?

April

Does not trust their treatment of gays and transsexuals and rightly so - they are both ways to get dishonorable discharges which unlike a bad grade in school goes with you for the rest of your life - employers see that and wonder what you did.

No the military is not widely acceptant to transgendered of any stage and do not like treating or paying for any of the transgendered veterans.

If you plan to enter the military to get experience and pay - that's fine, but put transitioning on hold until after you are a civilian again!

I know about the wonderful things that the soldiers do to defend us against all foes and those who would cut into the bank accounts of the oil and defense industries - there have been enough wars over oil and to produce a need for more defense spending.

I have no problem with the military personnel, I love them - it is like everything else - fear the leaders, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely - the higher you get in the military the fewer people above you to answer to and the more below you to blame!

Your rights in the military are greatly reduced - they are working on it but, the people in charge are the ones making the changes - how many Senators have you seen asking to have their salaries cut down to the average for their state - non because they like making really good money!

It is something that we have to deal with - human nature is 'if it's good for me - who cares about anybody else' until that changes stay out of the military if you are transitioning!

Love ya,

Slightly Bitter Sally

[Guest Donna Jean]

Sakura, Sweetie.....

I was in the military.....

First off....you can't transition in the military..It would be a reason for letting you go.

After military service, though...the Veterans Administration does help out with transition in some cases..I know a few folks who are getting therapy through the VA. But the military itself will not help in any way..So if you intend to transition at all, just avoid the military.

If you DO decide to join..choose the Navy or Air Force...there you can gain a technical skill that you can use in civilian life...

I'm not sure what you mean by not trusting the military, but that can be a valid point... I was doused with Agent Orange in Viet Nam and have health problems related to that...We were not told that it was dangerous or even where it was and to avoid it...

And recruiters today will promise you in writing a certain job when you join...only to find yourself in the infantry kicking in doors in Baghdad! The contracts that they sign for you are not binding....read the fine print!

What do you mean when you said that you don't trust the military? Don't trust that they defend our country?

No, not that at all, April....

But, Sakura was asking for someone who has been there and I have! These are my observations and personal experience.

Sakura, Hon...If you have any doubts at all...forget about it. You can't transition in any branch of the military.....OK?

I hope that I cleared some things up for you!

****BIGG HUGG****

Donna Jean

[Guest Sakura_Stingray]

thanks sally that was the information/encouragement i needed to stop thinking about my moms request ^.^ atleast now i can say i did not, not try to think about it lol

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Don't do it if you have ANY hesitations. The military is NOT for everyone. It will not necessarily solve any of your problems or self doubts. The advice above is excellant, especially from those who have been there done that! And I was headed toward a career in the Army, when a light bulb went off! I was NOT military material, and I bailed out. This was after basic training.

Good luck on your journey

lizzy

[Guest nova]

A very close friend of mine is a transgendered veteran and she told me that because she joined as a male, her enlistment and separation documents are all in her former identity and the VA absolutely refuses to to change these. The VA hospital respects her female identity, but yet she says she gets appointment letters addressed to Mr._____, and some staff will stare straight at her and call her sir, Mr., etc. The thing to consider is; your VA records may provide a very easy way for someone to find and disclose your former identity and,--unless that's OK with you--it should go without saying that this could create serious problems. Apparently the VA is considering some positive changes for vets, possibly even providing an SRS benefit. If you're dead set on enlisting, and it's YOUR decision, you might want to wait and see what happens with this.

[Guest Leah1026]

A very close friend of mine is a transgendered veteran and she told me that because she joined as a male, her enlistment and separation documents are all in her former identity and the VA absolutely refuses to to change these. The VA hospital respects her female identity, but yet she says she gets appointment letters addressed to Mr._____, and some staff will stare straight at her and call her sir, Mr., etc. The thing to consider is; your VA records may provide a very easy way for someone to find and disclose your former identity and,--unless that's OK with you--it should go without saying that this could create serious problems. Apparently the VA is considering some positive changes for vets, possibly even providing an SRS benefit. If you're dead set on enlisting, and it's YOUR decision, you might want to wait and see what happens with this.

Okay. First, you can change your name on your DD214 (Discharge paper) and that's all you need because SEX does NOT appear on the DD214.

Some VA centers are transphobic, but that IS changing. The VA has recently started revising it's policies in regards to transgender/transsexual people. There were some good VA centers before, but most were poor. That should start changing now. However, the bad news is VA endo's and therapists have very little experience with us. I would advise people if they have the resources to avoid the VA. Eventually they'll get better, but do you want to be a guinea pig?

For now the military deems transsexual people not fit for military service. However, as far as I know they only administratively discharge folks now, Bad conduct discharges are a thing of the past. In addition I know some folks who have actually started transitioning ON DUTY. I know one person who got an orchie while awaiting their discharge. They still had to present as their birth gender, but they are getting less phobic all the time. I think we will eventually be welcome to serve, but I think that's still 10 years away.

me-Air Force vet

[Guest nova]

Okay. First, you can change your name on your DD214 (Discharge paper) and that's all you need because SEX does NOT appear on the DD214.

Some VA centers are transphobic, but that IS changing. The VA has recently started revising it's policies in regards to transgender/transsexual people. There were some good VA centers before, but most were poor. That should start changing now. However, the bad news is VA endo's and therapists have very little experience with us. I would advise people if they have the resources to avoid the VA. Eventually they'll get better, but do you want to be a guinea pig?

For now the military deems transsexual people not fit for military service. However, as far as I know they only administratively discharge folks now, Bad conduct discharges are a thing of the past. In addition I know some folks who have actually started transitioning ON DUTY. I know one person who got an orchie while awaiting their discharge. They still had to present as their birth gender, but they are getting less phobic all the time. I think we will eventually be welcome to serve, but I think that's still 10 years away.

me-Air Force vet

My friend want's to know how she can get her records changed. More than a year ago she filed VA form 21-4138 (a statement notifying the VA of her name and gender change with attached court documents) with the help of her county veterans service office. (San Francisco) She requested that the VA change all records to reflect her legal name and gender. Her VA hospital records were changed, but as mentioned, they still call her mister to her face and in correspondences. The VA would not change her name on her pension checks, and after eight months of trying in vain, she got one of her state senators to pressure the VA to change her name on her checks. Today, she called the District office again, and this time I was by her side, and the VA gave her the same line, You joined as a man named ____, and it cannot be changed on your enlistment and discharge papers. How did you do it? She thanks you.

[Guest nova]

Leah, I forgot to mention,

She showed me her documents she received upon discharge, (honorable) and stapled to her DD-214 were copies of her enlistment contract with other service records, and this does show her sex, which was Male when she enlisted. She wants to know if you got your sex or 'gender marker' changed on your records and how to do this. We both thank you!

[Guest Leah1026]

Leah, I forgot to mention,

She showed me her documents she received upon discharge, (honorable) and stapled to her DD-214 were copies of her enlistment contract with other service records, and this does show her sex, which was Male when she enlisted. She wants to know if you got your sex or 'gender marker' changed on your records and how to do this. We both thank you!

I can explain that. There are two versions of the DD214. There's a long version, which it sounds like she has, and a short version that I have. The short version, which is just as valid as the long one, does not list sex.

The name change requires going through the bureacracy. Let me see if I still have the form.....

Found it!

That's lucky I thought I had thrown it out.

It's DD Form 149 Application For Correction Of Military Record.

I don't recall where I got the form and I've never sent it in. Guess I should do it in conjunction with asking for a new copy of my CCAF degree again (they never replied the first time).

[Guest nova]

I can explain that. There are two versions of the DD214. There's a long version, which it sounds like she has, and a short version that I have. The short version, which is just as valid as the long one, does not list sex.

The name change requires going through the bureacracy. Let me see if I still have the form.....

Found it!

That's lucky I thought I had thrown it out.

It's DD Form 149 Application For Correction Of Military Record.

I don't recall where I got the form and I've never sent it in. Guess I should do it in conjunction with asking for a new copy of my CCAF degree again (they never replied the first time).

Leah,

Thanks for that. I know she'll be happy for the info. I think she'll know where to ask for the form. Thank You!

[Guest DeniseNM]

Sakura you have gotten some good advice about joining the military and I will only add a little more to what has already been said. Been there done that as the saying goes. I spent almost 15 years in the military between Army Reserve and Active Navy. There are good and bad things about the military (between my dad, my brother and myself we covered all four branches). If you have any, and I repeat ANY, reservations about being in the military then do not join, it isn't for everybody. I enjoyed my time in but I also realized while in Iraq that it was time to let others play soldier too. To me with the reservations you have I would say do not join because I have seen others while I was in who joined the military to please their parents and they were absolutely miserable. All of that is just my humble opinion though. Oh and as has been said you can't really transition while in the military.

Denise

[Guest Lisa F]

Sakura,

I served 21 years in the Coast Guard. Don't discount this branch of the service. Generally speaking it is a more member friendly service and you don't have to kill anyone...hopefully.

That being said you absolutely should NOT do this for anyone but yourself. If you are in fact pre transition then any military service is a bad idea (my opinion).

this leaves you in a tough spot, do your parents know about your gender issues?

good luck,

Lisa

[Guest Donna Jean]

Oh, yes, Lisa....

A former Anchor Clanker....lol

That is good advice...the Coast Guard does not serve overseas (except back in Viet Nam, but, that was an exception) and is a people friendly branch of the service....

I have a friend "Roger" who served his entire time on Lake Erie out of downtown Cleveland....

OMG there are some mean ones coming across from Canada!.....LOL...lol

Another friend "Kenny" served his whole time cruising around Key West and the Bahamas......Bummer....lol

But, like we all said...you can't transition in any service....and don't join for anyone's wishes except your own!

Good luck, Honey....

Donna Jean

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Sakura

We never heard back from you on this. How did it go?

My parents pressured me to join the military. Fortunately the military didn't want me in the end - but that was a long lime ago (Vietnam was winding down and they already had too many officers).

But it is such a big thing for you - let us know what happened?

Lizzy