Enlisting soon and have some questions

[AshtonShayne]

I'm pretty sure this is the right place for this, if not feel free to correct me.

I am going to be enlisting in the Army as a 19D Cavalry Scout in a few weeks, just need to finish up the GED (I was homeschooled) and take the ASVAB. I'll probably be shipping out in late January or early February. My recruiter has assured me that there'll be no problem getting in as 19D as it's high-demand right now.

Having just recently realized that I'm transgender, does anyone have tips on what I should do? Should I come out before heading to MEPS? Sometime after OSUT? Or should I just suck it up and come out after I get out? I'm very new to all this and a bit confused.

If I come out before or during my enlistment period, does anyone know what the current atmosphere in the Army is towards transgender folk? Any advice would be welcome. 

[AngieT]

Just my opinion, but I'd refrain from coming out at all until things have settled. If the Trump Administration makes the policy adjustments many of us expect, there will be a return to DADT, and being out could/probably would be sufficient to warrant immediate discharge and permanent disqualification from future service. 

As far as how other soldiers will be, that's debatable.  They'll officially be bound by to follow existing policies, but many/most will NOT be receptive or accepting. 

Regardless, BE CAREFUL. 

[JBfox]

Soooo. I'm trying to think about how to best advice you. I am currently active in the army. Let me first start off by saying that things are slow going. BUT; more importantly, for you is that the military is not currently accepting new Transgender recruits, and the policy bound to take place as of now will only be accepting those who don't have GD. This is fairly important because of how army legal documents and regulations are kept/written. If you join the military without disclosing your gender dsyphoria this can lead to negative repercussions later on in your career.

So with that, it's not recommended that you join and then within a couple months you check yourself into the behavioral health services, and honestly it's even rocky territory that if when you do check in down the line that you probably don't mention you've actively known you had GD prior to your enlistment.

The otherside to this though is that I don't know of any negative blow back cases yet. The army is doing everything it can to interact professionally. Again it's just slow going as they work out all the kinks and find proper resources and contacts for every base. There's only two soldiers in the system where I'm located (myself included) and as of now there's been no issue. My friend has even already come out to their entire unit. They haven't had any work issues outside of noticing some of their peers are acting a bit differently in person encounters. Which i think is expected. For myself, I haven't disclosed to those i've worked with yet.

As for the president-elect, i've had a pretty long conversation with my physiologist about how things might change. While there are no guarantees to anything, medical professions from the bottom- up currently are proceeding on track with no intentions on changing course. Many are believe we've already gone to far to see a reason to go back. Not to mention grandfather Clause, and that the Sec. of the Army is also a gay man. DADT will most likely never return, as for the trans policy, we're are getting far enough down the road that it's becoming unfeasible to turn around.

Kinda just my .02$ on the situation and what I've experienced thus far. 

  

[Jani]

Thank you JB!  Thats the kind of well written and thought out response that is most valuable.  It's encouraging even for those of us not, or no longer in the military.  I was in the Navy during the 70's and kept my thoughts to myself.  I certainly hope that we are down the road enough that it will be difficult, if not impossible to turn the policy around. 

Thanks, Jani

[Briana]

JB, I agree with Jani - nicely done!  And very good advice.  I'm on the backside of a large naval & marine base along with a large naval hospital where I have some interaction.  I don't have anything to add except that it's good advice/info.

[AngieT]

Again, I'd recommend caution until things have calmed down.  Many Trump appointees are going to be anti LGBT, including the proposed SECDEF, who considers LGBT personnel to be detrimental to the the health and readiness of service personnel.  Other current secretaries who are friendly will soon all be replaced, and I really don't foresee any friendly appointments for the next several years. 

There are generally two potential paths...  come out and hope that policies aren't changed by those that are already actively hostile against us, or lay low until you know where things are headed.

[AshtonShayne]

Thanks everyone. I think I'm going to do what Angie suggests and just lay low until things are settled. Hope for the best and prepare for the worst I guess. 

[Guest audrey michelle]

If you have any questions about what its like to be a scout or the training dont be afraid to message me,former 19d20 here. :-)

[Tejana]

On 12/3/2016 at 11:55 AM, AshtonShayne said:

I'm pretty sure this is the right place for this, if not feel free to correct me.I am going to be enlisting in the Army as a 19D Cavalry Scout in a few weeks, just need to finish up the GED (I was homeschooled) and take the ASVAB. I'll probably be shipping out in late January or early February. My recruiter has assured me that there'll be no problem getting in as 19D as it's high-demand right now.Having just recently realized that I'm transgender, does anyone have tips on what I should do? Should I come out before heading to MEPS? Sometime after OSUT? Or should I just suck it up and come out after I get out? I'm very new to all this and a bit confused.If I come out before or during my enlistment period, does anyone know what the current atmosphere in the Army is towards transgender folk? Any advice would be welcome. 

Good luck soldier.  God Speed.

[Ravin]

Quote

Not later tha 1 year from now (July 1, 2017):

• When the training of the force is complete, the military Services will begin accessing transgender applicants who meet all standards—holding them to the same physical and mental fitness standards as everyone else who wants to join the military.

• The gender identity of an otherwise qualified individual will not bar them from joining the military, from admission to our Service Academies, or from participating in ROTC or any other accession program.

• Our initial accession policy will require an individual to have completed any medical treatment that their doctor has determined is necessary in connection with their gender transition, and to have been stable in their preferred gender for 18 months, as certified by their doctor, before they can enter he military.

• This standard will be reviewed no later than 24 months from July 1, 2016 to ensure it reflects what more we learn as this is implemented, as well as the most updated medical information.

This is from the DoD Transgender Policy factsheet.

Of particular importance for you is the third bullet point, as well as the date. As things stand right now, if you disclose that your are transgender, you might not be allowed to enlist right now. However, with the policy in place, if you began transition now, and complete whatever necessary medical treatment is needed along with your legal name change/gender change paperwork, and are stable in your "new" gender for 18 months, you can enlist then.

They are basically treating it like they would other manageable health conditions. For example, when I joined the Navy, I wore glasses and had hypothyroid for which I took medication. The thyroid condition required a waiver for entry, but didn't bar it because the condition was stable on the medication I took. 

It's a bad idea to go the "suck it up" route. The military is psychologically taxing even at the best of times, and dealing with gender dysphoria and not being able to transition on top of that? Based on the current policy, your healthiest and most honest option is to transition first and join up later.