Profile: A Marine Transitions

[Carolyn Marie]

http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/19/politics/transgender-military-policy/

This young man will go far, if the bureaucracy doesn't get in his way.

Carolyn Marie

[Briana]

It will certainly be interesting to see how this all plays out.  I live in a "military town" and I see both sides of this...or I should say, I hear both sides of this.  Some of the things I hear are just shocking...downright ugly.  Yet, I also hear many comments of support for those in a similar position as this young man.  Those supportive comments and the people that make them give me much hope that things for our community are going to get better and better over time.

 

[AngieT]

Considering Trump just chose "Mad Dog"Mattis as his SECDEF, things really look grim for the future of serving openly.  Anyone who claims that getting rid of DADT would be extremely detrimental and get soldiers killed is a bad choice as the civilian head at DoD.

All I can do is hope that DoN will complete my request to correct my DD214 before this all gets too far out of control.  Considering the process time for that, I remain pessimistic. 

[Ravin]

Angie, if they do, let me know. My understanding was that DD2-14's don't get altered, though you can update your name/gender in DEERS so that veterans' benefits stuff comes out right.

[Ravin]

In his shoes, I probably would have waited to buy male dress blues until after top surgery and a while on T. That is an expensive uniform and he may well have to replace it come spring!

Seriously, though, this is great news.

[AngieT]

Updating DEERS is pretty simple, and can be done simply by sending the VA a copy of your name change order and ID.  If I remember correctly, I submit my inquiry via the eBenefits website,  The reply I received back was:

Recently you requested assistance from VA. Below is our response. If you wish to reopen this issue, you may do so within the next 14 days. Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you.

Response By Email (Department of Veterans Affairs) We will need a copy of the official documents that caused the change. Please send documents and driver's license to [email protected]. Please include the inquiry number on your email. You will be notified when you have been added to DEERS. Thank you for your service and interest in eBenefits.   For modification of your DD214, you need to fill out a DD149 - Application for Correction of Military Record, Under the Provisions of Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 1552.  Send it in to the appropriate service review board with a copy of your DD214, court orders, etc and hope that the review board approves the changes to your record.  It's not a very intensive process, and the step by step can be found on TAVA or lgbtbar.org  Current DoD policy is very supportive, but if you want your 214 corrected, you may want to at least submit your paperwork before the Trump Administration takes over.  FWIW, as far as I can tell, the process time for a review board decision is currently at approx 1 year, so I'd recommend getting it done ASAP.

[Tanya]

im a retired US Marine.  I served 21 years.  I am a CD and I never dressed as a woman until I got out.

[Tanya]

I personally served under General (Secretary) Mattis, I was one of his Senior Enlisted Advisors. So I know him personally.  Even though the entire time I was in I did not act on my girly tendencies, I don't think it is really a big deal what people do as long as it doesn't affect military readiness.  I think he is more in line with getting rid of political correctness which definitely affects readiness.  I believe his thinking is more in line of what I think.  The military is about defending our nation and our interests abroad whether or not you agree with them is a different story.  The military is not about conforming to political correctness or to be an experiment in any way.  You either have what it takes or not.  That is just my opinion from someone who is experience.  Leave the dressing and being girly for when you are off duty or not serving anymore.

[Carolyn Marie]

7 hours ago, Tanya said:

.That is just my opinion from someone who is experience.  Leave the dressing and being girly for when you are off duty or not serving anymore.

Tanya, there are tens of thousands of cis-women serving on the front lines.  They aren't "girly" when in uniform,and they perform 95% of the same duties as male service members do.  So, what makes you think that any or all trans women service members who come out while on active duty and transitioned would insist on being "girly" while on active duty status?  Why are they any less deserving of respect, and why do you think allowing someone to transition on the job is an "experiment," when allowing cis-women service members is not?

There are dozens of military services around the world who have allowed trans folk to serve for years.  I have heard of none who have found that doing so has negatively affected readiness. 

Carolyn Marie

[Tanya]

Not saying anyone is less effective on the front lines.  I was just saying that Many straight people are not in favor of the openness or accepting for that matter.  You or we can not force our beliefs on them.  Just like I can't force you to believe in a certain religion, or political belief or you get the idea.  It is more of a safety issue for us.  The military is mostly young people with a lot of testosterone and bad things happen.  Sexual assault is much higher in the military than in any other sect of society.  That is all I was saying.  I may not have communicated that clearly.

[Tejana]

On 3/4/2017 at 2:39 PM, Tanya said:

I personally served under General (Secretary) Mattis, I was one of his Senior Enlisted Advisors. So I know him personally.  Even though the entire time I was in I did not act on my girly tendencies, I don't think it is really a big deal what people do as long as it doesn't affect military readiness.  I think he is more in line with getting rid of political correctness which definitely affects readiness.  I believe his thinking is more in line of what I think.  The military is about defending our nation and our interests abroad whether or not you agree with them is a different story.  The military is not about conforming to political correctness or to be an experiment in any way.  You either have what it takes or not.  That is just my opinion from someone who is experience.  Leave the dressing and being girly for when you are off duty or not serving anymore.

On 3/5/2017 at 0:07 AM, Tanya said:

Not saying anyone is less effective on the front lines.  I was just saying that Many straight people are not in favor of the openness or accepting for that matter.  You or we can not force our beliefs on them.  Just like I can't force you to believe in a certain religion, or political belief or you get the idea.  It is more of a safety issue for us.  The military is mostly young people with a lot of testosterone and bad things happen.  Sexual assault is much higher in the military than in any other sect of society.  That is all I was saying.  I may not have communicated that clearly.

I'm inclined to think you communicated your points quite clearly.  Sometimes certain points/perspectives are not well-received, even if/when tolerated.  Good posts; well reasoned; very much appreciated.

21 years....Wow; I'm very impressed w/ your dedication to duty.  Glad you made it to retirement.  [Heard a joke going around about Secretary Mattis....Someone commented that he had a bear-skin rug in his residence.  The person to whom the comment was made inquired if the General had killed the beast himself...to which the commentor stated, "Oh, the bear's not dead; he's just afraid to move.]    Best Wishes, in retirement.

..........................................................

???

P.S. Noted a statement in another post...something about 10's of thousands of cis-gendered women serving on the front lines???   I'm wondering where they're stationed (i.e, of what front lines do we speak???).  Given the degree to which our military has been de-mobilized/reduced-in-size over the past 8 years...and given our retrenchment from foreign wars...I'd be surprised if the U.S had 10's of thousands of troops--male, female, cis, tg/ts, or otherwise--all total on front lines.  [Could be though...I may not be understanding the sense in which the term "front lines" was being used? Or, perhaps the 10's of thousands of cis-gendered women referenced includes other-than US military personnel?]

 

[Carolyn Marie]

43 minutes ago, Tejana said:

P.S. Noted a statement in another post...something about 10's of thousands of cis-gendered women serving on the front lines???   I'm wondering where they're stationed (i.e, of what front lines do we speak???).  Given the degree to which our military has been de-mobilized/reduced-in-size over the past 8 years...and given our retrenchment from foreign wars...I'd be surprised if the U.S had 10's of thousands of troops--male, female, cis, tg/ts, or otherwise--all total on front lines.  [Could be though...I may not be understanding the sense in which the term "front lines" was being used? Or, perhaps the 10's of thousands of cis-gendered women referenced includes other-than US military personnel?]

 

Tejana, I think this should give you a pretty good idea of the numbers I was referencing.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/24/us/military-women-glance/

Carolyn Marie