Canadian Military

[PandaValentine]

Did a little researching.  There used to be a requirement of 152 cm (before that it was 158 cm), but I think they have dropped that.  Now it seems to be occupation-specific rather than an enrollment standard.

I hope so. I also found the same thing, but I found something else stating it was 5'4" so I think I just better wait until they contact me. I just hate not knowing, it sucks if that's going to be the thing I'm discriminated against. This will truly only destroy any self esteem I have left. Oh boy.

[Nathan90]

I'm sorry that it's causing you anxiety man, but there is a good chance that it might be not an enrollment standard. Though it would be the case if I were to serve on the front line. Maybe it's something with equipment sizes, I'm not sure. Hope it's different in Canada.

[Devlyn]

When I joined the US Army, I had to get a waiver for a knee surgery I had as a kid. It would have been a disqualifier, but as long as a doctor said I had normal function they let me in. Ask the recruiter if you need a height waiver.

[PandaValentine]

I'm sorry that it's causing you anxiety man, but there is a good chance that it might be not an enrollment standard. Though it would be the case if I were to serve on the front line. Maybe it's something with equipment sizes, I'm not sure. Hope it's different in Canada.

The front line is kind of where I want to be, I like the action an infantry soldier is faced with. The other job that interests me is a medical technician, which is a soldier first... so that doesn't help. 5 business days and I find out. I put off reenlisting in school to, because the army is my only motivation to finish schooling - I have no other use for an education with the things I want to do in life. Well I suppose the next time I post under this topic will be once I receive those emails, because I can't see a reason to continually talk about something that may not happen. Also my laptop just broke  and I hate this desktop computer I'm on it makes me so freaking angry. So thanks for all the replies everyone, I'll let you know what happens when and IF I get those emails back.

[PandaValentine]

In Canada bottom surgery is not required to have your sex changed legally to male. You just have to have a hysterectomy, and top surgery. Trans people also get privacy and physicals do not require underwear removal, so I'm sure it's not an issue. When I asked them about being trans *they already emailed me back, they said there are no policies to prelude a person from applying for work in the CF based on their sexual orientation. - Gee thanks, but I wasn't asking about sexual orientation at all! They answered no questions about transition and where I had to be in it, so my guess is they just don't care and don't ask. If you present as male, or have legal documents stating you are male, they let you act in that desired role, as I've read in many articles. It's annoying that they didn't answer the question at all... but I have no interest in making it a known fact around there if I join that I am indeed trans. I have no issues with people knowing, I'm just not going to go around with a sign on my face stating such, if they find out or I feel it is safe to do so, I won't mind letting others know. I wish there were some people with ACTUAL experience as trans in the CF, but oh freaking well, I'll just have to trust the articles I've read, and assume they want to be left out of your personal life.

I read before that Germans allow consensual sex between male soldiers - yummy! - Just a random thought. I wonder if they meant while on the job? Shooting two types of ammunition, you know? Lol - kidding, although I WISH! It'd make a nice porno.

"To date no occupation within the CF has established a minimum height requirement thus there is currently no minimum height standard in the CF." I started clapping when I read that in their email to me! I was like ->-bleeped-<- YES, because I hate being denied basic rights for any reason, and I like knowing it's an option! I'm going to have to practice jumping very high walls in the meantime, lol!

[Nathan90]

Haha sounds great, go for it Jay!

[Renard]

Sorry to revive a (slightly) old topic, but if you do keep looking into this, I for one would love to hear what sort of further response/info you get. I've been interested in the Canadian Military for while - coincidentally enough I was also looking at med tech (although I'd have to go back to HS for that.... which sucks considering I'm halfway through uni) - but haven't been able to find much info on their trans policies.

I do recall reading that trans people can only serve once "fully" transitioned, and the thing I read indicated phalloplasty was required for that. I read another thing (news article) about a (trans)woman who came out after many years of service. She was an officer, and she was allowed to take a leave of duty (... I think that's what it was called; she wasn't discharged though) to complete her transition. I think the military may have paid for it, at least in part.

Also, regarding the height, there was a topic on the army.ca forums where a (cis)guy was asking about height requirements because he was 5'4" or so. Apparently the only job that apparently had any sort of height requirement was pilot. So you oughtta be good on that front unless you plan on flying some fighter planes 

(It might be worth asking on those forums btw. I've lurked through the forums and they seem to be pretty cool, more or less. * edit: just did a search for transsexual on their site, and as it turns out they aren't quite as cool as I thought. Some of them are, but there's always a few ignorant eggs out there.)

[PandaValentine]

(It might be worth asking on those forums btw. I've lurked through the forums and they seem to be pretty cool, more or less. * edit: just did a search for transsexual on their site, and as it turns out they aren't quite as cool as I thought. Some of them are, but there's always a few ignorant eggs out there.)

What forums were you lurking? I've been on the CF site and there none.

Also I REFUSE to get bottom surgery, and they really did offer NO information when I asked them about it. I'll contact them again (I'd do it over the phone but I'm a bit of a chicken) until they freaking answer me!

[PandaValentine]

You know what, I've searched and searched and searched and can't find ANYTHING about requiring bottom surgery!

A recent addendum to the Canadian Forces military administration manual says that military personnel who change their sex or sexual identity "have a right to privacy and respect," but must conform to the dress code and standards of deportment of their "target" gender.  Thus male soldiers who believe they are women will be required to wear women's apparel, and vice versa.

The document defines transsexual as a person born with the physical characteristics of one sex who emotionally and psychologically feels they belong to the opposite sex, whether they have undergone sex-change surgery or not.

Rana Sioufi, a spokeswoman for the National Defense Department, told the media that the new directive was produced in response to inquiries from administrative staff on how to deal with gender-confused service members.

"The CF is unique in that it must recruit, house, clothe, train and deploy its members," Sioufi said. "This requires clear direction and standardized instructions to deal with individuals who may not fall into the generally accepted gender categories."

In 1998, Canadian Forces agreed to afford its soldiers sex-change operations, along with hormonal and psychiatric treatment, at a cost to Canadian taxpayers of between $20,000 and $40,000 per procedure.

So yeah... I think that just about settles this.

[tekla]

I wouldn't be so quick to settle anything based on numbers that are 11 years old, lots of change in the last 11 years.

[Renard]

http://forums.army.ca/
It's not run by the CF, as far as I know, but seems to be a good place for general info about, well, the Canadian Forces.

And the thing I read about phalloplasty being 'required' was from maybe 2006, and also not official, so it could very well be outdated or simply wrong. I have a feeling, from what I've read, that it isn't wrong, but I really, really hope it is.

[PandaValentine]

I wouldn't be so quick to settle anything based on numbers that are 11 years old, lots of change in the last 11 years.

This is all from 2010.