Planning for the next step...

[Terra]

Ok, even if this is a year away, I feel I need to have answers as soon as possible to these quiestions.

1. How many of you girls are medicaly oriented? How did the medical field treat you on the job? Did you have any trouble finding a job?

2. For any discharged military, how bad is a medical discharge? Do they put a specific reason for discharge?

3. What about colleges? I plan on going to college to get my bachalor degree as soon as possible, what can I expect from colleges in a general sense for transition?

4. Finally, how did you all go about work history? What can any of you suggest I do about it?


Every time I try to plan, new problems pop up. Any info on these matters would be most appreciated. Thanks again!

[stephanie_craxford]

Hey there Luana,

Although I'm an ex-service person, I think that the folks in the U.S. would be better equipped to advise you on those questions as their experiences would be closer to the answers you are looking for.  So just a second I'll give them all a kick to get their attention 

Every time I try to plan, new problems pop up

and that's why they call it planning    You know what they say about the "Best laid plans".  But seriously, planning for every eventuality, is what makes the journey so much easier.  Knowing that you've pretty well got all the bases covered is a comforting feeling.  Think of it this way, would you venture on a trip to the other side of the world with out first planning for it.  It also makes the whole thing that more exciting, and at the same time scary.

Honestly, although we do our best there is always the chance of that one thing coming up that you didn't expect, and how often has that happened.  The planning is part of the journey, a very important part of the journey.

Keep on planning,

Steph 

[Sarah Louise]

Having spent my time in the Army (and hating every moment of it) I was a company clerk and worked in an office.

As for your discharge, I never had any employer make a big deal about my military experience.  None of them ever checked into it.  However, if you try to use military benefits, I think you might have trouble depending on what the Medical discharge was for.  If you abandon your 6 year commitment after only 2 years and get the medical discharge, I am sure it will say what the discharge was for.

In general I don't think too many people will really care, most employers just want good hard working employees.  As for collegs, they seem to have programs to help with transsexuals, or I would get that idea from the TransGender series that is on Sundance channel right now (I just watched the 3rd show today).

As for work history, you can ask your schools to change your records to your new name and gender.  I know some employers will change that also, I have no idea if all will.  I doubt that 2 of my jobs would change this (they were Christian Missionary groups) I don't think they look at me favorably now.

Sarah

[Cassandra]

Hi Luana,

In 1973 - 76 I had a couple of buddies get a medical discharge. At that time it was basically an Honorable Discharge by reason of Medical Condition. Benefits were cut by the number of years served versus commitement. If the medical condition resulted from military service it comes with full benefits plus medical disability. That was then what it is now I have no idea. Check with the legal service you have already contacted.

I received an Honorable Discharge from the Army. I have never once been asked to produce it. I get a free drivers license as a vet and all I had to produce was my DD-214. A medical discahrge is still an Honorable Discharge so I don't think it disqualifys you for any of the "perks" of being a vet.

As to medical professions Teri Jean would probably know better about that issue as she works for Kaiser although not as a medical professional. Work histories I'll leave to others as this is not something I've had to deal with yet since I have my own retail business.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.


Cassie

[LostInTime]

Work history.  I contacted various employers and asked them to change the name on the record.  Some asked for legal documentation, most did not.  Wait a couple of weeks and have a friend call as a potential employer to check your femme background and see what happens.  Most of the places I worked for have a policy of verifying whether or not you worked there and whether you can be rehired or not (a not usually reflects that you were tossed out for performance issues).

Military.  The only issue a friend of mine ran into was with a union he worked for when he got out.  He received a General Discharge for what was actually a medical reason that appeared during Basic.  Since, at that time, his discharge paperwork did not say Honorable Discharge they made him wait two months before hiring him on.  Other T girls that I know have served finished their time up and did not have much to say on their current interactions with the military.

YMMV.

[Leigh]

If a name is changed legally it is done with an order from the court.

Present it to them, they do not have a choice if they are reluctant to do so.