How would someone join the military as trans and can you?

[GalaxyDust]

Being a trans person i'm unsure if i could and don't know much about it but the way things have been going with me
i've been thinking about It. I'm not a supporter of anything really, but at least if i get out there in the world that already is filled with misunderstandings of aspergers and trans then i should just get up and go put my life to something at least i can protect others that way. Sounds stupid and for foolish reasons but when have i ever been a genius?

[Deborah]

Right now the US military is planning on enlisting trans people beginning next summer.

Given the policies of the Republicans that will take over in January this may be reversed.  They have stated openly many times that we should not be allowed to serve in the military in any capacity.  Allowing trans people to serve was not the result of law but rather a policy change in the Department of Defense so it could change over night at the whim of the new Secretary of Defense.

The only thing to do now is wait and see what happens after January.


It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.
André Gide, Autumn Leaves

[GalaxyDust]

Right now the US military is planning on enlisting trans people beginning next summer.

Given the policies of the Republicans that will take over in January this may be reversed.  They have stated openly many times that we should not be allowed to serve in the military in any capacity.  Allowing trans people to serve was not the result of law but rather a policy change in the Department of Defense so it could change over night at the whim of the new Secretary of Defense.

The only thing to do now is wait and see what happens after January.


It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.
André Gide, Autumn Leaves

heh, not shocked
not where we live.

[AngieT]

I'd guess that while the military may currently be open to trans individuals, the Asperger's diagnosis may be used as a disqualifier.  Unfortunately I don't think it will matter after the GOP takes control of everything in January.  It won't take long before we're all re-labeled as unfit deviants by the far right and barred from service once again.  Any existing trans personnel would probably then be discharged under old DADT policies. 

[FTMax]

The policy is currently in place to have new enlistees who are trans entering the service next summer. That is, unless guidance on that changes with the result of the election. I have been assured by some folks already transitioning in the service that this will not be the case, but I don't think they (or anyone really) is in a place to definitely say whether or not that is true.

[PrincessCrystal]

Gonna go after something here....

I'm not a supporter of anything really, but at least if i get out there in the world that already is filled with misunderstandings of aspergers and trans then i should just get up and go put my life to something at least i can protect others that way.

First off, if you have noticeable Aspergers, they probably won't want you.  They're picky about stuff like that.  Go check that before you worry about the other stuff.

Second, who will you be protecting?  In the past 15 years, the US military was involved in quite a few things which had nothing to do with American citizens.  The US military is an organization which makes its members do questionable things as part of the job description: this is not a decision you should be making lightly.

[Deborah]

In defense of the military:  I was in it and was able to do some things that had nothing to do with Americans but that nevertheless were instrumental in ending an attempted ethnic cleansing of some non Americans.  I felt good about that.

Maybe we will still do such things in the near future; maybe not.


It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.
André Gide, Autumn Leaves

[SiobhánF]

Being a trans person i'm unsure if i could and don't know much about it but the way things have been going with me
i've been thinking about It. I'm not a supporter of anything really, but at least if i get out there in the world that already is filled with misunderstandings of aspergers and trans then i should just get up and go put my life to something at least i can protect others that way. Sounds stupid and for foolish reasons but when have i ever been a genius?

As it stands, it will be about five more months before the standards by which trans members are screened are in place. Yes, every member of the military is screened before being allowed to move on to basic training, so it's not specifically a transgender thing. They just want to ensure that they're doing things correctly. It's going to be a culture change for the military, so it won't be all sunshine and rainbows, but you will be held to the same standards as the gender in which you identify. Patience will be something that you'll need to practice while waiting for all of this to come to fruition.

As for the Asperger's, it can be waived if you qualify on all other fronts, according to a retired military lawyer here:

Code Select Expand

http://www.justanswer.com/military-law/3tqji-will-asperger-s-disqualify-military-service.html

But, as the answer I linked to is a few years old, it may have changed since then, but one can hope. Asperger's isn't necessarily a disqualifier, but your mileage may vary. I hope that's helped you. There isn't much information about Asperger's in the military, so it's difficult to determine.

[Sebby Michelango]

In many cases the military doesn't want people with Asperger's syndrome or autism due security reasons. So it's a lower chance to be qualified if you do have Asperger's. Being transgender in the military might be difficult as well. That includes if being transgender is allowed. Hormones, dysphoria, who you shares bedroom and bathroom with etc. may be a problem for many transgender people. Some military bases is probably more tolerant and better to facilitate for transgender people than other bases. Working aboard is probably harder than working inside the country. I wouldn't recommend you to work in the military in Afghanistan, Iraq etc. because it's countries that isn't safe for LGBT-people. In addition sending hormones aboard is difficult if you're medically transition.

[GalaxyDust]

In many cases the military doesn't want people with Asperger's syndrome or autism due security reasons. So it's a lower chance to be qualified if you do have Asperger's. Being transgender in the military might be difficult as well. That includes if being transgender is allowed. Hormones, dysphoria, who you shares bedroom and bathroom with etc. may be a problem for many transgender people. Some military bases is probably more tolerant and better to facilitate for transgender people than other bases. Working aboard is probably harder than working inside the country. I wouldn't recommend you to work in the military in Afghanistan, Iraq etc. because it's countries that isn't safe for LGBT-people. In addition sending hormones aboard is difficult if you're medically transition.

ah it was only a thought for the time being anyways
i'm not concerned about the aspergers thing.