Hey everyone its Ashley! Im 24 years young and I'm currently seeing a gender therapist. I am also in the Marine Corps. I have came to a conclusion that I am a MTF trans, I really want to start my transition, however my command doesnt even know that they have a transgender in their ranks. Does anyone have any expierence with transitioning in the military (specifically the marine corps if possible) ? If so what do you recommend me doing? I honestly feel like i hit a wall in my life and i dont think i can wait 2.5 more years to start HRT.

Love,

Ashley

Hi Ashley 

Welcome to Susan's Place    Glad to have you here, join on in the fun

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Hugs

V M

Well....as far as I can tell this year is supposed to start the regulations that allow transgender service members to transition while on active duty.  Unfortunately I don't know when they begin, and in what branches it is being instituted.  I am also fairly certain that certain MoS's will not allow certain genders to serve in that capacity, but this may be going away.

As to your specific command, I would suggest going to your Squad Leader, LT, or Cpt. and talk with them about your situation.  Maybe involve a chaplain, and possibly your therapist.  Do you use a Military Therapist?  According to the last regulation I read on the subject, they can't discharge you or hold this against you, but they could make you choose between transitioning and service.

Again the regulations are supposed to be changing/have changed to allow it, I just don't know when they were to start.

I'd recommend starting with your local mental health provider to secure a diagnosis. Military already started supporting transition in October 2016.  Sometime this summer, new accession of Transgender begin.

Think this should help you as well:  http://www.marines.mil/News/Messages/Messages-Display/Article/972482/dod-transgender-service-implementation-handbook/

I've been on hrt since December 2016, been on active duty for some time.  Also recently "officially" came out to my brothers & sisters in my CPO Mess, as well as the Sailors in my office. Seems they already knew.... Go figure!



Navy Chief [emoji5]

Quote from: AshleyUSMC on February 19, 2017, 04:31:30 AM
Hey everyone its Ashley! Im 24 years young and I'm currently seeing a gender therapist. I am also in the Marine Corps. I have came to a conclusion that I am a MTF trans, I really want to start my transition, however my command doesnt even know that they have a transgender in their ranks. Does anyone have any expierence with transitioning in the military (specifically the marine corps if possible) ? If so what do you recommend me doing? I honestly feel like i hit a wall in my life and i dont think i can wait 2.5 more years to start HRT.

Love,

Ashley

Forgot to mention, if you are on Facebook, I can put you in contact with a group that can help. It's comprised solely of military trans people, helping each other.

Quote from: JeanetteLW on February 19, 2017, 07:11:03 PM
   This should help

https://www.defense.gov/News/Special-Reports/0616_transgender-policy

Hugs,
    Jeanette

Quote from: TechGirl on February 19, 2017, 07:01:13 PM
Forgot to mention, if you are on Facebook, I can put you in contact with a group that can help. It's comprised solely of military trans people, helping each other.

That would be wonderful! Whats the group called?

Quote from: AshleyUSMC on February 19, 2017, 09:29:11 PM
That would be wonderful! Whats the group called?

Pm me your user ID and I'll put you in touch. It is a "secret" group and you have to be admitted by your service lead.

Ashley will be unable to PM until she reaches 15 quality posts.

Quote from: Dena on February 19, 2017, 10:17:46 PM
Ashley will be unable to PM until she reaches 15 quality posts.

i will work on that!

I can't speak for the USMC or even the US military, but I've found nothing except support after coming out in the Canadian Armed Forces.  There will always be hiccups...sure there are guides and policies, but not everyone knows they exist and how to apply/interpret them.  Even the reality that transitioning to womanhood has the negative effect of not being able to serve in certain occupations is difficult as you've been living with the "male privilege" for a long time.

What I found was beneficial was that even though I am sure there are some around me that don't like transgender people let alone any LGBTQ people, you are actually protected from harassment and discrimination due to you being transgender by laws and regulations.  Sure...some might push the limits, but there are severe penalties for those in the military and government not upholding the rights of others, even if they don't agree.  I definitely feel safer around my fellow service members than in the general public.

Good luck!

Thank you everyone for taking the time with answering my questions!

Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk

Ashley, start here: 

http://www.spartapride.org/contact_us
https://m.facebook.com/SPARTATrans/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=1