Just wondering...
For me, its always been one of my personal interests... My Grand Pop and a couple of extended family were in, and my 2nd ex was in during 9/11 before she transitioned... I had considered my own stint in early high school when I was trying to live the life I had... not just because it was a way for me to get into the aviation aspect of it (which I wanted to make a career of), but because I wanted those aspects of discipline, purpose, direction, and being a part of something bigger than me that I thought would come with the training (yet lacked in my life at the time, and partly still do)... I wanted to do it and even indicated it on my records (BTW the district didn't have an ROTC to "try it out first," like my ex's), but by 12th grade, my GID was too much to ignore and I had already made my decision to transition by the time 9/11 happened. of course I could have put it off and did it, but I was fully aware of the whole ramifications of DADT and psych evals and such from my hobby looking over the UCMJ (had an interest in JAG and other mil-themed TV shows), which I respected... But I never lost interest in that possibility, and from time to time I can say that is probably one of the biggest regrets I have about transitioning young. (I must have 100+ RMOs (coins) and patches that I still collect from airshows and surplus)
But now that DADT has been fully abolished, and given the current CIC's pro-trans track record, Will transgendered enlistees ever be a part of the US Military like Canada and New Zealand have already done in recent years?
For a short while I did consider immigrating to Canada with the thought that if I wasn't allowed to serve my own country, I could serve one of its closest allies... or work for a contractor... I doubt that anything will happen in the next couple years... which would be the age cap for me (without some drawn out waiver process save for any other possible medical DQs), but what are your thoughts?
Mel