hi everyone! my name is chris, im 22 yrs old and im in the navy, i have been for two years, and i have 2 left on my enlistment. im originally from cincinnati ohio but im stationed in virginia away from all of my true friends and family. basically im new here and the reason im drawn to these forums and such is because i believe that im transgendered, ive had the feelings since i was very young at like 5 or 6 when i preferred dressing like a girl in tutus and such lol(mainly because of my sisters having fun with me but i loved it and it all felt natural. i learned from very young i was different and things just didnt feel right, i could not and still have not told anyone especially my family that i want to be female(my true sex). years have passed and the more i try to ignore these feelings they just come back stronger and stronger... ive tried to deny these thought by trying to convince myself to be more and do more masculine things like sports and frequent dating and having sex with women. its hard to tell my parents but mostly my dad because i already have two sisters and a gay brother. to him im (his boy, his man, and his pride) which the thought of taking that from him is a big reason ive waited till now to actively research and look up hrt and desire to start it soon so the effects can be more dramatic i guess.. i dont know much but it seems like the only real way to transition(correct me if im wrong) im 5 ft 10 and have a kind of athetic build i guess, mostly in the shouldersand upper body area in general. i guess i have soft facial features but thats just my opinion, the haircut being in the military doesnt help either. i weigh about 185 but im now trying to lose weight to slim down and maybe loose some of my muscle mass. im on my own here and id really like some feedback and suggestions or opinions. im very open minded and i can take critisism if theres anything else anyone of you would like to know im all ears! thanks

Cbergusn, your story certainly rings true. You've found a great resource, here at Susan's. There are many friendly people just starting like you, some that are in transition, and several who have been through the process and are here to give back, or help.

We don't give medical advice (hormones and the like), but we are very supportive. Please ask questions, and don't feel offended if someone doesn't understand you clearly. We truly want to help you wherever we can.

I know you are just starting out. Please take your time. This is serious. You have the potential to ruin your career in the service, not to mention royally mess up your life. It might be a good idea to find a good counselor to help you through the process. I don't know how well that would work with you in the service. I suppose what I'm trying to say... is please be careful. This is another two steps beyond gayness in the way that the general population sees us. Some of us don't have any issues with transition. Some are only confronted by our own demons, and a few of us have been through literal hell.

I don't mean to scare you. Please don't take it like that. Transition has saved many lives. It saved mine. Welcome to the forum.  I hope to see more of you!

Chin up, and all of that..
Cindi

hi there and thank you for the kind words, your message stated the good the bad and the ugly as an introduction and i respect your honesty, i think ill manage just fine on my own throughout the rest of my naval career, i just have to stay strong and wait patiently for freedom from these constrictions and start my life over when i get out! thanks again cindi

Hi Chris 

Welcome to Susan's    Glad to have you here, you are among friends including several folks from the the Navy and various branches of the armed services

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Hugs

V M

Thank you for your service, and welcome!

Cbergusn,
  Welcome from an ex-sailor!  You'll find more service people from all over here on Susan's. 
  Read from the others and muster here: https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,96755.msg708143.html#msg708143
  Joelene

Hi Chris, welcome to Susans and thank you for your service! I live near Boston. We all look forward to the day when anyone can serve the nation so long as they can perform their duties. See you around the site, hugs, Devlyn

Hi and welcome aboard, from deepest darkest Tasmania. 

If you have the mental toughness to survive in the Navy you can do this. Mind you I can't promise it will be easy, though.  Nothing worthwhile is I have found.
You are young so when or if you start HRT it will work a lot better than on someone older.  Height and weight wise you are still within the normal range for women these days, unlike  some of us bean poles! 
Seeing you have 2 years to go iin your enlistment, you have plenty of time to "people watch", and nobody will think twice about a sailor glancing at a good looking woman, I am sure.  Have fun.

Karen.

Hi Chris,
A big Aussie welcome to Susan's family. It's good of you to drop in and say "Hi". Hope you like it here, and you stay for a while.
There is a mountain of information, resources and friendship waiting for you here, you just need to jump in and start talking.
Looking forward to hearing more of your story in time to come, but in the meantime, be safe, well and happy.

Lotsa huggs
Catherine

hi again everyone. i really just need to thank all of you for all of the introductions and open arms i have encountered on this sight this all is much more than i expected to recieve and i truely do look forward to continue posting on this site. i was going to try and start hrt in a few months but seeing that now it might get me into legal problems its kind of hard to just stand by idly and not be able to do anything about it. if i do wait for 2 years to get out and start my thoughts are that my testosterone will continue to make me more manly, if anything couldnt i just wait to take the female horomones and just take testosterone blocker for the time being? do people ever do this? thanks again everyone! and i cant wait to hear back!!!

Welcome to susans!
Hmm testosterone blocker, I don't think I could help with that one...I would be worried about popping hot on a pee test though. And if you have a security clearance they have (althought your command already does) access to your med file, so taking any unprescribed substances...well I just wouldn't do it.
I didn't start until 28, and the changes from 22-24 were not noticeable...
Good luck with what ever path you choose!

Hi from Scotland

Hmm maybe you could swing a legitimate Finasteride scrip and if they ask say you're concerned about early male pattern balding.
If the Don't ask Don't tell policy re Transgendered is still active which I do believe it is (even though the LGB's get a pass now) that is all they'll know that you're taking Finasteride for a legitimate reason
Half truths are so much better than an actual lie I've gotten good at them over 20 years.

Hannah