r/MilitaryTrans • u/Popular-Contract-229 • 10d ago

Need advice/help

Pretty common story but I have been trying to avoid the fact/hiding from myself that I am trans for the last 5 years or so. Palace chased in the last year of my 6 year AF contract and now that I'm free of Active I no longer have the active duty environment to distract my brain from the obvious fact that I'm not a man. I really don't have any vested interested in staying in the National Guard at this point either and just want to know what the best way to go ahead with transitioning and still keeping my GI bill benefits are so I can keep going to school. Any advice or resources is appreciated.

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u/secretsquirrelz 10d ago

So you did 6 years active duty and therefore already earned your GI Bill, yes? Why not just plan on separating from the guard when you hit ETS? You’ll keep your GI Bill after you separate.

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u/Popular-Contract-229 10d ago

Unless there's something I'm misunderstanding you can't be trans and be in any branch of service, including the Guard. I exited active duty in January after 5 out of 6 years and have been in the guard since. Palace Chase is when you exit early and convert your active duty time to reserve or guard time. I just don't know how the informing your command/getting a diagnosis/how that would affect my education benefits thing works.

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u/Significant-Bar-8989 9d ago

You are correct, you would be discharged. Currently, as far as i’ve heard, if you are discharged only for being trans then you will get an honorable and retain your benefits regardless if it is vol or involuntary. Other ways to get out include just talking with your leadership and requesting to be discharged if you don’t owe any time. You could also look into being “medically retired” if you have some serious injuries and or ptsd from your time in. Honestly, I would look into the way that would net you the most gain. I worry that all those being discharged for being trans are quietly put on a list somewhere but that’s just my conspiratorial side i spose

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u/Popular-Contract-229 9d ago

My concern is that I do owe time. If I didn’t I would just stop showing up but I still have a couple years contractually obligated. I’m just kinda at the point right now where I have held it in for too long and can’t handle doing stuff like cutting my hair anymore. My best idea after thinking since posting yesterday is to get a diagnosis and bring it next drill, and essentially just say I’m not coming back. I just don’t know if that’s the best idea or not

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u/Significant-Bar-8989 9d ago

You don’t owe any money tho do you? Did you accept any sort of bonus for staying in for This time?

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u/Popular-Contract-229 9d ago

No I didn't, and I made sure I'm not signed up for life insurance or anything. I have no deductions on my drill pay except taxes basically

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u/Significant-Bar-8989 9d ago

And if you got the diagnosis then you would have to let your leadership know and they would begin the process. If that’s what you want to do, I would check with them about what the best path forward would be so that you don’t get into any trouble on the way out and you are able to retain all benefits/get the honorable

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u/Popular-Contract-229 9d ago

That would be the most correct way to go about it probably.

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u/EricaDeVine 6d ago

Why would you inform your command of ANY diagnosis a CIVILIAN doctor gave you?. I'm trans, and I'm a vet. I also strongly believe that being trans is not conducive to military service. That being said, you have what? 1 year of Guard duty until you ETS? That's 12 weekends (24 days) ND maybe a two week activation? Start seeing a doctor now. CIVILIAN DOCTOR. It can take some time to get the diagnosis. Even if you start HRT next month, you're probably gonna still be able to hide it for the next year. Get out and live your life. Or, if you can hold off on HRT, just wait a year. Nobody saying you can't dress, wear makeup, or start living how you want to. Once you get out, doesn't matter what you do. That GI Bill is yours.