<div><strong>TLDR: I'm being discharged from the Air Force after 15 years of honorable service and being denied a retirement that was already approved because I'm Transgender.</strong>

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<div>For the last 5 months I've been dealing with systematic discrimination, staring down the barrel of an end to my career because I'm Trans. I transitioned in the military in 2017 under Obama Era guidance and followed all military rules and regulations in doing so. This policy was nearly rescinded during Trump's first term but was fought in court in a class action lawsuit that blocked it from going through, but now it's back. For 15 years I have served this country with honor and distinction, a service record that has seen me awarded with numerous medals and accolades. I spent 5 years of that time as an Military Technical Instructor where I trained or oversaw the training of over 500 Airmen destined to become Aircraft Armament troops. My career field only consists of around 6,000 people, so my contributions to the profession of aircraft armament have not been insignificant. I strove to set the best possible example of leadership for every Airman I've trained or that has served under me, developing each into future warriors and leaders to the best of my abilities.

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<div>Another 7 years of that time has been spent in my career field, loading munitions on aircraft and maintaining America's fleet of F-22 Raptors. I've deployed to the UAE where we conducted show of force operations against Iran in 2012 and 2013, ensuring regional security. We provided surveillance and airspace security for F-15's and F-16's conducting close air support operations for Soldiers and Marines on the ground in Afghanistan. I deployed again to the UK where we conducted more show of force operations against Russia, showcasing our stealth capabilities to penetrate their radar on a mission into Lithuania. I also armed aircraft tasked with providing escort of Air Force One for President Obama and President Trump on their travel around the country. And more recently I have facilitated the deployment of my unit to various missions in the pacific, moving hundreds of Airmen, a dozen aircraft, and hundreds of thousands of pounds of cargo across that theatre. My career has been dutiful, productive, impactful, and conducted with honor and distinction that numerous Commanders both active and retired can attest to. I have gained the attention of Generals and had articled written about me, articles that have since been purged because I am Trans. And, until this year, I intended to continue to serve until retirement, but that's no longer possible. In May I was notified that I was being discharged and all previous guidance that allowed me to not only receive care but continue to serve was being rescinded. I would be forced to make a decision: 'volunteer' to be separated with a General Under Honorable Discharge (less than full honor) and be given double involuntary separation pay (about 1.5 year's salary), or be forcibly separated with only standard pay and the same grade of discharge. I could also attempt to fight the discharge although the best I could hope for is a full Honorable Discharge with no separation pay and no chance of returning to service later. What's worse, this 'deal' came with a strict time limit... 15 days. I was given 30 days to decide how to end my career. Or... It was supposed to be 30 days but the documentation wasn't distributed until day 8 of that timeline in fact giving me 22 days.

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<div>But then an opportunity was provided. An exception to policy was being offered to all affected members of 15-18 years of service offering a full honorable retirement, but they provided only 8 days to decide on that. This announcement was made on a Thursday afternoon and the cutoff was Friday of the next week. I struggled with weighing the options over that weekend and come Monday saw no other course of action but to take the retirement. And for a few months, that had been my situation. I would be retired with full benefits and a pension equivalent to the years I have served. It was admittedly a fair bit smaller than a full 20 year retirement would have offered but at least I would be honorably retired. So that's what I did, I applied for the retirement and was approved. Retirement orders were written for me and I was to be officially retired on 1 December 2025. Until today... Today I was notified that all exceptions to policy for affected members were being retroactively denied regardless of prior approval status. Not only that, I have again 8 days to decide if I'd like to take the 'voluntary' separation with the same terms as before. I haven't made a decision yet. I did visit the legal office and spoke with a military attorney, but was told by them that as far as the military side of things goes, we have no recourse what so ever. The situation is what it is and there's no ground to stand on in order to fight it. What's done is done and the only hope lies in a civil legal battle AFTER I'm discharged. So that's where I'm at... Promised care and continued service, then retroactively retracted and denied. Promised honorable retirement, then retroactively retracted and denied. And now I'm left wondering if I'll even get the promised incentive pay if I take the 'voluntary' option or if that'll get retroactively retracted and denied as well. I have served this country, it's people, it's government, and it's constitution for 15 years with honor and distinction... And I'm being betrayed by that very same government in nearly every sense of the word. Folks, my spouse and I have no choice but to take the 'voluntary' option under duress. We won't survive without that separation pay for long and the alternatives are even worse. These last few years have been very hard, and as it stands, even with the pay we're likely to be forced to sell our home. This. Is. Wrong. Until now I have been quiet on this. I have played the role of the dutiful sergeant, maintaining good order and discipline, ensuring there is no dissent in the ranks. But I can be silent no longer. What is happening is disgraceful to all who've worn and bled in the uniform. And it's only the tip of the iceberg in the wrongs being done to all servicemembers. I and others like me are only the first sacrifices to be lined up. Mark my words there will be and are already more. So I ask, to all of you, be loud for us. Spread the word. Call your senators and congress men and women. Do not let this betrayal go unnoticed. This affects more than just me as I am only one of many being affected by this decision. No matter what occurs we will be discharged by November, but that doesn't mean we need to go quietly or give up the fight. What happens after that... I don't know. But please... If you have any respect for me, any respect for our service... Do not let this go quietly into the night. All who have served deserve better than this.

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<div>As a final note I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude to my unit and my chain of command. My Commander and Supervisors have fought for me, protected me as they can, and stood by me in every way they are able. This comes from so much further up the chain that there is nothing my Commander, or my Commander's Commander, and so on can do. Airmen stand by Airmen and they have been my wingmen as well as my leaders to the maximum extent possible. So to those leaders I've had the privilege to serve under, thank you.

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<div>And to the amazing men and women I've had the opportunity to train, lead, and serve with, keep up the good fight, and remember...

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<div><strong>We are wingmen, leaders, warriors. We will not falter, and we will not fail!</strong>

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<div><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/air-force-revokes-approved-retirement-trans-service-members-complete-u-rcna223876" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/air-force-revokes-approved-retirement-trans-service-members-complete-u-rcna223876" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/air-force-revokes-approved-retirement-trans-service-members-complete-u-rcna223876" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/air-force-revokes-approved-retirement-trans-service-members-complete-u-rcna223876</a></a>

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Help a Dedicated Airman Facing Unfair Discharge

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