Meet the First Transgender Soldier in the U.S. Military
- 8 years ago
MEET Transgender Bodybuilder Matt Kroczaleski the First Out Transgender Soldier in the U.S. Military. The Army is now leading the charge to change the U.S. military's long-standing ban on openly transgender troops by seeking guidance about whether it can allow a transgender sergeant to continue serving as the man he is.
Army Sgt. Shane Ortega served three combat tours, according to a Thursday profile in The Washington Post: "Two in Iraq, one in Afghanistan. Two as a Marine and one in the Army. Two as a woman and one as a man."
Sgt. Ortega is currently stationed at Wheeler Airfield in Oahu, Hawaii, where he serves as a helicopter crew chief in the Army's 25th Infantry Division. The transgender man — who was assigned female at birth and therefore initially enlisted as such — began his transition to male four years ago, under the supervision of military and civilian doctors, the Post reports.
His government-issued identification, including his driver's license and Social Security card, recognize him as male. The Army, however, still formally lists his gender as female, reports the Post. Because of this discrepancy, Ortega has been on administrative duty since his flight certification was suspended last summer.
"My commitment to serving this country runs deep," Sgt. Ortega said in a statement issued through the American Civil Liberties Union, which has filed a petition on behalf of Ortega and other trans troops facing separation. "I have been a team and squad leader, a crew chief, and a machine gun section chief. I have been on over 400 combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and fought side-by-side in foxholes and remote operating bases. As I fight for my country in foreign lands, all I want it is to be able to serve openly while keeping the job that I love. I will continue to fight this fight for the 700,000 transgender veterans that have gone before me who were forced to choose between serving their country and being true to who they are."
Long-standing military regulations deem any proclamation of a transgender identity or gender-affirming clinical treatment to be evidence of a "psychosexual condition" or mental illness that makes one unfit to serve.
But after undergoing a voluntary psychological evaluation several weeks ago, an Army doctor determined that Ortega "tested negative" for gender dysphoria, and deemed the soldier fit to serve, reports the American Civil Liberties Union. But Ortega remains in "administrative limbo because his gender marker in the Military Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) is still listed as female," notes the ACLU. "Sgt. Ortega’s Command has requested clear guidance from the DOD as to whether this means Shane can stay in the milit
Army Sgt. Shane Ortega served three combat tours, according to a Thursday profile in The Washington Post: "Two in Iraq, one in Afghanistan. Two as a Marine and one in the Army. Two as a woman and one as a man."
Sgt. Ortega is currently stationed at Wheeler Airfield in Oahu, Hawaii, where he serves as a helicopter crew chief in the Army's 25th Infantry Division. The transgender man — who was assigned female at birth and therefore initially enlisted as such — began his transition to male four years ago, under the supervision of military and civilian doctors, the Post reports.
His government-issued identification, including his driver's license and Social Security card, recognize him as male. The Army, however, still formally lists his gender as female, reports the Post. Because of this discrepancy, Ortega has been on administrative duty since his flight certification was suspended last summer.
"My commitment to serving this country runs deep," Sgt. Ortega said in a statement issued through the American Civil Liberties Union, which has filed a petition on behalf of Ortega and other trans troops facing separation. "I have been a team and squad leader, a crew chief, and a machine gun section chief. I have been on over 400 combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and fought side-by-side in foxholes and remote operating bases. As I fight for my country in foreign lands, all I want it is to be able to serve openly while keeping the job that I love. I will continue to fight this fight for the 700,000 transgender veterans that have gone before me who were forced to choose between serving their country and being true to who they are."
Long-standing military regulations deem any proclamation of a transgender identity or gender-affirming clinical treatment to be evidence of a "psychosexual condition" or mental illness that makes one unfit to serve.
But after undergoing a voluntary psychological evaluation several weeks ago, an Army doctor determined that Ortega "tested negative" for gender dysphoria, and deemed the soldier fit to serve, reports the American Civil Liberties Union. But Ortega remains in "administrative limbo because his gender marker in the Military Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) is still listed as female," notes the ACLU. "Sgt. Ortega’s Command has requested clear guidance from the DOD as to whether this means Shane can stay in the milit