The U.S. Air Force announced on Thursday that it will not allow transgender service members, who have served between 15 and 18 years, the option to retire early, instead separating them without retirement benefits.
This decision was met with emotional responses from those affected, including one Air Force sergeant who expressed feeling “betrayed and devastated” by the announcement.
Transgender service members will now have a difficult choice: accept a lump-sum separation payment available to junior personnel or face involuntary separation from the military.
An Air Force spokesperson confirmed that while service members were permitted to apply for exceptions to the policy, none of those applications were approved.
Approximately a dozen service members had been prematurely informed they could retire before the policy was reversed.
A memo shared with the Associated Press revealed that the decision to deny retirement benefits was made following “careful consideration of the individual applications.”
The updated policy is reflective of broader changes initiated during the Trump administration that are affecting all transgender members of the Air Force.
The implementation of this separation approach follows a Supreme Court decision earlier in May that allowed the Pentagon to enforce its ban on transgender individuals serving in the military.
Shortly thereafter, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth communicated a policy intended to treat current openly serving transgender troops with dignity by offering two options: voluntary separation with a substantial lump-sum payout or involuntary separation at a later date.
However, this process has faced significant criticism. Transgender troops have described their experiences throughout the separation process as “dehumanizing” and reflective of “open cruelty.”
The situation has prompted concerns from legal experts, such as Shannon Leary, an attorney who advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, who anticipates that the recent Air Force decision will be met with legal challenges.
“It seems quite arbitrary on its face and cruel,” Leary remarked, emphasizing that these military members have devoted their lives to serving the nation.
Typically, early retirement options in the military are extended to all members served over 15 years.
Leary also expressed concern over the viability of this policy within other branches of the military, suggesting that they may follow the Air Force’s lead.
One of the members impacted by the decision is Logan Ireland, a U.S. Air Force master sergeant with 15 years of service, including a deployment to Afghanistan.
“I feel betrayed and devastated by the news,” Ireland said.
He recounted how his chain of command, visibly emotional, delivered the news of his denied retirement on Wednesday.
As of December 9, 2024, there were 4,240 troops currently diagnosed with “gender dysphoria” across active duty, National Guard, and Reserve units.
Pentagon officials have identified this diagnosis as a key factor in determining transgender status among service members, despite the fact that not all transgender individuals identify as having gender dysphoria.
This underscores the potential for a higher actual number of transgender personnel within the military’s estimated 2 million total troops.
The recent policy shift highlights ongoing contentious issues regarding transgender rights and their treatment within the armed services.
image source from：npr
