Meet Shane, The Army's First Openly Trans Soldier

[UrbScotty]

Ortega, who now serves as a Chinook helicopter crew chief with the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii, meets all the Army's physical fitness standards, gets positive reviews from his chain of command, and always strives to put the mission first, regardless of what he's facing in his private life.

And lately, he's had a lot going on.

Despite his solid performance and commitment to serve, SGT Ortega has been at risk of getting kicked out of the Army because in official Army paperwork, he is identified as a woman.

Ortega, who was assigned female at birth, is one of the military's few openly trans service members. While roughly 15,500 transgender people are estimated to be currently serving in the military, almost all of them are forced to do so in secret since the Department of Defense's current policy forbids openly transgender individuals from serving.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/army-trans-soldier_559dbd61e4b09672915574da

[TeeYiYi]

1. This thread needs a picture...

TYY

[jmowreader]

2. I'm surprised the Army isn't coming after him for excessive tattoos

[TeeYiYi]

3. It's official: Army issues new tattoo rules...

Staff report 4:03 p.m. EDT April 10, 2015

It's official: Soldiers can now get their arms, legs and most of their bodies covered in tattoos.

The Army published an update to Army Regulation 670-1 on Friday, meaning the new tattoo rules are officially in effect.

Under the new policy, there are no longer limits on the size or number of tattoos soldiers can have on their arms and legs. The change strikes a short-lived policy limiting soldiers to four tattoos below the elbow or knee, none bigger than the wearer's hand.

Face, neck and hand tattoos, however, remain against regulation, with the exception of one ring tattoo per hand. Racist, derogatory and sexist tattoos are also outlawed.

The more restrictive tattoo policy had become a sore subject for soldiers, as the new Sergeant Major of the Army Dan Dailey quickly learned through soldier feedback. Dailey was concerned the tough tattoo rules were negatively impacting morale, and he shared these concerns with Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno.

<snip>

"Society is changing its view of tattoos, and we have to change along with that," Odierno said. "It makes sense. Soldiers have grown up in an era when tattoos are much more acceptable and we have to change along with that."

More: http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/careers/army/2015/04/10/army-regs-tattoos-uniforms/25576197/

TYY

[jmowreader]

4. Oh good.

[Fearless]

5. Well then!