Hello. I'm almost 23, female, and in the military. I've been a member of this forum for a few months now but haven't posted anything.
Before the military, I was open and out and living life as an androgyne/nullgender/agender/whatever they're calling it these days for almost three years. Then some stuff happened and I went into the military. I thought I'd be cool with it.
I wasn't.
I've been in for a little over a year now, and on some days the dysphoria is terrible, on other days it's not so bad. I've come to realize that I think I'm really an FtM, not an androgyne. Or maybe I'm an androgyne that wants a male body? I'm not sure how that works. Regardless, I just need some help.
I pass in civilian clothes, 100% of the time, as male. Unless I speak. I would pass in uniform too (and sometimes have) but my hair is just long enough that it doesn't fit male regs at all, so that's how most people tell. My voice doesn't pass, but everything else about me does.
I was okay with this until I was outed a few times. Basically people asking me why I didn't try to look more girly if I was so frequently mistook as male. I've wiggled my way out of it without actually saying I'm trans, but it's still an uncomfortable situation.
Right now I know that Tricare won't cover anything. I just looked it up and I am severely disappointed. Right now I'm on the fence... I love the military, but I really can't go on like this. I thought I was okay just corssdressing all the time but I'm not. I don't know where to start to get help. I don't know where to go. If I was a civilian, I could look out specialists or something, but being in the military makes everything so much more difficult.
At this point in time, I've decided to save up 20k or serve out the rest of my term- whichever comes first. If I reach 20k, then I'll re-assess my situation. Am I still dysphoric? Do I hate my life? If so, I'll go to mental health. But if I go to mental health... Will they diagnose me with GID or depression or what? Does anyone have any ideas there? I'm assuming they can throw me out of the military if I have GID. But do they actually diagnose me with GID before I get the boot? I mean, once I'm out, would I be able to use the diagnosis to 'jump start' some other therapy or something in the civilian sector?
If I don't save up 20k in time, or I don't feel like going to mental health when I save 20k, and I instead decide to fill out the rest of my first term (which is four years), about 6 months to the end I'll probably go to mental health and start griping and see what happens. Or I might not. Like I said, I love the military. It sucks that I love it so much, because I want to stay in but this is not mentally very good to me right now... To be like this.
Right now I'm on sea duty. On tuesday (Yes, this tuesday) I go to Japan and go on my first tour. I am thinking that, maybe i I can hold out for four years, I can re-enlist, possibly get some kind of bonus for re-enlistment, then get shore duty, and somehow work something out during shore duty on the side?
What do you guys think??
Really, I am very clueless. I have no idea where I should start in trying to get help with this.