I was in the US Army from 1981-1987 and during that time I did admit to cross dressing. They send me on my way so-to-speak. Because I had not done anything "wrong" by Army standards and did not "dress while in the military" they could not give me a dishonorable discharge. They tried. I held my ground saying there is nothing wrong with me and that what is wrong is the military. I was in Germany and the private that was in the same room actually recorded me while I was trying to talk candidly to him and he turned it over to my commanding officer. I was told I was gay and could be kicked out. I told them I was not that I liked to cross dress and then the proceedings began trying to find a way to send me packing without any embarrassment to the military. I was locked up in a mental ward for a week and told that there was something seriously wrong with me. They told me that back in the 60s they gave patients shock treatments to get rid of those "feelings".
I still held my ground and told them I was a cross dresser and that nothing was wrong with me. Finally after a 6 month battle with the military they gave me an "Honorable Discharge" complete with a physical to have on record to show that I was as "Physically fit" as when I joined the Army. The agreement was that I ask for nothing from the military and that I "leave quietly".
How things have changed. Now you can dress openly and claim you are transgendered and if you do it long enough can actually in some cases get the military to pay for "the operation".
Years later and now in my late 50s I try to find ways to tell my other half - which she said at one point "They are only clothes" when I talked to her while we were dating and well knew about my cross dressing NOW gets upset when I put any article of female clothing on.
I sometime feel like I am fighting the same battle I did in the military with my SO and believe me when I tell you, my live is no fun!
I think for the most part I have given up and just try to live with what I have been given because of our Autistic son we adopted 11 years ago.