CDs And the Military

[Underdressed]

Having just joined the forum I noticed that there are quiet a few who are Ex and serving members of the military.
I myself served back in the late 60s and 70s, joining up at the age of 15. At this point I was aware of my interest in female clothes but back in those days a man could still be arrested for wearing a dress! and as you can imagine the military was not the best place to show your feminine side, unless you had a liking for hospital food.
I am interested to hear how others coped in similar situations, and has it changed for those serving now.

[Bea A]

I was in the US Navy from 82-91. I worked in an area requiring a high security clearance. I underdressed in the barracks sometimes and NEVER on ship. While married I dressed at home a few times while the wife was away (still in the closet). My biggest fear was my background investigation renewal. There were rumors of mandatory polygraphs while I was in. CD was automatic discharge.

[Linda E. Woodworth]

I retired with over 25 years service, active and reserve from the early 80's on.

My wife has known since before our marriage and is accepting.

I never mixed my two lives except for underdressing my last day on active duty before retirement.

[Rachel_B]

I dressed in private in the barracks. I was lucky to have a locking door to my room because I had either one or two other roommates and we shared the kitchen, laundry and bathroom. It was hard because of room inspections so the clothes had to be hidden. I was caught with the clothing during a health and welfare inspection, I was embarrassed but when asked I stated that everything belonged to my girlfriend which they loosely bought because the whole time I was there I had never once said that I had a current or even an ex-girlfriend for whom the clothes would have belonged to. After that, I moved my stash to my car when I needed to so it wouldn't get discovered again. There was one week where I underdressed in a bikini bottom from a two piece swimsuit for a week.. lol

[Marcelle]

I am a serving member other the Canadian military and since the 1990s being TG is protected by policy . . . no big deal from a policy perspective. Is it readily accepted by others? About the same as in society. Some don't care, others do.

Hugs

Isha

[Rachael Leigh]

Never have served but wish to thank each and every one of you for your service to our country and to those who serve their countries. Thank you for keeping us safe.

[Michelle V]

Army 8 years, kept my desires to dress at bay for the most part, would never have shared with anybody for fear of being shunned and made fun of, we had a gay member and the poor guy was made miserable all the time.

[Tami Monroe]

I served in the army from 1998 to 2003. I dressed whenever I could, but never underdressed while in uniform. I generally did so in the privacy of a motel room I would get on weekends off. Once in a blue moon if I did not have a roommate, I would occasionally dress in my barracks room, especially while in Korea. When I was in, and also because of how tight-knit my unit was, it was a big NO-NO to be caught CD'ing.

[samantha rogers]

I never served (heck I was thrown out of boy scouts...tee hee...don't ask), but I have noticed that many TG folk have or do serve. I mentioned somewhere else on here, I think, that I knew a girl who claimed to have underdressed the entire time she was serving in Afghanistan.

[Tami Monroe]

I just HAVE to hear why you were thrown out of the boy scouts. It would HAVE to be a good story! Haha! :D

[samantha rogers]

Tee hee...I won't tell but I promise it is nothing you would ever guess...:battingeyelashes:

[Tami Monroe]

Tee hee...I won't tell but I promise it is nothing you would ever guess...:battingeyelashes: It's a shame you won't tell. Haha!

[Kate Simmons]

I was in the Army from 1968-1971. I served two tours in Vietnam. When stateside between tours, I managed to CD on weekends regularly by going off base. I even managed to dress once or twice in a combat zone. Never got "caught" though. So it could be done even back then if one really wanted to. :)

[Karren J]

Similar story I served in the early 90's and never mixed dressing and army.

[Donnagirl]

Army (twice) - early 1980's to early 1990's: never game to dress even on occasions where I might have got away with it!!!!
Navy - early 1990's to late 1990's: again lacked the courage and feared the consequences to even consider it.

I was stuck mostly in shared accommodation or very limited privacy. Stealth would have been impossible.

[raleighbelle]

I was in the military for nearly ten years in the 80s and 90s. CDing would have been more than frowned upon but I did it in the privacy of my own home. Unable to when I lived in a dorm with inspections. Had we been able to be discharged for it I would have gone public for sure!

[Jenny Elwood]

I went to Varsity straight from school. By the time I finished the new South Africa had dawned, what I had been taught growing up was the "enemy", was now governing the country. Since conscription had ended whilst I was studying, I did not see the point in "volunteering". Besides, my father was pressurizing me to: "get a job!".

(I didn't like the hairstyle either.)

[RebeccaLynne]

...and as you can imagine the military was not the best place to show your feminine side, unless you had a liking for hospital food.
I am interested to hear how others coped in similar situations, and has it changed for those serving now.

Actually, I liked "hospital food"... I was a Medical Materiel Specialist in the USAF. I've always felt we were the "country club" of the military, in that we had private dormitory quarters, meals prepared to order by our squadron mates in the hospital kitchen, and (in my own case) a ready supply of nurse's uniforms.. :heehee:

No one ever questioned my white panties, bras, slips, girdles, low-heeled pumps or nurse's uniforms during room inspections... they probably assumed I had a nurse girlfriend. They were looking for drugs... and I had a much better place to stash those than in my room! :battingeyelashes:

[Beth Wilde]

Joined the Royal Air Force in 1992 and still serving now. When I joined, being gay was something you could be jailed and then dismissed for and CD'ing was seen as showing there was something wrong with you.

Things change and nowadays Beth is pretty well known on my base and I have even been to my section Christmas party and a party at my Squadron Leaders (Major equivalent) house..... Weirdly as it turns out, neither being gay nor being a CD has compromised me in any way!! Who'd have guessed? :D

[Dana3]

Retired United States Marine Corps
Gunnery Sergeant
75 ~ 95

[BOBBI G.]

I was US Navy from 1961 until 1967. I was a radio/communications operator, which was a pretty much at sea rate. Never even tried back in that period of time. After the hospital, I would have been discharged rather undesirably, not a good career choice. Had an offer from a sub-contractor for the DOD/ Air force/ Missile Test Project, out of the country, and had my own living quarters. Was able to enjoy the comfort of dressing there, but never outside. Different life and times. All this was before DADT. Even the suspicion could get you really hurt. Now, at my age, ya'll can do the math, who cares. I an transgender, and well on my way to be who I should have been all my life.

Bobbi

[Beverley Sims]

I have seen so many service personnel here that I wonder why more were not found out.

I think you are trained well in stealth mode in the services.

[Donnagirl]

I have seen so many service personnel here that I wonder why more were not found out.

I think you are trained well in stealth mode in the services.

Yep it's all about shape, shine, shadow, silhouette, surface, spacing and movement... The art of blending in... camouflage 101

Totally transferable to the CD world... But don't forget the best way not to be seen is not to be there in the first place. Definitely what I subscribe to.

Can you underdress in a Yowie suit??? (Ghillie suit for you NATO allies!!) Eugh!!! Sweaty sports bra and trying to crap into a plastic bag whilst wearing a g-string... I think not.... No hope of a 2 mil, cold zero hit.

[Marcelle]

Hi Donna,

As a wearer of a Ghillie suit . . . I feel your pain. :)

Hugs

Isha

[Donnagirl]

Hi Donna,

As a wearer of a Ghillie suit . . . I feel your pain. :)

Hugs

Isha

Don't tell me you get to play with the Timberwolf C14!! I'm so old it was the Parker Hale M82 for me... Once got to play with a Barrett - 2000 yds, 11' group... I now struggle to qualify at 2 - 5 m with a glock!!!!

[Ashley.Rene]

I am currently still active duty! ! I joined in 2002 and must say my story is like many others. Dressing while underway or deployed has definitely been difficult, but I would always find ways to make it through. Underway is probably some of the most difficult times, I would find little things to help get me through. From wearing women's deodorant to panties and a sport bra at night in my rack, and having that one hidden outfit for port calls. I am very fortunate to have an understanding wife who I could talk to while underway which helped as well. We have never lived in base so that has also been a plus. But now I am stationed at a unit that requires me to be in a 2 hour recall status 24/7, 365 days a year. This had brought on a whole new set of challenges, there is nothing more nerve racking than being all dressed up as Ash and getting that call, "need you on a plane half way around the world in 2 hours". Now let me tell you undressing, removing nail polish, make up, perfume, etc.. is a lot to do in a very short time! Getting in a plane wondering if I removed all my eye liner and mascara. But, yet again we make it work!

I am proud to serve my country, and I love my job. Yes, being a crossdressers has had its challenges while serving, from explaining shaved legs and toe polish residue in a community shower/locker room to passing on great opportunities just to have another day as Ash.

Well that's my story so far,

~Ash

[Linda E. Woodworth]

Hi Ashley,

Your comment regarding having to change quickly reminded me of the time I was called in my cabin, dressed of course, with the dreaded words "fire in the engine room"! Skit, blouse and pantyhose went flying as I frantically changed to get to the bridge. I never bring cosmetics when I'm on contract for just this reason. I did make sure I threw everything in a drawer before flying out of the cabin and up to the bridge. I didn't need the room steward finding anything unusual lying around.

Luckily it was a false alarm.:whew!:

[Underdressed]

Thanks for all your responses.
Things seem to have changed for the better since I was serving, I only knew of one CDer during my time and that only came to light when he took his own life.
I suppose I was lucky in some ways that because I joined so young I didn't really understand why I felt the things I did. I was 19 before I discovered the word transvestite and it's meaning, suddenly I thought S#~T that's me! there must be others out there ( remember this was pre internet)
At this time all the accommodation was communal, usually 12 to a room, so it all had to stay locked away in my head. Maybe that's why I still find it difficult to talk about it even to my wife, who know and is supportive.
Please accept my apologies for rambling on, maybe I an making up for lost time, It feels good to be able to talk!
Thanks.

[Jilmac]

I did a hitch in the US Navy from 1963 to '67. Back then it would have been certain court martial for anyone caught wearing a dress, or most anything feminine for that matter. Some of the sailors aboard my ship (myself included), kept panties in their lockers as bragging rights or souveniers of sexual conquests. I, however had a different reason for keeping panties and would occasionally wear them under my uniform. Fortunately I was never caught and none of my shipmates knew of my ulterior motives.

[Elisa Lace]

Can you underdress in a Yowie suit??? (Ghillie suit for you NATO allies!!) Eugh!!! Sweaty sports bra and trying to crap into a plastic bag whilst wearing a g-string... I think not.... No hope of a 2 mil, cold zero hit.

LOL! Now that's a funny thought.

Great stories here all around and I'd love to read more of them. (Civvie here, thought about joining the navy when I was 17 and I didn't... I should have at least tried. Pretty much the biggest regret of my life).

Thanks for your service to all of you! Even if I'm not from your country, I still admire what you all do.

[DebbieL]

Many of us who were transgender, homosexual, psychic, or otherwise "unfit" for military duty were often approached for more "interesting" ways to serve. The CIA loved that we had the ability to live secretly and keep secrets. Many LGBT people were used in intelligence, especially encryption, top secret weapons, spy operations, and even things like remote viewing and MKUltra.

LGBT people were so good at keeping these secrets that many were never revealed, many were revealed in ways that made everyone assume it was fiction or crackpots, and the real people involved were often nearly impossible to identify.

I found out when I was 15 years old that the government had "A File" on me. It was so highly classified that a teacher almost got fired for telling me that such a file existed - even though he didn't tell me what was in it. I had at least 3 interactions with federal agents, that I know of. I also knew that others were being monitored as well.

With any luck, you will assume that I'm making all this stuff up :-D