DEERS/Military ID System

[PretzelGirl]

I have searched here and on-line and haven't found anything on this. But one of my name change items is my retired military ID and TriCare through DEERS. Although anything other than a spouse getting a new last name isn't referred to on theirs and other sites, it seems that the proper ID and Social Security Card will support a name change. I suppose having the court order is also good back-up. But to no surprise, I can't find anything on gender change. Is anyone who went through this process willing to share what they found out? Thank you!

[mbmeen12]

You might to go to a base and work with Force Support Squadron person. If Air force .....not sure what you call other personal specialist in other branches.... Good luck Kara

[BOBBI G.]

You may want to contact your local VA There will be someone there, more than likely, that could help you. Some Centers even have LBGT liaisons on staff. Worth a try.

Bobbi

[PretzelGirl]

I have a Air Force base a few miles away, but you can't get much without an appointment and I was hoping to avoid that. But I guess that is what I will do and when I do it (post passport), I will come back with the how.

[Michelle.M]

. . . it seems that the proper ID and Social Security Card will support a name change. I suppose having the court order is also good back-up. But to no surprise, I can't find anything on gender change.

ID and SSN change will be necessary, but as far as getting your retired ID and DEERS change you'll also need your name change order. It's the same as for anyone else. A woman gets married, her name change order is her marriage certificate. Yours will be your court order.

Changing gender will depend on your state laws, since we do not have a national Bureau of Vital Statistics. In my case, my gender marker change was decreed in my name change order (without GRS), and thus my retired ID and DEERS (and VA records as well) are all female.

HOWEVER, I can't change my pay record until my birth certificate gets changed (they told me the reason for the disconnect, but I don't remember what it is). Birth certificate change is underway, and that will bring everything in order.

[PretzelGirl]

Thank you Michelle! I am going the roundabout way on gender change by doing a doctor's letter, then a passport, then finally my driver's license as they accept passports, but require surgery for a letter to work. So for the military, I will go passport -> license -> ID and see how it goes. My birth certificate is with Massachusetts and they require you to be post op (I believe all that do anything require that), so that will have to wait until later. But that is good to know as I wasn't even thinking about my pay record. Added to my list!

[Sarah V]

@Ms. Sue:

First, very had now a days to get anything done at a CBPO/MPF (e.g: personal/retiree/ID card section) office without an appointment anymore. And unless you are very comfortable being in public and have no problems, having to wait a few hours in a waiting room full of folks who might not be as open minded as we would like all to be--so probably not your idea of fun. So, I would go the appointment route. One thing you may want to try is to call around to some local National Guard Armories and or Armed Forces Reserve centers close to you (or not so close to you if you wish)--I have found that many times if they are able to do DEERS updates & transactions they will, and happily so, while walk-in's at a big base (I am assuming Hill in your case) does not.

It's an interesting question you raise, and one I have not run across yet in 27 yrs. I would think presenting the court order, and a new social security card (same number just new name on it), and /or also a driver's license all with your female name would do the trick. A doctor's letter is most likely not going to be accepted for a name change.

Having the court order is the key in my opinion. Having that, you should be able to do almost any legal document changes I would suspect.

Good luck with the changes and let us know how it makes out.

[PretzelGirl]

Thank you Sarah! I don't have a problem being in the masses. There are still areas that can be unsafe for all varieties of TG folk, but it better never be on a military base. Based on yours and Michelle's answers, I will go ahead and just arm myself with all my paperwork and have this appointment after getting my driver's license. If I am missing something at that point, I have no idea what it could be. I will certainly come back and share the required documents for those that may need to do this in the future.

[PretzelGirl]

To follow-up on this, I went today for my ID Card and to update DEERS. The young lady who helped me didn't flinch and we had a nice talk. She asked for something to prove the name change and I gave her my court order. Then I offered my passport to support the gender change and she was happy with that. The problem is that the system wouldn't take the gender change. She would make it F and it would revert to M when she saved it. More bureaucracy for later. The ID card doesn't display gender, so I took it and made a note on my To-Do list. Changing things like the DD 214 (record of service) are things for later and I have heard in the grapevine they would do it yet, so I will have more military changes for down the road anyway.