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!

[samantha rogers]

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

[Tami Monroe]

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

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..

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!

[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?

[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!!!!