Washington On Thursday, the U.S. Air Force announced that it will segregate transgender service members without retirement benefits and refuse them the opportunity to retire early if they have served 15–18 years. The move, according to one Air Force sergeant, “betrayed and devastated” him.
Transgender service members will now have to decide whether to accept the lump-sum parting payout given to junior troops or to be discharged from the military as a result of the decision.
“Although service members with 15 to 18 years of honorable service were permitted to apply for an exception to policy, none of the exceptions to policy were approved,” an Air Force spokeswoman told The Associated Press. The spokesperson, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal Air Force procedures, said that an estimated dozen service personnel had been “prematurely notified” that they would be allowed to retire prior to that decision being overturned.
In a document released Monday, the decision to reject retirement benefits was reached “after careful consideration of the individual applications.” The AP reviewed the memo that announced the new policy.
Under the policy of the Trump administration, the Air Force is separating all transgender members from the service.
Separation process has hit some bumps
The action was taken after the Supreme Court granted the Pentagon authorization in early May to proceed with a ban on all transgender military personnel. A few days later, Defense Secretary Pete Hegse announced a policy that would provide transgender troops who are presently serving openly the choice of being involuntarily separated at a later time or volunteering to leave and receive a sizable one-time separation payout.
According to a Pentagon official who spoke to reporters in May, the policy treats “anyone impacted by it with dignity and respect.”
Transgender soldiers, however, told Military.com in late July that they were finding the entire separation process—which included changing their service records back to their natal gender—to be “dehumanizing” or “open cruelty.”
Attorney Shannon Leary, who specializes in representing LGBTQ+ individuals in matters involving employment discrimination, anticipates lawsuits to contest Thursday’s ruling. “It seems quite arbitrary on its face and cruel,” she stated. “These military members have dedicated their lives to serving our country.”
According to Leary, all personnel who have served more than 15 years are typically eligible for early retirement in the military. She stated that she anticipates other branches of the military will follow the Air Force’s lead.
One Air Force service member says he’s ‘devastated’
Among the airmen affected by the policy is Logan Ireland, a master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force with 15 years of service, including a mission to Afghanistan. “I feel betrayed and devastated by the news,” he remarked.
Ireland claimed that his chain of command informed him, “with tears in their eyes,” on Wednesday that he was being refused retirement.
According to officials, 4,240 active duty, National Guard, and Reserve members had been diagnosed with “gender dysphoria” as of December 9, 2024. According to Pentagon officials, the disorder and its diagnosis will be the primary means of identifying transgender troops.
However, not all transgender people have the disorder, therefore the two are not exactly the same. As a result, it is acknowledged that there may be a greater number of transgender individuals among the approximately 2 million military personnel.
According to the most recent rules, National Guard and Reserve troops had until July 7 to voluntarily identify themselves and get a compensation, while active duty troops had until June 6. To identify any transgender service members who do not come forward, Pentagon officials have already told reporters that they intend to rely on commanders and the current yearly medical examinations.
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