Transgendered/Gay/Lesbian service members, what is your experience in the military like?

SGT Michael Thorin - as you are one of the brothers in arms i will call a brother in amrs for i been and saw four different combat zone from my time in the Army from 1979 to 2000 from Grenada ,Panama, Gulf War and Latin America

MSG James Crowell - And I greatly appreciate your service. Thank you for the sacrifices you have made to protect our Nation.

None of us are perfect. As a matter of fact, I will admit that I'm not even in the same ballpark as the first step towards perfect, and will never be, but I do not want to write off our Nation yet.

I still have faith that there are a great many more people out there who are good rather than evil. I have to, because if there aren't, what is the purpose of holding on to our values?

you are right Sgt Michael Thorin for i have not giving up for i will fight until they lay me 6 feet under ground for i toke that oath freely and still honor it still to this day unlike many of our other county men and women i do believe that all men(women ) are equal and no one is better then the next one and we all have to fight for freedom to keep us safe but at what cost ?

CW2 Lindsey Muller - Thank you very much for the compliment, I can't tell you how much I appreciate that, and would be equally as willing to serve beside you.
AH64 pilot. That is awesome. I wanted to go Warrant Officer and spend some time at Rucker to be a pilot as well. I was always torn between combat arms on the ground and throwing some lead from above.

I will never regret the choices I made as far as branch and MOS, but I will tell you that I absolutely love everyone who straps themselves into the seats of any fixed wing or rotary aircraft.

There were many times that CAS from you guys was what kept us alive.

You know what's funny though?

During our times of need, when CAS pulled us out of a tight spot, no one in my platoon ever said "Man I hope that pilot was straight!" Most likely, they would not have cared anyway. What strikes me odd about that statement, however, is that there are some who are so adamantly appalled by those who are different that they would be upset at an individual like yourself that is equal in every way imaginable, but looks at life through a different pair of glasses (as we all do), but if they found out you had been a pilot on any mission that may have pulled them out, and never bat an eye at it.

Those people are essentially saying "I don't mind you serving, just not with me."

I don't know what your religious preference is, if any at all, but I hope I do not offend you when I say God bless you for your service. It is because of pilots like yourself that people like me are still around, and to me "God bless you." is the ultimate compliment I can give anyone.

Stay strong, keep up the great work and always remember that self worth is never in how other people see you, it is only in how you see yourself.

i have a purple heart three AR Accommodation and one AR achievement four good conduct air born and aasult and expert on the 45 M16 m203 and the 9mm and i was not going to throw all that way for those cave men who will never have the brains to think

MSG James Crowell - I am sorry you had to go through what you did. I feel that for the military to ends this pattern of sexual abuse, prosecution had to be taken away form commanders and elevated to a fully independent body. All the best to you.

SFC William Farrell - nor I or other female soldier wanted this to happen to the Commanders to lead their troops but when the good old boys forget that they have a duty to do to the female troopers also then they are the only ones who are at fault

Maj Matthew Phelps - Just like the Men who were denied the Medal of Honor because of the Color of their Skin or their Ethnicity or Religion. It is never too late for the US Military to admit a wrong done to a Service Member and take corrective action, whether that comes in reviewing Combat Awards for Bias, or Upgrading Discharges were such a discharge is merited. I joined the Marine Corps and the Military in general, to uphold my family 's legacy of service in the Armed Forces, both draftees and voluntary enlistees, like my Father (E-4 PO2 US Navy Carrier Sailor, USS Kearsarge) AND because I knew that the US Military was the first segment of US Society to desegregate, and that in combat, no one cares what your religion or ethnicity, or skin color is, as long as you fight and support your brothers to the end.