Stay or go? Transgender troops struggle with dismissal as deadline looms; forced separations are set to begin

Transgender troops, who were serving the US military for many years, are now facing a difficult question: whether to stay or leave as the 30-day deadline ended on Friday. Last month, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a 30-day deadline for the trans troops, and according to that, June 6 is the final day for active-duty transgender service members to request voluntary separation under the Pentagon's policy.

Following this deadline, the Defense Department will begin compulsory dismissal of remaining personnel with gender dysphoria, a condition where one experiences psychological distress due to a mismatch between gender identity and birth-assigned sex.For many, it is a wrenching decision to end a career they love, and leave units they have led or worked with for years. And they are angry they are being forced out by the Trump administration’s renewed ban on transgender troops.

'It is exhausting': Trans military personnel decides whether to stay or leave

Benjamin Kibler, a sailor, felt honoured upon being chosen for the prestigious Limited Duty Officer position, a role the US Navy reserves for their most qualified personnel.The February 24 news brought joy to Kibler and his spouse. They began preparations for their move to Japan, which included his wife's resignation, selling their vehicle, moving to a smaller flat and disposing of their possessions.Their plans unravelled within 48 hours.

Kibler is one of many transgender and nonbinary service personnel impacted by the Defense Department's February 26 directive, stating that service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria would be removed from duty."The contrast between Monday's commission offer and Wednesday's declaration of unfitness is perplexing," Kibler told CNN. He continued, "My performance isn't the issue. That's particularly difficult to accept."By early May, approximately 1,000 personnel had volunteered for separation, representing roughly a quarter of the 4,240 individuals identified with gender dysphoria as of December 2024, according to a senior defence official. The Army alone recorded about 700 voluntary separation requests this week, a Pentagon official informed CNN. Other branches' figures remain undisclosed.Another transgender service member, who plans to retire said, “They’re tired of the rollercoaster.

They just want to go." and added, "it’s exhausting.”“I’m choosing to stay in and fight,” a noncommissioned officer in the Air Force said. “My service is based on merit, and I’ve earned that merit.”Military branches have begun identifying personnel with gender dysphoria diagnoses. An Army memo, obtained by CNN and initially reported by CBS, outlines additional identification criteria, including previous grooming standard exemption requests and visible conduct within units or on social media.