WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Air Force said Thursday it would deny all transgender service members who have served between 15 and 18 years the option to retire early and would instead separate them without retirement benefits. One Air Force sergeant said he was “betrayed and devastated” by the move.

The move means that transgender service members will now be faced with the choice of either taking a lump-sum separation payment offered to junior troops or be removed from the service.

An Air Force spokesperson told The Associated Press that “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.” About a dozen service members had been “prematurely notified” that they would be able to retire before that decision was reversed, according to the spokesperson who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal Air Force policy.

A memo issued Monday announcing the new policy, which was reviewed by the AP, said that the choice to deny retirement benefits was made “after careful consideration of the individual applications.”

All transgender members of the Air Force are being separated from the service under the Trump administration’s policies.

  • Tedesche@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Social conservatives are a hateful people. Bitter and hateful. They’re the bad guys of the world.

  • Bluefalcon@discuss.tchncs.de
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    This is the same old shit and gay people will be next followed by people of color.

    I was in when they ended don’t ask, don’t tell. There was a person in for 19 years. Openly gay. So much so, they would take other shipmates to gays bars with them all the time. It was never a secret.

    I assume you are asking the obvious question “19 years?” Someone reported them to the command and they kicked them out before reaching 20 years. Fucking less than honorable discharge. Fuck any one that calls them self a vet/member of any branch and supports this shit. You are no brother or sister of mine. If I seen you bleeding out, I would frag your ass.

    A lot I can understand but you take an oath to support your family in arms. Hegseth is a GOD DAMN traitor to his country and the service.

  • Snot Flickerman
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    2 days ago

    The cruelty is the point.

    Fuck every idiot who voted for this.

    There is a Hell and we are living in it.

    • pixxelkick@lemmy.world
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      This isn’t just cruelty

      You don’t want trans people actively in your military when the insurrection starts.

      The expediency here should make it clear how fast paced the plans are.

      • seralth@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        Well trump and screw have to do everything and kick off any plans before the term limit hits. If things haven’t been started by then it becomes a lot more complicated.

    • rozodru@lemmy.world
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      it’s not just cruelty it’s the subtle (hell at this point not so subtle) hints that “we need to surround ourselves with loyalists to OUR cause, not the country” Because when the squads start rolling out to not just detain people but to line them up on the street probably not the best idea to have transgender/gay/people of color on the other side of the trigger.

      the shit is coming, and soon. ICE is now recruiting teens as an obvious scapegoat for one slipped trigger finger.

      • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works
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        And it’s absolutely insane how they can get away with all the “rah rah troops” bullshit when they are violently and demonstrably against any part or context of the military outside of the concept of “do exactly what the fuck I say” - by which I mean the existence and exploitation of its inherent ironclad chain of command.

  • callouscomic@lemmy.zip
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    30% of federal employees are also veterans and they’ve been getting fucked all year.

    There’s countless stories. They do not give a shit about you. YOU is YOU. Everyone. These greedy fuckers. DO. NOT. CARE. ABOUT. YOU.

    • Tollana1234567@lemmy.today
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      the gop NEVER DID, and never will. its all performative politics. im guessing rural ones still support these parasites.

  • Evkob (they/them)@lemmy.ca
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    If I had served in the military and this was how I was treated on the way out, I’d probably use my training to do my best to inflict harm on the decision-makers.

    • Maeve@kbin.earth
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      I wonder if this has any connection to the sargeant who shot up Fort Stewart?

      • darkdemize@sh.itjust.works
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        Unlikely. That guy was in a different branch of service (Army) and he hadn’t been in long enough to be directly affected anyway.

    • Azal@pawb.social
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      You mean the guy who mocked a POW opponent by saying he doesn’t like losers?

      Anyone who thinks he supports the military has a favorite flavor of crayon, and that is not a marine joke.

    • FlexibleToast@lemmy.world
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      The guy that constantly ignores the constitution doesn’t support the people that swore to defend it? Crazy. Any military member that voted for him should be kicked out for supporting an insurrectionist.

  • masterofn001@lemmy.ca
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    Air force report in January 2026: Because of no reasons whatsoever, there has been a surge in fragging incidents and former military involved mass shootings. For that reason, we are banning all members of the military who do not possess certain genetic attributes.

    Heil trump.

    • Lord Wiggle@lemmy.world
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      Me neighter, but that’s not a reason to treat people inhumane. There’s no excuse for racism and discrimination. No justification for war crimes and crimes against humanity.