Alice Kitty

Alice Kitty served for 15 years, just five years shy of a full military retirement. For over a decade, the uniform represented a commitment to service and a community that, for a time, met Alice’s transitioning journey with kindness and support. However, as national policies shifted following the 2024 election, the landscape of the military changed, forcing a choice between an authentic identity and a career of 15 years.

Alice’s journey through the military was marked by both professional dedication and personal transformation. After serving as a man until 2020, Alice began transitioning with the support of a medical unit that led with empathy. To remain in the National Guard while transitioning, Alice had to navigate the formal requirement of being diagnosed with gender dysphoria by a military doctor.

However, systemic barriers soon emerged. While Alice identifies as Gender Fluid Non Binary, the military organization pressured service members to be “fully transitioned” to remain in the ranks. Alice faced moments of friction, such as being told by a Sergeant Major to “act according to male standards” because the transition was not considered complete by the organization’s definition. Despite a commander’s help to expedite the transition process in 2023, the request stalled at the level of the Surgeon General. The turning point came in early 2025 when a military announcement required trans recruits to report themselves, offering an honorable discharge only to those who did so voluntarily.

Faced with the risk of a less-than-honorable discharge—which would impact future employment—Alice chose to leave the service as of January 1, 2026. Alice’s story explores the heartbreak of leaving a unit destined for deployment and the resilience required to walk away from a 15-year career without the partial retirement benefits that require 18 years of service.