Transgender Iraq War vet who became a woman after service ended DENIED chance to re-enlist because sex-switch is deemed 'psychological condition'



Iraq War veteran John Ackley thought that he would face obstacles from higher-ups in the military when he told them that he wanted to undergo the process of gender reassignment to become a woman.

He was surprised to find that there were no issues when he announced his plans to his administrators, but now that he goes by Ashley, he is facing trouble getting back into his uniform and enlisting.

'I figured there would be boards and I would have to talk to people all the way up the chain of command,' Ashley said of starting the process when her active duty was coming to an end.

Transitions: Ashley Ackley served in the Minnesota National Guard and fought in Iraq before she became a woman and now she hopes to re-enlist but the military does not allow such soldiers

Then and now: Originally known as John (left), Ashley (right) legally changed her name and is undergoing hormone therapy to become a woman



'But no, they were fine with it.'

John Ackley originally signed up for and served in the Minnesota National Guard.

Since returning from Iraq, she legally changed her name to Ashley and began hormone therapy to help her in the transition.



'I just kind of want to be me,' she told News 10 .



Though she seems happy and comfortable in her new life as Ashley, she misses the 'structure, the discipline, the training, the people' of the military and has tried to re-enlist.



Unfortunately for her, her administrators who were previously supportive of her plans are now tied by military regulations that prevent transgender people from joining the forces.

Even if Ashley does not undergo gender reassignment surgery by the time she tries to re-enlist, she will be disqualified by simply identifying as transgender.

Changes: John Ackley asked his Army administrators if there were any issues with him becoming a woman as his active duty began to wind down and they said no



The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network cites military policy which considers such self-identification as 'transsexualism', which is deemed a psychological condition which prohibits individuals from enlisting.



The issue of accepting transgender individuals has been prevalent in the news recently, as a controversy surrounded the inclusion of a transgender candidate in the Miss U.S.A. pageant.



In the end of that case, the transgender contestant was allowed to participate, and Ashley hopes that a similar change in policy will allow her to follow her own dream.

Though she continues to fight for her right to serve once more, Ashley appears happy as her new self and has become somewhat of a poster child for local LGBTQ groups in Pine City, Minnesota.

'Everything just seems easier now,' she told News 10.

'It's really where I should have been in the first place.'

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