ABSTRACT
Many transsexual people have served or are serving, although not openly, within the armed services. Lesbian women and gay men will still be discharged from some armed services if their sexuality becomes known to their commanding officers. Certain questions are often raised whenever the participation of transsexual people in the armed services is being discussed. These are: morale and unit effectiveness; the services are in loco parentis; communal living; and security implications. Furthermore, in the non-military uniformed services, transsexual people have been able to openly serve and to participate as full and valued members of the service. Research undertaken by Captain George Brown MD of the United States Air Force, in the mid-1980s, whilst an active duty military psychiatrist at an air force base situated in the mid-western United States. In the USA, the United States Military's policy regarding transsexual people is quite straightforward.
