Love-Ride's Blog

Well...once I received my Discharge paperwork, I had then to wait to receive my Separation orders and my Permament Change of Station (PCS) orders. That was a few weeks to process on top of everything else. But, I got my orders last week! I have been spending the last week and this week turning in all my gear, clearing all my military accounts, and shipping all my household goods back to the United States. Lots of work. I will be officially out of the Air Force July 13, 2008. I still go into work, and I am completely out to all my co-workers. All of them are upset that I am leaving, none of them really want to see me go. I have had great times in the military and I will miss it. However, I have accepted a contract job with Keller Brown and Root (KBR) in Iraq for one year supporting the Army. So, the military may be able to kick me out...but they can't stop me from serving my country and supporting the men and women on the ground. My schedule is as follows: Sacramento, CA area July 10-July 27. (visiting family and friends) Houston, TX July 28-Aug 10 (job processing with KBR) Iraq Aug 2008-Aug 2009. (KBR contract) Also, my Separation Orders state "Honorable Discharge"...so all is well with that part.

I was notified my discharge paperwork is complete. However, I will not receive them until Monday, June 9th because my commander has been out of town this last week. Once I get my papers, then I will be out-processing the military and soon separate the Air Force within the next couple of weeks. I could fight it...but even if I win, I would be faced with fighting it again once I get a new commander in a couple of months...the don't ask, don't tell policy will not ensure my continued service while being openly gay. So far, all my co-workers know I am gay, and have been very supportive. I wish I could stay in longer, but it seems my time is up...and now I can live an open and honest life outside the military.

It has been a couple of weeks now since my commander informed me I will be getting discharged for coming out as a gay man under the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. My commander has been working with the legal office to write and complete my discharge paperwork. I am being told that it is going to be HONORABLE discharge, but until I see the paperwork, I don't know what to think. I am not being allowed to fly any missions, and therefore, I have no job while I get processed for discharge. I have just been hanging out in my apartment in Germany waiting for a phone call. Once I receive the discharge paperwork, I am being told I will have 20 days only to outprocess the military base, ship all my personal property to include my car back to the states from Germany, and leave the country. I will be very busy once I receive these papers.

25 April 2008 I was informed by my commander that he will pursue a discharge for me after I had sent a message to my 1st Sgt that I am gay and want support in being open to my fellow crewmembers for the sake of adhering to values such as honesty and integrity. I asked him if it was possible to stay in, he says his hands are tied on this issue--he must discharge me because of the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. I should receive an honorable discharge, but I won't know until he serves me the paperwork next week...more to come.