rmy Directive 2016-35, "Army Policy on Military Service of Transgender Soldiers," announced in June 2016 by then-Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, lifted the Department of Defense's ban on transgender service members. The directive established Army policies and procedures governing how Soldiers who would like to begin transition or are in various stages of transition must proceed in order to change their gender designation and continue Army service in their preferred gender. (Photo Credit: Dustin Perry, U.S. Army Inspector General Agency)