Military

Joe Biden to pardon thousands of American veterans convicted of having gay sex

June 26, 2024 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

Biden said he was “righting a historic wrong by using my clemency authority to pardon many former service members who were convicted simply for being themselves,” calling the law “a great injustice.” This act of clemency means that thousands of military personnel who were convicted over six decades for engaging in consensual sexual intercourse with someone of the same sex would be able to apply for a certificate of pardon that would help them gain access to benefits that were previously withheld.

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Spain to give Ukraine €1 billion in military aid in decade-long defense deal

May 27, 2024 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

Although the precise details of the agreement have not been made public, the Spanish government said its assistance would “allow Ukraine to prioritize its capacities, including its air defenses.” The bilateral deal was agreed two days after Russia’s onslaught in the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv killed 18 people, and as E.U. leaders grow increasingly exasperated with Hungary’s efforts to block aid to Ukraine.

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Final U.S. Army base stripped of Confederate name as Fort Gordon becomes Fort Eisenhower

October 27, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

The renaming ceremony was the ninth — and final — among Army installations this year, capping a controversial three-year effort initiated by top Pentagon officials in 2020 amid a nationwide racial reckoning following the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.

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Admiral Lisa Franchetti to become the first female top officer in the U.S. Navy

July 21, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

Franchetti, who will be the first woman ever in the joint chief of staffs, marks another first for the Biden administration’s Defense Department, which has now had the first Black secretary of defense and the first female Army secretary.

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All U.S. military veterans in suicidal crisis are now eligible for free care

February 8, 2023 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

Unlike for most other medical benefits, veterans do not have to be enrolled in the VA system to be eligible. More than 18 million veterans in the U.S. could be eligible.

All U.S. military veterans in suicidal crisis are now eligible for free care Read more

South Korea’s supreme court overturns military convictions of two gay soldiers in landmark ruling

April 29, 2022 | By Megan Richardson | Change Milestones, Change Milestones by Kindling

The supreme court’s new ruling sets the precedent that consensual same-sex sexual activity can no longer be punishable for military service members.

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U.S. to officially recognize trans & non-binary veterans’ genders

January 25, 2022 | By Peter Schulte | -, Change Milestones

The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) announced that gender selections on paperwork will now include the options of transgender female, transgender male, non-binary, and other.

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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs grants all benefits to those discharged under ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’

September 21, 2021 | By Peter Schulte | Change Milestones

Veterans who were discharged because of their gender identity, sexual orientation or HIV status will now receive the full range of veterans’ benefits including home loan guaranty, pension benefits, health care, and more.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs grants all benefits to those discharged under ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ Read more

Indonesian army ends ‘two-finger’ virginity tests on female recruits

August 16, 2021 | By Peter Schulte | Change Milestones

The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) conducted investigations into the practice in 2014, 2015 and 2017, with experts labeling the tests abusive, unscientific and discriminatory.

Indonesian army ends ‘two-finger’ virginity tests on female recruits Read more

U.S. military to release new trans-inclusive policies to reverse Trump’s military ban

April 1, 2021 | By Peter Schulte | Change Milestones

The measures will allow service members to access gender-affirming health care, among other provisions.

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