Meet The World’s First Transgender Military Officer (See Photos)

She was born a man, and while serving in the British Army, decided to become a women. She started to start her transition while serving in Afghanistan in 2013. She is now the only transgender officer in the world and is in charge of 100 soldiers.

Captain Hannah Winterbourne, the first transgender officer in the world.

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“I think initially it was a bit of a shock to some people, they weren’t really expecting it because it’s not something you come across every day in the Army. However I think people soon realised that it didn’t make a difference to my job. At the end of the day I can still do all the things I could do before I transitioned.

“That’s what the Army respects because we’re all about capability and output. That’s what matters.”

Hannah said of her decision to become a woman: “It’s about finding that courage to do it. And that’s not the easiest thing in the world. “I was acting for everyone around me. There was no let up where I could stop that act.” she said

She added: “That was a nudge which eventually ended up with me coming out and changing myself and my way of life.”

“After I was posted to Germany I decided to go to the doctors and told them. And that’s when my transition process began.” 

Hannah has refused to reveal her previous male name, describing it as a ‘label’.

She is now a rep for other transgender servicemen and women and said: “Despite being perceived as a very masculine, old school, organisation the Army’s actually very forward thinking.” 

Hannah was commissioned from Sandhurst in 2010 after being selected for officer training aged 15.

Despite the difficulties of coming out as transgender she said the Army had been “a fantastic employer”. 

“I came out as a trans soldier about a year and a half ago when I was in Germany and since then I’ve become the highest ranking, openly serving trans soldier serving in the regular army. 

“One of my additional duties is that I’m the transgender representative in the British Army, which sees me dealing with education, welfare and dealing with any issues that trans soldiers may have.