1. In Sept. 2011, the United States lifted the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which restricted gay, lesbian, and bisexuals from openly serving in the military. For the first time in American history, people of every sexual orientation could serve openly and proudly.
2. Under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” between 1993 and 2011, over 14,000 military men and women were discharged due to their sexual preference, each discharge cost the United States roughly more than $50,000.
3. 1 in every 5 transgender person serves in the military, but because they are still prohibited from openly serving, they remain “in the closet”.
4. Transgenders are not issued the same freedom gay, lesbian, and bisexual service-people are because of discriminatory medical regulations that label them as mentally unstable.
5. In 2010, roughly 19,000 sexual assaults occurred in the military, and less than 14 percent of these were reported by survivors.
6. MST (Military Sexual Trauma) is the leading cause of PTSD [1](Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) in women, while combat trauma is the leading cause for men.
7. Mental health issues like depression and stress that occur after sexual harassment make veterans highly subject to substance abuse and unemployment.
8. Only 3 percent of white officers report racial discrimination in the military, compared to 27 percent of both black and Hispanic officers.
9. 22 percent of whites, 19 percent of Hispanics, and 24 percent of blacks in the ranks report experiencing racial discrimination within their current unit.
10. Blacks could serve in the military as early as the 18th century, but it wasn’t until 1948 that the troops were racially integrated.
11. Genetic discrimination is banned in most American workplaces, but the military is allowed to discriminate based on congenital or hereditary conditions, to eliminate possible health care costs.

Put together a care package for a soldier. GO [2]

Sources: The Task Force [3], Service Women [4], LA Times [5], ABC [6]