The Air Force has decided to let Maj. Jill Metzger take an 18-month leave, according to the Associated Press news service. Metzger is the airman who said she was kidnapped over a three-day period she was missing in Kyrgyzstan last year. The Air Force Office of Special Investigation hasn’t yet completed its investigation of the case. Metzger returned to work at Moody AFB, Ga., shortly after being redeployed from Kyrgyz. (There’s an update on this that says there wil be no 18-month leave.)
Active-duty transgender troops have until June 6 to self-identify and begin the voluntary separation process or wait and risk possible involuntary separation later—even as questions linger over how that decision might affect their security clearances for future employment.