Editor’s Note: This article uses “she” when referring to Staff Sgt. Locklear-Mungin, in accordance with how she publicly identifies on social media and in her own statements.
A U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant has taken to TikTok to announce that she was forced out of the military just weeks before reaching 13 years of service. Staff Sgt. Locklear-Mungin, an E-5, says the move comes as a result of President Trump’s reinstated restrictions on transgender service members.
Locklear-Mungin first went viral in December 2024, posting a TikTok video showing a before-and-after transformation — appearing in uniform as a male, then as a woman after five months of hormone replacement therapy. The video has since racked up nearly 200,000 views.
@angelbambiii1 5 months on estrogen 😁😁#transandproud #transwoman #transgender #transgirl #fyp #foryou #estrogen ♬ original sound – ‧˚/ᐠ – ˕ -マᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 ☆‧˚
In August 2024, Locklear-Mungin posted another video from work, in uniform, stating: “My first week officially as a trans woman in the office completed.”
The Airman’s content drew a mix of support and criticism. While the majority of TikTok users offered encouragement, others questioned her military performance and career progression, noting she had only achieved the rank of E-5 in nearly 13 years of service.
Locklear-Mungin maintained on TikTok that she was still serving as late as March 2025. However, on June 30, she posted a video announcing her separation, which has since surpassed one million views.
In the clip, she explains why she wasn’t in uniform: “For those wondering I’m not in uniform because I’m not allowed as a trans woman anymore.” Her account does not appear to display the Department of Defense’s recommended disclaimer for service members using social media.
“So President Trump is kicking me out of the Air Force,” she says in the video. “I am Staff Sergeant Locklear — well, at least I am until noon today. Today is my final out.”
Locklear-Mungin told her followers she wasn’t angry at the Air Force itself: “They are doing what they are supposed to be doing. They are following rules whether they are right or wrong… I’ve had an amazing time in the Air Force. It has been a light in my life, it has given me purpose… almost 13 years — August would have been 13 years for me.”
She said she is now looking for civilian employment, likely outside the Atlanta metro area.
The Biden administration had lifted the ban on transgender military service in 2021, but the Trump administration reinstated restrictions earlier this year. Under the current policy, service members who identify as transgender but have already transitioned are generally barred from continued service, except under limited circumstances.
@angelbambiii1 They can’t call us the bad guys while we’re being heroes. Always love the worlds greatest Air Force. #vetlife ♬ original sound – Angel
For now, Locklear-Mungin’s TikTok account remains active, with thousands of followers continuing to weigh in on her story — some offering congratulations on her new chapter, and others questioning her record in uniform.
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