Victor Voe is suing the U.S. Department of Defense under a pseudonym.
Photographer: Russel Daniels For Bloomberg Businessweek
The Military Is Waging War on HIV-Positive Soldiers
Don’t ask, don’t tell is dead. But America’s armed services can still bar HIV+ recruits and kick out those already serving.
Kevin Deese joined the U.S. Naval Academy in 2010 with dreams of becoming a distinguished military officer and giving back to the country he loves—just like his Navy pilot brother did. “I wanted to follow in his footsteps and serve our country,” he says. “He was my role model, and I was inspired by his choice to be of service to others. I wanted that for my life, too.”
Deese thrived at the storied academy, excelling in math, physics, and calculus while receiving medals for rifle and pistol marksmanship. As graduation neared he was selected for an elite training program for officers on nuclear-powered submarines, a track that would require additional training after graduation at the Navy’s Nuclear Power School in Goose Creek, S.C. The plan, he says, was to learn how to command specialized crews and operate some of the most technologically advanced equipment in the world.