This transgender man is applying to join the US military - in spite of Trump's ban

Nicolas Talbott is hopeful, as he is just days away from his dream: applying to join the military.

The 24-year-old says he meets every requirement to enlist - but, he is transgender.

Last July, President Donald Trump announced that transgender people would not be allowed to serve in the US military.

This was soon followed up with a memo reversing an Obama-era plan that would allow trans individuals to be recruited into the armed forces from 1 January 2018.

But the memo was challenged in the courts and has since been blocked from going into effect.

Anything can happen between now and then, but it looks as though Talbott will begin his application next Tuesday.

He told CNN:

This is a highly emotional time for me. It's definitely sitting, and hoping and waiting

This whole process with the courts has been a roller coaster.

We are doing well, but we are not out of the woods yet.

I’m trying to stay wary, and I’m definitely nervous that we might hit another setback.

Talbott hopes to join the Air Force National Guard. He told BuzzFeed he wakes up at 5am every weekday so he can train. He added that he spent a year preparing for the military entrance exams.

The LGBT rights organisation National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) is supporting Talbott.

His lawyer Shannon Minter said:

The clock is ticking, and every second we get closer to January 1, individuals like Nicolas whose lifelong dream is to serve our country are getting closer to realizing that dream

She added that Mr Trump's notion to ban transgender people from entering the military was "dangerous policy" and has "wreaked havoc" in the lives of transgender military members.

Jennifer Levi, director of GLAD's Transgender Rights Project wrote about Mr Trump's filing. She said the policy was an "attack" on the entire trans community. She said:

It is our government saying to transgender people: you are not fit to serve.

Levi called on the community to stand together saying the fight is stronger "when we stand together."

But Talbott's hopes remain high. He said this week that he is going to call the military recruiter he has been working with to arrange appointments where he will undergo physical tests and exams.

He told BuzzFeed:

My Air Force recruiter is just sitting and waiting. He knows I’m ready.