The 24-year-old joined up four years ago as a man, but changed her name officially last month.

Trailblazer . . . soldier Chloe with the huge Mastiff Army truck she drives

She will be the first woman allowed to engage the enemy in hand-to-hand combat.

Chloe, from Cumbria, has now started hormone therapy.

Sporting long polished nails and with silver studs in her ears, she said: "It's a great honour to make history.

"I'm just looked at as a normal person."