Comments on: Pregnant Pause: “Thou shall not procreate.”

By: Eddie

Eddie — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 06:35:56 +0000

At the beginning of the war the army was letting pregnant women separate from the service. Before its first deployment the 1st CAV Division lost a BN’s worth of females to pregnancy and separation. I was working in a shop there as they were doing final pack up and I heard female solders say “I’m going to the club tonight and I’m going to **** everyman their if thats what it takes to get pregnant cause I aint deploying”. The problem is huge. I have read things that basically say that we are averaging about 1000 pregnancies a year in the war zones. The military classifies their redeployment to the states as medical related gynecological problems. I call it malingering.

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 16:41:16 +0000

All of this comes with the territory of having mixed the sexes within the miltary. There is a time and a place for everything. Even generals can’t control some things. As far as who’s in charge? Well inthis case it is General Odierno.

By: David L G Yoder

David L G Yoder — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 15:26:31 +0000

Fox news just reported that the commander has backed off from the punishment for getting pregnant in a combat zone. Makes you wonder who is in charge here. Looks like the same mistakes that were made in RVN are repeating themselves now, polititions (SP) running the war!!

By: H.G. Holcomb

H.G. Holcomb — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 07:38:40 +0000

Having served 30 years as an Infantryman in combat and support units, I saw first hand how the issue of pregnancy affects the funtioning of units. In the Infantry units pregnancy did not affect the manning of the units, but dealing with spousal pregnancies was a minor inconvenience. In the support units where I served the percentage of female soldiers was 20 to 50 percent. Pregnancy of females was a moderate to major readiness issue. Even the best planned pregnancy causes some male soldier(s) to pick up the slack. Soldiers who become pregnant immediately following advanced training and continue to procreate every 12 to 15 months, are welfare soldiers who only join the military to have their family subsidised and are a major readiness detriment. While I surrounded myself with female soldier when possible, due to their intelligence and tremendous work ethic, the readiness detriment of female pregnancy cannot be ignored in the name of political correctness.

By: confused

confused — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:20:31 +0000

I’m about to deploy into theater again (4th time) and I don’t understand when these folks have time to have these types of relations. Beyond their normal work routines (mine have always been 14-18ish hours daily), studying for quals/education, working out, and sleep; I couldn’t imagine fitting this in. Of course, I am happily married and not looking for it–but still.

By: A different view

A different view — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:43:49 +0000

Hmm, well I cannot say that the policy does not have a justified purpose, nor that we all have (and know this upon joining) a duty to serve and responsibility to be in the right shape to serve. However, being pregnant, or any other form of medically qualified job reducing condition, should not be in itself a reason to NJP a service-member. Also we are not fighting an all out war, but rather a sustained fight much like our normal jobs. I find it hard to believe that the units in the North are that overwhelmed as many in Iraq are sitting around due to the security agreement between Iraq and the USA (which significantly reduces the number of combat operations occurring, which in turn reduces all the other requirements a military unit normal has). Just as any other work force has to learn to deal with this condition (pregnancy) so should the military. We are beyond the times of saying you cannot be married, you cannot have a family (be it single parent or otherwise), we need to learn how to lead in these situations and find solutions to the problem not punish our service-members for situations that occur. Society has changed, times have changed, even war has changed, we need to learn to adapt as well or become useless in the evolution.

By: OldVet

OldVet — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:52:02 +0000

Gen. Odierno has caved in to senators and other whiners and revoked MajGen Cucolo’s policy. So much for backing your fellow warriors who are actually fighting the war. Politicians, mothers, do-gooders, etc. have continued to weaken military toughness for many years with no end in sight but the military continues its own self-injury by portraying service as being like other civilian occupations except you wear issued clothing and get college money. Is it too late to remember that real war (and staying ready for it) is not the same as civilian options. Nobody was drafted.

By: dmedford

dmedford — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:57:55 +0000

continue.....It happens way too often and happens a lot to single females....not married as they would like you to believe. These people are given briefings before they leave for these places about promiscuity and their duties. What about the females that go over there and do their duties their full term and make us proud. Please...no simpathy here. The military is paying for too many single mom's as it is. Send some of those women's right's activists out there to the field to take the place of these young females that can't keep their legs crossed. Give me a break!!!!! Everyone wants everything to be handed to them when they make the mistakes. Makes me ashamed to be a female some times. Buck up ladies!!!!!! By-the-way, I am married to a military man and I had a child while in the military. I still did my job 24/7 without asking for special treatment. We are bringing up a society of children who believe they should not have to "work" for their "pay". Where is that old work ethic that we work till we drop. For duty and country!

By: dmedford

dmedford — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:57:29 +0000

I am a female, disabled veteran, and I think the punishment is reasonable. These female soldiers join knowing what their duties and responsibilities are going to be. Women want to be treated equal, but then go over seas, go crazy with the men, and get pregnant. Every hear of birth control! They get pregnant, then get sent home, only to put pressure on people at home who have to quickly gather their things to run over there and take that female’s spot.

By: Charles Pierce

Charles Pierce — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:54:29 +0000

The problem is that if a female soldier wishes to get out of combat she arranges to become pregnant. The policy is fair in that it punishes both male and female soldiers. It was issued as a lawful general regulation. I do not see the problem. Do we go back to the old policy that once pregnant you are discharged. Either the young soldiers accept the policy or they leave the service.