By It is now okay for female soldiers to get pregnant in Iraq:
The controversial order punishing pregnancy among troops serving in northern Iraq will cease to exist on Jan. 1 when forces throughout the country begin operating under a new, unified set of regulations, an Army official has confirmed.
With the transformation from Multi-National Force-Iraq to United States Forces-Iraq, Gen. Ray Odierno, the top U.S. commander in the country, is issuing a comprehensive General Order No. 1, according Lt. Col. Josslyn Aberle, spokeswoman for Odierno.
It will draw from various orders previously in place but leave out the pregnancy punishments enacted in November by Maj. Gen. Anthony Cucolo.
The decision to drop pregnancy from the list of prohibitions for U.S. soldiers comes less than a week after Stars and Stripes reported on Cucolo’s order. The policy, which leaves open the possibility of court-martial and jail time for soldiers who become pregnant or impregnate others, drew sharp criticism from opponents, who said it infringed on basic rights of the individual.
Among the critics were four Democratic senators who wrote a letter to Army Secretary John McHugh, asking him to rescind the pregnancy restriction.
“This policy could encourage female soldiers to delay seeking critical medical care with potentially serious consequences for the mother and child,” said the letter signed by Barbara Boxer, Barbara Mikulski, Jeanne Shaheen and Kristen Gillibrand. ”We can think of no greater deterrent to women contemplating a military career than the image of a pregnant woman being severely punished for simply conceiving a child. That defies comprehension.” [Stars & Stripes]
This is sure to draw some controversy because the things male soldiers often complain about females in the military is the special treatment they get and this decision will be used as yet another example of this. What is ironic is that most female soldiers I know don’t want special treatment either.
11:19 pm on December 25th, 2009 1
More fuel for the argument against women in combat.
12:31 am on December 26th, 2009 2
What's unclear to me from the article is whether it was GEN Odierno or the Secretary of the Army who bowed to the female politicians. Probably both.
12:32 am on December 26th, 2009 3
Here is the evidence that shows why we need the W.A.C.s (Women's Army Corp) back again.
Sometimes a man has to make a choice. Sometimes a women has to make a choice.
Sorry, some jobs in the military require you to do more than "setting behind a desk".
I don't believe it wrong for women to make decisions. Assuming they are able to make decisions.
Pregnant or combat duty. Pick one!
The Army caved. Why is it always the Army. Are Marine females more Professional than Army women? This would seem to be the case.
We already knew that the military women of the Navy and Air Force are more Professional than those in the Army.
It will be interesting to hear people complain of women not having the "opportunity" to serve their country because they are Pregnant.
As always, women in the Army want it both ways.
"treat me like an equal" OR
"but I'm pregnant!"
Translation: I like the job but I didn't want to deploy to Iraq so come and get it boys. I need to get pregnant so I can get the F— out a here.
Result: Now the Unit is short one working body. Which means a MAN must pick up her work load as well as his own.
That is ASSUMING the "Queen for a Year" did any work. Some units may well be better off without her.
I remember three females I served with in my twenty years, whom I could depend on.
I served with many females that did nothing but cause trouble.
But Sergeant, my pogie hurts—-
1:54 am on December 26th, 2009 4
Those senators complaining need a reality check. They are sooo disconnected from the military and the combat environment they are utterly laughable. But apparently no one at DA or DOD is laughing. Sad to see this kind of PC distraction getting all this attention. We have real enemies in the real world we need the real military to focus on. I guess military necessity will only be obvious to the clueless when an enemy is at their throat with a knife. Hope they can talk their way out of that then…
5:44 am on December 26th, 2009 5
Combat Situation on the front lines
SPC David: PFC Diana, get some more ammo for the 249B we're running low and there is another wave of enemy assaulting!
PFC Diana: I can't right now, I'm using my breast pump.
7:39 am on December 26th, 2009 6
Does the military track the redeployed women to determine how many actually give birth versus report a miscarriage?
9:03 am on December 26th, 2009 7
I bet the Pentagon does and I bet the reports are classified double ultra top secret with a cherry on top.
I heard back in the 1980s, the armed forces commissioned a bunch of studies on whether eliminating WAC and opening many new MOSs to women was a success. Those reports concluding it worked perfectly got sent to the New York Times and other media outlets. The ones which showed to to be a failure were classified and stored away in that warehouse which holds the Ark of the Covenant from the first (and best) Indiana Jones movie
!
11:33 am on December 26th, 2009 8
They are called ""Military Medical Records". But anything done Outside the military's medical dept is unknown.
Also if they have a baby, they will clam it as a dependent and receive Additional Pay, as in a Basic allowance for Housing and an additional allowance for Food.
Depending on her Rank at the time, she could make an additional K or more. I don't have the figures with me.
So, no dependent equals no additional pay and no living Off Base in a sweet apartment rather than a Barracks room.
The short answer is—the Army will know.
As to tracking it and coming up with statistics, I would agree with CHRIS IN DALLAS.
It would not be PC (politically correct) to show statistics indicating that females in the army are anything less than perfect, and all is going VERY well!
Remember Jesaca Lynch? She emptied two magazines into the enemy and was shot and stabbed during combat. Only problem was that she was UNCONSCIOUS from the crash while all that was going on with Soldiers that are now Nameless and forgotten. Her only injuries are from the crash.
I hope to live long enough to see the truth of all this PC deception come to light.
Unsure if I can make it to 2089.
I wish I had an army of women like the female Marine in the second Aliens.
I would have been a happy camper.
12:19 pm on December 26th, 2009 9
"It would not be PC (politically correct) to show statistics indicating that females in the army are anything less than perfect, and all is going VERY well!"
While I have worked with many excellant female Airmen and NCOs in the military, the above comment is on target.
11:38 pm on December 27th, 2009 10
Interesting that these four wing-nut libtard democrats (sorry, I guess that was redundant)have no problem immediately stepping up and speaking out against a policy that improves national security and increases mission capability, but they have nothing but silence for the SEALs that are being court martialed for MAYBE slapping a known terrorist.
12:38 am on December 28th, 2009 11
The New York Times has a timely follow-up article on this which of course blames men for all sexual-related problems in the warzone.
1:03 am on December 28th, 2009 12
Hehe! Some thoughts:
1. A big theme in this article is these problems pose unique challenges in the case of deployments. I can see the point. Here is what I find strange. I've discussed the "punishment for getting pregnant" thing with a number of left leaning people. In that situation, they want to view it from the vantage it is no different than punishing Jane from corporate accounts getting knocked up by Steve from logistics! These people and their selective reasoning kills me.
2. I see two instances of a person of superior rank getting harassed by someone of lower rank. What is wrong with this picture?
3. Maybe I am reading this wrong, but did Captain White date a married Warrant Officer? Sure, that's no excuse for the guy's conduct but if White had followed the rules herself, its doubtful she would have been in the spot she found herself!
7:27 am on December 28th, 2009 13
Hold on now, we can't be victimizing the victim now, can we?
I wonder how many women get knocked up to get out of deployment and then get abortions.
8:51 am on December 28th, 2009 14
Hehehe! What are they going to do, put me back in uniform and send me to Korea?
As to you question, I have a partial answer. I had one girl in my unit who we highly suspected got pregnant for the vacation benefits. To her credit, she carried the kid to term, kept it and was an otherwise decent parent. Had another one who I discovered through E4 Mafia contacts was doing lots of horizontal PT in an attempt to get pregnant to miss an on post field exercise. It wound up being irrelevant because she didn't get pregnant and went out long enough to fake-injure herself. That is two out of 1,000 or so female Soldiers I was in regular contact with.
4:04 am on December 31st, 2009 15
[...] Soldiers Getting Pregnant In Iraq No Longer A UCMJ Offense | ROK Drop [...]
1:38 am on April 1st, 2010 16
I just want to say that I'm glad that this UCMJ and jail time has been removed. Sure you have your shi**bags that get knocked up to leave Iraq early but you actually have people who arent trying to get pregnant, ie married soldiers why would one get pregnant to leave when the other is still here. They let you live and sleep in the same chu and the last time I checked abstinance is the only 100% way to not get pregnant. Now think about laying next to your spouse day in and day out for 365 and tell me that your not going to have intercourse your lying. Should these people really be punished??
4:26 am on April 1st, 2010 17
Piss poor planning. Failure to take responsibility for one's action. Failure to put your duty first in a combat zone. Failure to resist temptation. Failure to recognize the TWO other holes if you can not resist temptation.
So to answer your question: Yes
Love is a warm gun—or in this case HAND.
Or do like one OUTSTANDING E7 did in Iraq—refuse to live in the same area as her Husband. But there could have been OTHER reasons of course.
1ST CAV
6:24 am on April 1st, 2010 18
I concur. Short answer: Yes.
7:35 am on April 1st, 2010 19
Pretty clever how some people can turn a FIGHTING FORCE into another govt welfare scam scheme.
7:51 am on April 1st, 2010 20
Holy crap! Have sex in the war zone when you can't even have a Whopper or an Orange Julius? What is wrong with you people.
I've always thought two spouses should not be allowed, one has to quit. Think of the children.
9:30 am on April 1st, 2010 21
They should issue the Bill Clinton field manual on sexual relations while deployed. They wouldn't even have to call it sex. Couple of pics should get the message across.
2:24 am on April 9th, 2010 22
First off you can have a whopper in a combat zone, dont know about an orange julius, but we have taco bell and pizza hut as well.
Secondly, Not all dual military havw children. jerk.
Thirdly, cut the crap on putting your duty first, and taking care of yourself. Be realistic! If the army didnt want to punish soldiers who get pregnant make sex off limits. Dont give the soldiers a midnight curfew to stay in the opposite sex's room. Make sex in military buildings illegal. Be on the defense not offense. Your just going to piss people off.
&& Lastly, I think the stigma that goes along with getting pregnant over here is punishment enough. No one should have to deal with that much ridicule and then be put in jail or face UCMJ.
Currently Serving in 1-1AD Fob Warrior Iraq
3:48 am on April 9th, 2010 23
You seem to be VERY sensitive, calling people names. How childish of you Kayla. So, not likely to take anything you say seriously after that.
But, you don't (currently serving) put your duty first? Perhaps you should be "realistic".
Last I checked sex in a military building IS illegal. There might not be SIGNES up, but do YOU really need to be told.
Are you really the picture of a
FOB Warrior 
today? Just when I was missing my Iraq days, you come along and remind me why I was so happy to retire. 
Lastly: The stigma that goes along with being a prego in a combat zone, comes from being stupid enough to ALLOW it to happen. The Ridicule is called for and justified. The female had the option and ability to plan, but FAILED, I say again FAILED to do so.
Don't like it? Get out, and ply the trade else where.
9:50 am on April 9th, 2010 24
Wow, those shots must have hit close to home. Quite sensitive aren't we.
1:39 pm on April 9th, 2010 25
Well excuse me for having any regard for soldiers as human beings. Retired GI welcome to the new army. We are probably better off that your not still in the service. Obviously you arent too book smart because you mispelled signs* I called him a jerk because I have 1 child but she still needs to be taken care of. I dont think that makes me a bad parent because I signed up to do a job and had feel as though I should fulfill my contract. As a female if I took that chapter I would be looked at as if I got pregnant before coming out here. I have more respect for the military female that doesnt take the chapter and get out right before a deployment. The one who sucks it up and takes the deployment and serves her country. Surely you would trash talk that individual as well. I like how you say the female had the option to plan and failed miserably when it takes two to tango and up until MAJ GEN K. decided to punish males as well they never got ridiculed. They dont say oh, there is pvt snuffy he knocked up gi jane what a shi*bag. Instead it falls on the female.
1:52 pm on April 9th, 2010 26
Kayla, do you really want to get into grading posts based on spelling and/or grammar and then judge the poster's intelligence level based on what we find? If so, you'd fail miserably.
10:49 pm on April 11th, 2010 27
Kayla, I fully support women as equals to men. That being said, women it is your body, take charge of it and stop blaming men for your lack of planning.
the "new Army"? Kayla you assume too much. You do not know when I retired or my rank. I served in Iraq.
You called Him a Jerk. I don't take name callers seriously. They sound like children. You have one child and that makes HIM a jerk? What is more important: your child or what those soldiers may or may not think? Hint: your child. Get out already.
Unless your one of those that think women are always a victim, than YES women have the option. Her body. Her responsibility to protect HER body.
Biology lession: Females get Pregnant. Males do not. Who SHOULD HAVE the greater concern. Good luck blaming males for all your problems.
As a Soldier, I have more respect for women that keep their panties on and do their jobs than I do those who drop their panties, get knocked up and then ride the system. A pregnant woman is of no use in the military uniform. She should devote herself to raising her child. Her option! Soldier or Mother. If you try to do both, you will not do well at either.
Oh and thanks for correcting my spelling. That is what those with no good answer to my point of view do. It happens often as I seldom proofread.
Who uses the word "booksmart" anyway. When did you get your GED?
12:26 am on April 13th, 2010 28
Retired Gi,
Woman can be mothers and soldiers. This is not the 1950s. A womans place no longer just behind a stove, or cleaning up after men. A woman can multitask and be a mother, a wife, and a soldier, or work in the civilian world and have a career. I dont blame men for woman getting pregnant. You forget I dont blame anyone. I think that having children is in the hands of God & that everything happens for a reason. While I disapprove that females should be punished, I applaud Maj Gen Cucolulo for stepping up and being the first to punish males. After all a female cannot get pregnant without the help of a male counterpart.
You cant take me serious for my "name calling" when that guy clearly has no respect for woman. Yes he is a jerk. Explain to me this how anyone cant take your overuse of emotioncons serious? Or you mocking what you think my education level is. Thats the same as name calling non the less. Im not going to humor your with where I attend high school, college, or graduate school. If I even attended at all. You can let the one marinate.
I dont care when you got out of the army. I also dont give a crap about your rank. I hope your some retired 1sg cause its not everyday I get to tell one of them off. I also dont care when you were in Iraq or how simple minded you can be towards woman. Im not your over the top femenist who rallies on about females and equality, I just have compassion for people in general. Your hatred for woman who desire to have a family is beyond me.
Feel free to poke fun at my religion, and my morals. This is my last post. You disgust me, as well as other sexist, shovanistic pigs.
12:33 am on April 13th, 2010 29
adios
12:40 am on April 13th, 2010 30
"Woman (sic) can be mothers and soldiers."
But can they be good mothers and good soldiers at the same time?
…just throwing that out there in case the fuel was burning off the fire.
2:11 am on April 13th, 2010 31
It may be your last post, but you will read my answer. You can't help yourself.
Basically, you just don't care. You said it over and over. As for mocking your education, YOU started that, and now you want to blame me. I am sure you have gone thru your short life blaming others for your pit falls. You fail, I say again you FAIL to take responsibility for your actions. You want to tell off a First Sergeant? Why? They been on your ass also I'm sure.
As for respect for women. Why? Women are no better or worse than Men. I don't give extra points because your a woman. Do your job! Period!! Oh, in the MILITARY, where your job is not sitting on your ass, you can not do your job if you can't bend over because your Pregnant. But you OBVIOUSLY haven't learned that. I don't believe you will either.
If you had paid attention to my post (you didn't) you would know that I have no problem with a woman being a Soldier OR a mother. But when you divide your time and attention between being a care giver and a Soldier, you will not do well at either.
Having children is in the hands of the people that DECIDE to have children.
God may or may not allow it, but it is up to the couple. Your responsibility to decide, not God. (now your blaming God, rather than yourself)
My Hatred of women? That's funny. My Mom and other females in my life would laugh at your stupidity.
Typical of women like you. Treat women EQUAL to men and somehow you hate women. I feel sorry for your chain of command. You are THE reason and justification for men saying that women have no place in the Military.
Thank you for PROVING the point that I have so often made on this blog.
Go dig a foxhole TROOP.
9:49 am on April 13th, 2010 32
I have a tendency to remember the best. I had a female E-4 that worked for me when I was E-6, she was very pretty, had a husband, and three kids, did charity work, and was Airman of the month when she worked for me.She was one of the sharpest people I ever had the priviledge to work with. She baked me a "rum cake" for my birthday and it had so much rum the cake actually slid from side to side.
She was not in competition with her co-workers, and was very loyal to me, and just enjoyed being who she was. She had everyones respect.
While she was not the norm, many of the females I had the priviledge of working with through the years were pulling their weight. There was always that 10% that used their gender to get over. And the military often coddled them.
10:24 am on April 13th, 2010 33
Kayla,
I grew up in the 1950's. And I remember very well what my mother did. She cooked (made breakfast and got my older brother off to school) did the laundry, cleaned our already clean house. Then sat down and read the newspaper. Later on she would call her mother and they would go shopping, (me in tow). If it wasn't that it was visiting the neighbors.
While my father was a drunk, it was usually my mother who would start the fight each weekend. Her mouth would not let up. I remember at a very early age thinking 'please mom don't start again' but she always did. My father would ignor it until he had one too many then speak up. My mother would then hit the ceiling and all hell would break loose, often ending up with dear ole dad being carted off to jail, to sleep it off.
The stories told nowadays about how women were treated years ago never take into consideration that these were women, no different than today, who were very savey and tough as well. They always gave as much as they took.
1:36 am on April 14th, 2010 34
It's up to 50% in this "New Army". The military still coddles them too.
10:14 am on April 14th, 2010 35
I believe you. I remember some years back a female senator went to Ft Bragg because of the number of sexual abuse cases. She was going to get to the bottom of the issue. It was very political. She was given free reign at Ft Bragg by the commanding general. She interviewed many of those complaining of sexual harrasment. She quietly went back to Washington and some time later she made a statement about "you have to understand who these women are". There was no more said and any issues were quietly dropped.