By Over at Blackfive that had an interesting posting discussing a report written by retired Army Major Merideth A. Bucher who wrote an article entitled, “The Impact of Pregnancy on US Army Readiness,” she feels the Army needs a policy to deal with the problems created by pregnant soldiers:
There are sacrifices American soldiers must make, some of which cannot even be imagined. Since the current military service is voluntary and the deployment date is given about a year in advance, the individual who joins, male or female, agrees to become ready for deployment. Bucher explained that “military service is a sacrifice. If they can’t make the sacrifice maybe they are in the wrong line of work. They signed on the bottom line.” [Blackfive]
I mentioned in my last posting on pregnancy in the Army that most female soldiers I know don’t want special treatment and are often more pissed off than male soldiers when someone gets pregnant to get out of a deployment. Major Bucher appears to fall into the category of most female soldiers I know. Unfortunately the female politicians that caused the change in regulations have never spent a day in the military so could never understand how someone like Major Bucher feels about those who let their fellow soldiers down.
3:30 pm on December 30th, 2009 1
These may sound like dumb questions, but I never had an interest to know before.
What birth control options does the military offer female GIs? I know some hard core right-to-lifers believe most forms of contraception are the same as abortion, and legislation prohibited the military from providing that. So, where is the line draw? Can military women get birth control pills? More problematic, can they get morning after pills?
If the women had more of these options, I would say they have fewer excuses.
4:41 pm on December 30th, 2009 2
JoeC, I believe you have missed the point. At least while state side, they can get whatever they want in contraception. A Walmart is near almost EVERY military base in America.
Some make the choice to become pregnant. Some do so to avoid a deployment or other selfish reason. These deployments are rarely a surprize and known usually a year out. Rotation of units. Time to train up. Unless things have changed in the last three years.
While deployed to a war zone, sex is not *supposed* to happen. It does of course.
They could always load up their "footlocker" with whatever contraception they desire and bring it with them. Care packages from home?
There really is no reason for a female in uniform to become pregnant, other than she wanted too.
Pregnant or war zone. Some (few) like pregnant.
We only had one "troop" in 05 that picked the pregnant option. We did not suffer from her absence.
4:57 pm on December 30th, 2009 3
Solution: GENERAL DISCHARGE.
5:26 pm on December 30th, 2009 4
RU-486 should be available over the counter at every 7-11 in the world. The 'Every Sperm is Sacred' crowd needs a hot steaming cup of STFU. If it's not your vagina you have NO SAY in what happens too it.. especially if you have a penis.
11:05 pm on December 30th, 2009 5
As Retired GI noted, this is somewhat off the topic. However, contraception devices of the sort one would find on the civilian market are available on military posts/bases. My guess is such things would be hard to come by in the opening of a deployment for obvious reasons but a developed contingency area should have them. Since this is ROKDrop, look at Korea which is a highly and deeply developed contingency area. The usual devices are within reach.
9:34 am on December 31st, 2009 6
Housing and allowance benefits for married couples and for each dependent. To each according to his need… Never realized that Army remuneration was somewhat socialist in structure.
1:17 pm on December 31st, 2009 7
"Every sperm is Sacred" crowd…Hey that is one of my favorite Monte Python skits right along with the "lumberjack song".
9:05 am on January 1st, 2010 8
The Army has opted to get rid of Alexis Hutchinson via Chapter proceedings. She will receive an Other than Honorable discharge. This is standard in cases like this (?).
Another fine example of how women weigh down the armed forces.
* Please don't reply with any "Women Russian Sniper" or "Women Israeli Special Forces examples -they are BS propaganda to make women feel good.
9:33 am on January 1st, 2010 9
Outstanding! Problem solved. Question: when did women start needing to feel good? Is (feeling good) about one's self something they find difficult?
9:35 am on January 1st, 2010 10
Guess I about nailed that one.
…and you are right, most of the "Bad Ass Women Are True Killers Just as Good as Men" from foreign countries is bullshiat propaganda. I'll take it all the way: Women have no place in the US military unless we restart something like the WACs, WAVs etc.
10:10 am on January 1st, 2010 11
Agreed!
10:39 am on January 1st, 2010 12
"She will receive an Other than Honorable discharge. This is standard in cases like this (?)"
Yes. If you can't deploy because your family care plan is garbage, you get a one way ticket out with a less than stellar discharge.
6:44 pm on February 4th, 2010 13
An answer to my question:
Pentagon to Offer Emergency Contraception to Military Bases Worldwide
Military women will now have another option.