2-star: No court-martial for pregnant soldiers

[unhappycamper]

2-star: No court-martial for pregnant soldiers
By Rebecca Santana - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Dec 23, 2009 6:51:22 EST

BAGHDAD — A U.S. general in Iraq who listed pregnancy as a reason for court-martialing soldiers said Tuesday that he would never actually seek to jail someone over the offense, but wanted to underline the seriousness of the issue.

Last month, Maj. Gen. Anthony Cucolo issued a policy that would allow soldiers who become pregnant and their sexual partners to be court-martialed. But he appeared to back away from the policy in a conference call with reporters, saying the policy was intended to emphasize the problems created when pregnant soldiers go home and leave behind a weaker unit.

"I have never considered court-martial for this, I do not ever see myself putting a soldier in jail for this," said Cucolo, who oversees U.S. forces in northern Iraq. But since pregnant women automatically go home, their units are left short-staffed, he said.

"I need every soldier I've got," Cucolo said. "I need them for the entire duration of this deployment."

Cucolo commands a task force of 22,000 soldiers, which oversees northern Iraq, including cities such as Tikrit, Kirkuk and Mosul. He said he has 1,682 female soldiers.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/12/ap_pregnancy_courtmartial_122209/



unhappycamper comment: That's just plain stupid Tony. Stop with the stupid threats.

[DrDan]

1. reminds me of the U.S.M.C. general, couple of years ago, tried

to keep married folks out of the marines.

Had to eat his words very quickly also.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. The M$M got most of the story wrong followed by manufactured outrage

The follow up which included a full and complete statement by the general was quite clear. Made a fair amount of sense as well. The link is in the post below.

[C_Lawyer09]

5. The same story

With the Reservist lacking a family care plan a few months ago. All the outrage from some bad reporting and gross exagerrations. Everybody kept accusing me of being a "true believer" and an officer suck up. I was just saying, follow the story line. Many on du, live to jump on any negative reporting as it pertains to the military.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. It wasn't just DU, NOW and others took off on it without a reality check

The general's explanation was a good one. You signed up to this, your trained for this, you are an integral member of a team, your presence is required.

I know a young married female officer who got pregnant accidentally She was using good birth control put short of surgery or abstinence, no method is perfect. Did not know until she was in theater. It was looked into at the higher levels, but her immediate superior and unit commander supported her. She remains in uniform with no adverse career impact. The policy is anti-malingering not anti-mom or anti-woman.

[C_Lawyer09]

4. It was actually the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps

Summers if I remember correctly that originated the idea. Boy did that start a shit storm!

[brendan120678]

2. The general gave a very good explanation...

and rationale for his policy right here on DU, live and in person.

At least I'm pretty sure it was the General.

Here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4194491#4194730