Pregnant soldiers could face court-martial

[rsmith6621]

WASHINGTON (AP) - A U.S. Army general in northern Iraq has added pregnancy to the list of reasons a soldier under his command could be court-martialed.

The new policy, outlined last month by Maj. Gen. Anthony Cucolo and released Friday by the Army, would apply to both female soldiers who become pregnant on the battlefield and the male soldiers who impregnate them.

Civilians reporting to Cucolo also could face criminal prosecution under the new guidelines.

http://www.komonews.com/news/national/79683617.html

[Jamastiene]

1. No hanky panky at all?

Under Cucolo's order, troops also are prohibited from "sexual contact of any kind" with Iraqi nationals. And, they cannot spend the night with a member of the opposite sex, unless married or expressly permitted to do so.

Is this while they are on duty or do they expect this at all times?

[Cid_B]

2. There really is no such thing as "off duty" while downrange..

... if I understood your question correctly.

Virtually everything on this list was already against regulations. He is just stating his intent to send those responsible for violations up for UCMJ action.

[JonLP24]

12. It was a policy I never fully understood

First, if you're in Iraq/Kuwait you're on duty. Second as I understood it no one is allowed to have sex with anyone while over there. However when I was in CSC Scania I noticed at the TMC that they had a box of condoms with guidelines above it stating 'You can have sex as long as it's with someone of the opposite sex, they're not married, and they are the same rank as you'

Honestly many have sex through the course of the year even married ones no matter the rank. It's hard for so many people to go the entire year without sex. I imagine it's the same for their significant others as well. Mine didn't stay faithful and I found out during R&R and it made my second half of my deployment stressful beyond words can describe.

I believe the given reason for this type of policy is for unit cohesion. I imagine someone might get jealous or something if one soldier is having relations with another soldier. Just a guess.

[FreakinDJ]

3. OK to stop bullets - but your dammed if you get laid

What the fuck is the military coming to

I was shocked when they added "Fraternizing with Prostitutes" to the UCMJ during the Clinton years. Given some of the countries our solders are stationed in Prostitution is legal

[Cid_B]

4. Drugs are legal in some countries...

Personally I don't want my Soldiers coming back from R&R either high or having withdrawals.

The prostitution bit came as part in combating human trafficking.

[FreakinDJ]

5. Shame to think some one could die without having known

what is a natural instinct

BTW: Human Trafficking of Sex Workers is a mostly a made up fantasy

[paulsby]

7. as long as you are not getting pregnant

or getting someone pregnant or spending the entire night with them, it appears sexual contact is ok (as long as it is not with iraqi nationals).

sounds reasonable. it certainly affects readiness if you get pregnant or get somebody pregnant.

[SpiralHawk]

11. Abstinence - sounds like a fundie policy

Good luck with that one...

[SoCalDem]

6. Good. The US military is not a social club or a social services agency

There are choices in life..

Not all that long ago, a serviceman had to reach a certain rank abefore he could even BE married, and had to get permission to marry.

The sorry state of the civilian job-market and the lack of medical coverage made the military a viable option to too many young people (especially single Moms) who saw it as a way to get free medical...but the implications of wartime have made their decision something else entirely.

Birth control is pretty darned effective, so if they plan to have sex, they better take precautions..both of them

[Orsino]

8. If apprehended in possession of vaginas. n/t

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. Be interesting how civilians are going to be covered criminally

They are not subject to the UCMJ.

The obvious thing left out is if a married soldier gets pregnant while home on leave or immediately prior to deployment.

[Angleae]

10. Civilian contractors in combat zones are subject to UCMJ

Have been since 2007.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

13. Not in its entirety, and its not clear that civil servants are included either