Female Soldier Refuses Deployment to Care for Baby

[NickD 203]

Simply because Obama has the power to withdraw all of our troops from Afghanistan that would put an end to stuff like this. And how in the hell the president got all that power beats the hell out of me, but hasn't been a declared war by congress, least according to our US Constitution since WW II.

[nowhereman 1]

I realize I'm hardline about the situation. But if you read my posts, all I want is for her to be thrown out of the army. I admit that suggesting she should pay back her salary is ridiculous and punitive. I said that more to illustrate the point that the nation invested resources in her but she refuses to deliver on her commitments. It was ridiculous.

I do think the situation is her fault and I don't think that's unreasonable. But throwing her out of the army is really best for everyone concerned. Like I said, she's in the wrong line of work.

I also find the assumptions about my personal life rather amusing. I could deny skeletons, but as the saying goes, that's what I'd say if there were skeletons.

Well I am suggesting that a hardship discharge may be in order, which may be the best alternative for both the Army & the single mother. Throwing her out of the Army is too harsh IMO (I am assuming you meant a general or even bad conduct discharge), but hey the OT forums is the place to express opinions!

Simply because Obama has the power to withdraw all of our troops from Afghanistan that would put an end to stuff like this. And how in the hell the president got all that power beats the hell out of me, but hasn't been a declared war by congress, least according to our US Constitution since WW II.

Nick I think this is

[SMR 368]

I realize I'm hardline about the situation. But if you read my posts, all I want is for her to be thrown out of the army. I admit that suggesting she should pay back her salary is ridiculous and punitive. I said that more to illustrate the point that the nation invested resources in her but she refuses to deliver on her commitments. It was ridiculous.

I do think the situation is her fault and I don't think that's unreasonable. But throwing her out of the army is really best for everyone concerned. Like I said, she's in the wrong line of work.

I also find the assumptions about my personal life rather amusing. I could deny skeletons, but as the saying goes, that's what I'd say if there were skeletons.

Well I am suggesting that a hardship discharge may be in order, which may be the best alternative for both the Army & the single mother. Throwing her out of the Army is too harsh IMO (I am assuming you meant a general or even bad conduct discharge), but hey the OT forums is the place to express opinions!

I don't really know what it should be called. But I don't think she should get the post army benefits that veterans get after discharge.

[Nessa 23]

Isn't the whole purpose of joining the military to serve the country? Doesn't the country comes first? So she expect all the benefits the military offers but not the responsibilities? I think it's extremely wrong leaving your baby behind, but she should've thought of that before she got pregnant. I would never, ever get a job, join the military, or whatever, because my family will always come first. I could never leave my baby in someone else's hands. I wouldn't even leave my baby for Charles to take care by himself.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I wouldn't even leave my baby for Charles to take care by himself.

Why, is there something wrong with an all-pizza diet?

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I have to agree with Charles. If the rules were followed per what the Army said in the article then she would have shown up with the child at the appointed time. Once it was discovered she had no working plan anymore they wouldn't have deployed her.

It appears that her commanding officer said somethings to make her think otherwise. Therefore her deployment should be pushed back so she can find appropriate care for the child and the officer probably needs a slap on the wrist.

[nowhereman 1]

I have to agree with Charles. If the rules were followed per what the Army said in the article then she would have shown up with the child at the appointed time. Once it was discovered she had no working plan anymore they wouldn't have deployed her.

It appears that her commanding officer said somethings to make her think otherwise. Therefore her deployment should be pushed back so she can find appropriate care for the child and the officer probably needs a slap on the wrist.

The commander over-reacted in my opinion but he was within his rights to have her arrested (missing movement is on the level of a felony).

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Definitely, in the military your not paid to think for yourself your paid to follow orders. She didn't follow orders and no matter what her fears are you can't disobey. If they hadn't arrested her the message would spread through the ranks - you can think for yourself disregard orders and get away with it.

Edited November 17, 2009 by Sousuke

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Here's the link:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_...EMPLATE=DEFAULT

Thoughts?

Throw her out of the army and make her pay back her pay and training up to this point. I have no problem with a woman who puts her duty as a mother above her duty as a soldier. As a matter of fact, I respect that. But why does she think that she can stay in the army? If she doesn't want to go and fight, she has little business collecting a paycheck. This reminds me of the reservists who are happy to keep collecting the reserve check until there is need and they get called up. Then they think they are being treated unfairly.

Nobody forced her to join the army. Women aren't even subject to the draft. This is typical of modern feminism where women think they can have their cake and eat it, too. If she wants to be a soldier and be equal with the men, then she can't expect special treatment for being a woman. A man would be laughed back into his cell if he refused to deploy because he wanted to be with his kids.

Exactly

[nowhereman 1]

Definitely, in the military your not paid to think for yourself your paid to follow orders. She didn't follow orders.

The first part of this statement is totally inaccurate, as our military encourages thinking on your feet (you have to in the complex modern battlefield environment). This is entirely unrelated to obeying/disobeying orders.

[NickD 203]

Isn't the whole purpose of joining the military to serve the country? Doesn't the country comes first? So she expect all the benefits the military offers but not the responsibilities? I think it's extremely wrong leaving your baby behind, but she should've thought of that before she got pregnant. I would never, ever get a job, join the military, or whatever, because my family will always come first. I could never leave my baby in someone else's hands. I wouldn't even leave my baby for Charles to take care by himself.

That Charles on this board watches babies? If so how much does he charge?

Not sure why I am even asking, really doesn't sound like you are giving him a good recommendation.

Even Extremely Very Super Special Agent Gibbs on that NCIS TV program said you have no recourse against the government if your recruiting officer lies to you about joining the military. Once you sign that dotted line, your life (literally), is theirs.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I've had some airmen friends and thats how they related their life in the airforce to me. To be fair one of them didn't always "toe the line" and as a St Sgt. he would protect his people from superiors.

Perhaps its a difference between enlisted and officers nowhereman?

Edited November 17, 2009 by Sousuke

[DeadPoolX 9]

For what little it's worth, here's my take on the situation:

Hutchinson is an army cook. She's not a commander, front line solder, tech specialist, pilot or whatever else. She's not necessary in combat or behind the scenes. At the very least, it's much easier to replace a cook than someone else with a more combat-relevant job.

Hutchinson's son is 10-months old and at that age, kids require a LOT of care. True, she had a plan that involved her mother if she got deployed. However, the mother can no longer take care of the kid. That's not her fault nor the army's fault. $hit sometimes happens.

The best situation would be if the military offered to pay for live-in help. That way Hutchinson's mother could still take care of her other family members, continue her daycare business and keep Hutchinson's kid with her. If that took place, the army could then deploy Hutchinson.

On the flipside... the military trained and currently employ Hutchinson. Joining the military is not something to be taken lightly. You do what you're told to do and go where your told to go. If you want a job with more flexibility or where you'll never be deployed into combat, then don't join the army!

I also believe that if this were a single father, there'd be no news story or controversy. Society believes -- for some reason or another -- that men are less caring and less suited for parenthood than women. Maybe that's true in some cases, but certainly not all. Regardless, a single father would not get the same consideration as a single mother. That is not only unfair, but sexist as well. There needs to be a standard.

Unfortunately, there's no "good" option here. I can see both sides and no matter who "wins," the other party will be disenfranchised.

[nowhereman 1]

I've had some airmen friends and thats how they related their life in the airforce to me. To be fair one of them didn't always "toe the line" and as a St Sgt. he would protect his people from superiors.

Perhaps its a difference between enlisted and officers nowhereman?

Yes there is some difference between enlisted & officers when it comes to how much autonomy you enjoy (it also differs based on the commander). I'm not suggesting that this autonomy includes being able to disobey orders, because it doesn't. My solution to the issue at hand involved nonjudicial punishment (article 15) and a likely hardship discharge, so I certainly wasn't giving the young soldier a pass. At the same time I don't believe an arrest was warranted, given the information provided.

[Sandrila 1]

I think that is one downside to women serving in the military

Of course they are going to feel more inclined to serve their family.

A woman should be given the proper time to spend with her new baby.