No matter which side was pregnant!
Posted on 11/16/2009 6:26:41 PM PST by mom aka the evil dictator
SAVANNAH, Ga. – An Army cook and single mom may face criminal charges after she skipped her deployment flight to Afghanistan because, she said, no one was available to care for her infant son while she was overseas.
Spc. Alexis Hutchinson, 21, claims she had no choice but to refuse deployment orders because the only family she had to care for her 10-month-old son — her mother — was overwhelmed by the task, already caring for three other relatives with health problems.
Her civilian attorney, Rai Sue Sussman, said Monday that one of Hutchinson's superiors told her she would have to deploy anyway and place the child in foster care.
"For her it was like, 'I couldn't abandon my child,'" Sussman said. "She was really afraid of what would happen, that if she showed up they would send her to Afghanistan anyway and put her son with child protective services."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Why an overseas deployment to start with?
They don’t separate the illegal’s…oh, that’s right, they are the perfect CITIZEN for modern government; just as terrorists are; having extra-Constitutional privileges.
Convenience of the government discharge.
Thank you for your interest in national defense.
Everything is upside down these days. The traditional lifestyles as flawed as they are, are the best. I stayed at home to raise my children and I have no regrets. More women need to do what I did and this world would be a better place.
What about her husband???
Oh - wait, it isn’t politically correct to expect a woman to have a baby WHILE MARRIED.... ugh....
While I would never diminish the importance of a mother to a child, I also believe that we make commitments, we should KEEP them.
I wonder there a way sound like both US Miltary mostly Civilan social system fail this poor lady
I agree with both of you!
Which part of “volunteer army” was not clear?
I’m with you on this. Up through the 70’s I believe the pregnant service member could opt for a discharge. I can remember at least one case around 1978 in our squadron.
Will someone tell me why women are in the military? WHY?
It is against nature, and certainly motherhood for this woman to be anywhere but at home raising this child.
Where is the father of the baby?
I could go on, but that should be obvious to anyone with a brain stem.
No, she didn’t plan properly. She is required to have a “Family Care Plan” for just this type of situation. Her failure to plan is not the Army’s fault.
If she is incapable of serving, she needs to be separated from the service. Another servicemember will be forced to take her place in the rotation possibly cutting short their time stateside with family and loved ones.
She is placing a burden on other members with her inability to fulfill her commitment.
Birth control would have been an option as well. If she wanted to start a family, she should have waited until she was no longer in the rotation or out of the service.
I saw similar prior to our deployment to the Gulf in ‘90 and I’m not very sympathetic. Another had to take their place.
SZ
“Her civilian attorney, Rai Sue Sussman, said Monday that one of Hutchinson’s superiors told her she would have to deploy anyway and place the child in foster care.”
- Wait..what? Did they really say FOSTER care?! Are they insane?
One might as well throw it into a den of wolves. She needs to tell them to get stuffed, or find some other SAFE alternative for her child.
I was a volunteer in the Navy and received a hardship discharge after I divorced and got custody of my three children. All she has to do is apply for one and it will be granted. But she cannot ever re-enlist unless she can prove that she has someone to watch after her baby.
Either that or apply for a hardship discharge.
>>If what this lady says is true, I don’t blame her one bit. There is such a thing as a hardship discharge. <<
She put herself in a pregnant condition, knowing she had a more important previous engagement?
So, if a guy decided he wanted to be a close father, he is good to file for hardship discharge?
No matter which side was pregnant!
Are you serious?
Hate to be an old poop about this but, in reading this article, I see no mention of a father. Seems to be a lot of this going around these days.
^^^
This old female agrees with you.
AND all of us are required to have arrangements for the care of our minor children. If not, we need to resign or be involuntarily discharged. Sorry.
Colonel, USAFR
I stayed at home to raise my children and I have no regrets. More women need to do what I did and this world would be a better place.
&&&
Amen! And they need to stop having children out of wedlock.
Will someone tell me why women are in the military? WHY?
&&&
Agree with your entire post.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.