Pregnant in the Army? It’s a Court Martial for You
December 27, 2009 | Victoria Reitano
In recent news, it has has been said that the United States Army has made being pregnant a punishable offense.
ABC news’ article from Dec. 21, stated that Maj. Gen. Anthony Cucolo III enacted a policy on Nov. 4 stating that any women, and their sexual partners, who are found to be pregnant while serving in the Army in Iraq will be subject to a court martial.
Cucolo commands 22,000 troops in northern Iraq and apparently enacted the policy to avoid losing valuable troops. The article quoted this statement: “I need every soldier I’ve got, especially since we are facing a drawdown of forces during our mission. Anyone who leaves this fight earlier than the expected 12-month deployment creates a burden on their teammates,” he said. Furthermore, he believes that getting pregnant–i.e. having sex– is a personal choice and that any soldier who chooses to engage in such action is going against the motto of “I will always place the mission first.” This policy is not the first moratorium on sexual relations, apparently it is part of a bigger order which prohibits sexual contact with Iraqis and third party nationals.
An Army spokesman, Lt. Col. Nathan Banks, told ABC news that Cucolo had every right to do this, it is part of his charge as a general in the United States Army. He is given the power to make policies and “laws” which affect every soldier under his command.
In my opinion, allowing a policy like this in the Army is a dangerous and scary thing. I had many questions when I first read this article, the foremost being, “how will they know who the impregnator is.”
Women have always had to bear the brunt of continuing the human race, the most obvious being actually carrying the child to term. I believe this policy may cause unnecessary abortions and hardships for women in the field. Female soldiers are already different, why should policies be put in place that have the ability to single them out even more.
Apparently, according to today’s headlines, the policy has been rescinded. Cucolo, according to the Washington Post, now states that he has never actually sent anyone to jail for being pregnant–it was just a threat to make people think before they act. A new general order, which will go into effect on January 1, does not include this provision, however does include other offenses and punishments for them.
Regardless of how long this policy was in effect, or if it ever was at all, I feel that it is a sign for women to wake up. Our sisters are fighting this war for us, they have left their families, sometimes their children, and it is up to us to make sure that they are just as well protected as the men fighting there. While I would never be able to serve in the military, I have a great respect for those–men and women–who do. Women, in my opinion, most of all. We have fought so hard and long for the equality we have, and yet many new policies, such as this one, threaten to change precedents. Be aware, my fellow women, be cautious and be constantly vigilant about our rights over our own bodies, and our lives. Most of all remember YOU have the power to change these things, and if you stand up and create enough of a “controversy” things will change, action will be taken. So stand up, and make our foremothers proud.
