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Subject:
From:
Gloria Buoncristiano-Thai <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 11 Nov 2003 11:09:13 EST
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (47 lines)
Aloha Tracy,

Breastfeeding moms are not given any special treatment.   There are basically
no rights for anyone.   It is what is good for the mission that is important.
  I have worked with many military moms who were able to breastfeed and
breastfeed for years, but it depended on their duty situation and their supervisor.

I have also seen the sad side.   Moms who were deployed once they were off of
maternity leave.   My husband and I have had this discussion numerous times.
 He is in the Air Force.   The way the military looks at it,   where do you
draw the line?   You cannot accomodate everyone.   You cannot make exceptions.
 The woman in the news right now who is absent without leave (AWOL) due to
the custody battle, will probably get a break from the military only because of
the media attention her situation has received.

It used to be that enlisted women were given the option of getting out of the
military when they were at 20 weeks gestation.   Many opt not to get out only
to realize that they made the "wrong "decision for them when they held their
baby for the first time.   This happened to a woman I worked with, but she was
lucky in that her supervisor was the husband of my co-Leader.   He allowed
her to "work" the breastfeeding in to her duty, and eventually helped her to get
out of the military early.   With current world situations, I am not sure if
women are getting the option to get out.

Women who are officers have no choice but to finish their enlistment as most
of them have had their education paid for by the military.

The best this mom could do is to try and discuss the situation with her
supervisor.   If she still feels he is truly giving her a hard time due to her
current situation, then she needs to follow the chain of command and report the
situation.

Aloha,
Gloria THai

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