In a message dated 97-02-20 15:36:59 EST, you write: << 8) Do we have any idea what sort of LC/counseling this woman has had to bring in her milk supply/nurse at night etc that Many Other Working Moms have had todeal with? I gather from other posts that CHAMPUS/military health doesn't cover such services. If they had them maybe this would have been less of a problem--another OPPORTUNITY. COmments? Mailto:[log in to unmask] Mrs. Cuevas was on the Today show this morning. From her answers we can surmise that Yes, she did ask for and has rec'd quite a few concessions, 1/2 time duty at a desk while she is in her current command stationed in Panama. This would be what any sailor/soldier would receive as "limited duty" for any medical condition. As I suspected, the problem she is faced with is a change of duty station. Apparently she cannot receive the same limited duty at her next station. I, too, wonder why she didn't have more guidance, however, she sounded as though she had all the info on pumping and storing. She also indicated that she had originally asked for a "break in service" and then come back.(which is unprecidented) I don't think that the military would or could have a "mommie track" for their female soldiers/sailors. There is incredible competition among the servicemembers for making rank and getting "good" duty stations. There is also tremendous competition for slots at the military academies..... That's why men get so angry when women get the positions and then get out. There are Detailers in Washington DC who spend their entire day organizing who will go where at what exact time to fill x position. If you are given a set of orders, that squadron or ship or base is counting on you to come and do your job. They can't just "ask" for a replacement, the unit just has to do without (even if yu break a leg). It is pretty much guaranteed if you interfere with the functioning of the unit, you are not as likely to get advancing ranks or decent duty stations. It is a real delemma. In general, the military has become more sensitive and family friendly: in reality it would be almost impossible to bend to the needs of all childbearing women simply because it couldn't function efficiently. Let's face it, they have to be ready to deploy at a moment's notice regardless of whether or not they have a family. This can't even be compared to a high level corporate position that you can just walk away from. Yes the younger troops are counseled about family life and when the Marines tried to prohibit marriage among service members below a certain rank (as financially unsound) they were taken to task and the order was recinded. So what are they supposed to do??? I'm just happy that the commanding officers are becoming more supportive of breastfeeding, supportive of taking breaks for pumping, and in general setting precedents like limited duty under certain circumstances. I just hope that folks don't take advantage of the advances made and ruin it for others to come.