Single mom who is US Army cook refuses Afghanistan deployment to take care of 10-month-old son

A Georgia-based Army cook and single mother could face criminal charges after she refused to deploy to Afghanistan, saying no one could care for her 10-month-old son.

[Sonia]

Ok so let me get this strenght. The Grandmother cares for her own mother,sister and daughter who are sickly. She also takes care of 14 kids during the day. Only can't take care of her own Grandson.

Ok I understand now..........NOT.

[Old Vet]

Sonia wrote:

Ok so let me get this strenght. The Grandmother cares for her own mother,sister and daughter who are sickly. She also takes care of 14 kids during the day. Only can't take care of her own Grandson.
Ok I understand now..........NOT.

You obviously have no idea what is involved in caring for an infant. When I was in the army (28 years ago), women were not allowed to deploy overseas under such conditions; they were often discharged from active duty with a 'General Under Honorable Conditions'. This is uncalled for.

[Dinah]

Old Vet wrote:

<quoted text>
You obviously have no idea what is involved in caring for an infant. When I was in the army (28 years ago), women were not allowed to deploy overseas under such conditions; they were often discharged from active duty with a 'General Under Honorable Conditions'. This is uncalled for.

Thanks for your service, but NOT for your advice. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE GRANDMA. My man served 20 years in the military and is an Iraq vet. What was THEN is not so NOW. Need I say THAT again?

This army is not your 'dad's' army. Rules have changed and not so for the better.

She should have been discharge immediately and no more bennies or pay.

OH, and BY THE WAY, "VET" I dare say that a Grandma who rears kids and has to take care of the rest of the family knows PLENTY about raising an infant. Do you?

[Old Vet]

Dinah wrote:

<quoted text>
Thanks for your service, but NOT for your advice. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE GRANDMA. My man served 20 years in the military and is an Iraq vet. What was THEN is not so NOW. Need I say THAT again?
This army is not your 'dad's' army. Rules have changed and not so for the better.
She should have been discharge immediately and no more bennies or pay.
OH, and BY THE WAY, "VET" I dare say that a Grandma who rears kids and has to take care of the rest of the family knows PLENTY about raising an infant. Do you?

I never said anything about the grandmother, I'm sure she has her hands full. As for you... I'm glad that your life partner's sevice in Iraq makes you the expert. And finally, yes, I do know exactly what it takes to raise an infant. If you read my post, I said that she would have been discharged. I knew quite a few women that went home as soon as they became pregnant. They were not able to perform their duties at some point and were given a GENERAL DISCHARGE, UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS.

[Dinah]

Old Vet wrote:

<quoted text>
I never said anything about the grandmother, I'm sure she has her hands full. As for you... I'm glad that your life partner's sevice in Iraq makes you the expert. And finally, yes, I do know exactly what it takes to raise an infant. If you read my post, I said that she would have been discharged. I knew quite a few women that went home as soon as they became pregnant. They were not able to perform their duties at some point and were given a GENERAL DISCHARGE, UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS.

If I misunderstood, I apologize. The fact is, today, they do indeed have maternity uniforms for the women. They should not. Agreed?

[Old Vet]

Dinah wrote:

<quoted text>
If I misunderstood, I apologize. The fact is, today, they do indeed have maternity uniforms for the women. They should not. Agreed?

Agreed.

And, for what it's worth, I was sharing my experience as an opinion only. I was NOT offering ANY advice. You definitely misunderstood my post. I'm all for women in the armed forces; I'm just not too keen on pregnant women and young mothers being deployed over-seas or asigned to combat support units. They are unable to perform many of their duties while pregnant or caring for infants. When I was active duty there were no maternity uniforms - they were simply sent home.