US Army cracks down on soldiers who get pregnant in Iraq
shyster1
WTOC
December 22, 2009\
SAVANNAH, GA - There is a new policy on how to deal with soldiers who
get pregnant overseas.
Third Infantry Division Commander Major General Tony Cucolo recently
added pregnancy to the list of reasons a soldier under his command
could be court martialed.
This new policy is called "General Order #1". It states if a female
soldier gets pregnant while she is deployed, she will not only be sent
home, but could face a court martial and so could the male soldier who
impregnated her.
This order has generated some controversy. Maj. Gen. Cucolo fielded
questions from reporters during a live telephone conference call.
Cucolo is currently in Iraq.
Cucolo explained that this only applies to the some 22,000 soldiers
under Cucolo's command in northern Iraq.
He said he will look at each case individually and would likely only
take administrative action against those soldiers and it likely would
not go on their service record.
General Cucolo said he simply hopes this order makes soldiers stop and
think, before they engage in any sexual activity while they are
deployed.
Cucolo said, "I am most concerned about the health and welfare, morale
and well being and fighting ability of every one of my soldiers and I
am going to do whatever it takes to maintain our strength and bring as
many home as I can. I owe that to the American people and I believe
the American people expect me to do everything I can to keep every one
of the soldiers, that their money, their taxpayer dollars trained and
got ready for in this fight."
Cucolo says when a soldier is sent home it can really disrupt the
unit, putting an added burden on the soldiers still on the
battlefields.
So far in the past two months Cucolo has sent eight women and three
men. Four of those women got pregnant in Iraq, the other four actually
got pregnant before they were deployed, but didn't find out they were
pregnant until they got overseas. Cucolo said those women will not be
disciplined in any way.
Cucolo also addressed the questions about women who want to terminate
their pregnancy. He said he will not make the morning after pill
available, calling it an abortive service. He said woman who are
pregnant will be sent home immediately, no exceptions.
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