You see a Soldier with a high risk pregnancy smoking. What would you do?

I would have a conversation on her decisions and the possible effects it could have on her during her pregnancy. But in the end it is her choice.

So, I didn't do nothing. In fact, I pulled her aside (albeit not far) from the smoke pit and made it clear to her that I thought her decision was incredibly stupid. I did so for the following reasons.

1) I had the misfortune of being born at a whopping 4lbs 10ozs because my mother smoked for the entirety of her pregnancy with me. I spent the first two months of my life in an incubator and almost didn't survive the NICU. Also, I suffered from frequent asthma-like episodes as a kid because she continued to smoke in the house. I suspect the only reason she stopped smoking in my childhood is because I nearly died on at least two occasions that I can remember.

2) I was not willing to let it sit on my conscience that I said nothing when I could have potentially been the "one more" voice that got through to the Soldier and encouraged her to make a better choice for herself and her baby. I can live with her making decisions for herself with which I don't agree. As many of you have said, she's a grown woman and has the right to make advised and ill-advised decisions alike. However, I challenged her to imagine looking her little girl in the eyes and explaining to her why mommy couldn't make a better choice for her while that child lay in a hospital bed with a potentially life-long illness or worse. Hopefully, I got through to her and at the very least gave her a moment of pause the next time she considers lighting up.

I don't know that I made the best decision but I made a decision I am happy to defend. I am not willing to right the Soldier off. I am not willing to look the other way. I am not willing to deem her or her baby a lost cause or irredeemable. However, I am willing to stand in front of the commander, 1SG, CSM, JAG, IG, or whomever and explain why I think what she's doing (though not illegal) is extraordinarily stupid and that I think the only responsible thing for her to do is to quit doing it.

Now, I will freely admit that I probably didn't use as much tact as I could have. I probably let some F bombs fly. I also said what I said loud enough for other people in the smoke pit to hear me. That's on me. However, I took the time to tell her my story, I offered her assistance, and after the fact I sent my junior NCOs to follow up with her to make sure she gets the support she needs to quit as she said she would. At the end of the day, though the delivery was probably rougher than she's accustomed to, I believe she could see that it was coming out of genuine concern for her and her baby's well-being. That's the hope anyway.

Anyway, thank you all for your input. Thank you for the advice. Most of all, thank you for helping me take care of our nation and our nation's greatest assets, the American Servicemember.

SFC (Join to see) - Man-o-war. Tough Call. On one hand, you have to look out for the welfare of your troops (and their future dependents). On the other hand, you have to respect the decisions (albeit ones with which you may not agree) of the individual --especially when it comes to health. If she's in your direct command, I could only suggest that you restrict her from smoke breaks... pretty sure this would be a legal order. As for her decisions on her time... well... that's on her. Whatever decision YOU make, act with firmness, fairness, compassion, and dignity. Hell of a tightrope you're on.