Breast Feeding military moms image... Does this irritate you? Should they be posing like this in uniform to make a statement?

SFC Nikhil Kumra — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 12:05:48 -0400

Any thoughts on this? I personally don't think that the military is a place to make statements. I get it if you want to hold a breast feeding protest at Target (as is what happened in the past, with support from Target, Inc.), and I could really care less if someone is breastfeeding their child in public, but this is the strongest military in human history and we're making ourselves out to be a laughing stock.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/photo-of-military-moms-breastfeeding-in-uniform-goes-viral/ar-AAehqfB?ocid=spartanntp

Photo of military moms breastfeeding in uniform goes viral

Former Air Force servicemember Tara Ruby says when she was active duty, "support for breastfeeding moms wasn't even an option to consider," according to her Facebook post.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2015 12:08 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 12:08:12 -0400

I think the important thing is that they remain within the standards outlined their respective services.

I don't begrudge any woman to breastfeed wherever is necessary. This isn't an easy question. It's not sanitary or legal to have a nursing mother go pump in the bathroom (like my wife was forced to when she was nursing while on active duty), but most battalions don't have a nursing mother's room. Perhaps something can be worked out with one of the shops at a certain time of day, or a back room somewhere?

As far as posting pictures online? No.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Sep 14 at 2015 12:09 PM

SCPO David Lockwood — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 12:09:05 -0400

They are standing up for what they believe in. I don't have a problem with them breast feeding, it's natural. Of course they would have to find a place to do it privately.

Response by CW3 Eric W. S. made Sep 14 at 2015 12:11 PM

CW3 Eric W. S. — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 12:11:44 -0400

I have never had an issue with a woman breastfeeding. The medical benefits are insurmountable. The only issue I have is that they are doing it in the open in uniform. I see the statement being made, but this is not an issue that a combat force needs to surround itself with. A nursing mother is not going to do that in combat, so let's keep the uniforms out of it.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Sep 14 at 2015 12:11 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 12:11:58 -0400

Breast feeding is good for the Mother and the baby, and should be encouraged. That being said, as one that is strongly in favor of breasts, they should be covered up while doing the feeding. When I was a Director of Training for a large Telecomm firm, I had a female of equivalent level come into my office with a baby, shut the door and started feeding her baby with no warning or explanation. At that time sexual harassment was strong in corporate America. As an old sailor and a middle manager, I was totally flummoxed.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2015 12:16 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 12:16:36 -0400

In my opinion, if a woman wants to breastfeed, fine.. in public, fine but doing so in uniform is not acceptable. Why does everyone in our country now feel like they can protest and make a scene if THEY don't agree with something (rules are there for a reason, hello???)? Is being rebellious the new trend? If so, I guess I'll never be part of the in-crowd. If someone doesn't agree with things, move on to something else or another career, but don't disgrace the uniform and military that I served!

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2015 12:17 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 12:17:22 -0400

My thought is that if it weren't for "statements" like this, nursing moms on active duty would still be forced to go breastfeed and/or pump in the bathroom, or confine it to after duty hours....

Response by SGT David T. made Sep 14 at 2015 12:23 PM

SGT David T. — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 12:23:18 -0400

I don't care either way. They should be allowed to breastfeed or pump as necessary and we as a society need to get over the shock of people doing this in public. No one gives me a second look when I eat in public, why should it be any different for a baby?

Response by SA Harold Hansmann made Sep 14 at 2015 12:26 PM

SA Harold Hansmann — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 12:26:43 -0400

I am all for breastfeeding, and yes, I agree doing it in an open forum while in uniform, disregards the way the uniform is supposed to be worn. Don't get me wrong, I like many other men appreciate the woman's natural form while unclothed, but while in uniform it would be better being a little more discrete breastfeeding in public.
I know this sounds archaic and chauvinistic, but we are supposed to look and act like professionals of one of the worlds largest military powers.
If I can notice our military becoming more "wimpy" as the years roll past, I am sure, the other countries who don't like us have noticed it also.

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Sep 14 at 2015 12:29 PM

SGT Kristin Wiley — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 12:29:47 -0400

I have no issues with women in uniform breastfeeding and believe this picture makes a powerful statement. I don't think there is anything wrong with the picture being taken, but it does seem to be portrayed as a PR campaign for breastfeeding military mothers. I have zero experience in PR, but I have to wonder if this is supported by Army leadership as this could be considered unprofessional use of the uniform or as an Army-endorsed PR campaign. Gladly welcome the insight of someone more familiar with these types of situations.

Response by Cpl James Waycasie made Sep 14 at 2015 12:50 PM

Cpl James Waycasie — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 12:50:40 -0400

There has been controversy on women breast feeding in public for a little while now. It's ok to show your skin in skimpy outfits, G-string bikinis, etc, but something as natural as breast feeding is condemned. This would not have been an issue 50 years ago.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Sep 14 at 2015 12:51 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 12:51:15 -0400

While I do not disagree with anything you stated, if everyone else, at every level is using the military to make their statements why not? Sure, it is sad and pathetic but why not?

To go directly to the question, moms feed your babies but why not do it quietly and privately?

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Sep 14 at 2015 1:00 PM

SPC(P) Jay Heenan — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 13:00:26 -0400

I think folks are trying really hard to find something crazy. It is a picture of mothers feeding their children. I think that this picture is just trying to 'normalize' something that should be normal already.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Sep 14 at 2015 3:27 PM

SCPO David Lockwood — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 15:27:22 -0400

I have no problems with this. It shows nothing indecent.

Response by MSG Gerry Poe made Sep 14 at 2015 3:33 PM

MSG Gerry Poe — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 15:33:39 -0400

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Sep 14 at 2015 3:44 PM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 15:44:57 -0400

SFC Nikhil Kumra - While I support a mother's right to breastfeed her child, I also believe it should be done in private and not in public, unless the mother does what is reasonable to cover-up. I do not believe mothers should be required to go into a bathroom or closet to breastfeed, but nor do I believe they should do so in a public area without covering up.

Having said that, I think it is inappropriate for female military members to breastfeed in uniform, in public.

Response by SSG Michael Hartsfield made Sep 14 at 2015 3:51 PM

SSG Michael Hartsfield — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 15:51:09 -0400

To quote my Mother-in-Law: "It's a full-time job minding your own damn business." It's no one's business to know why she did this the way she did this and no one's place to try and criticize why she did this

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Sep 14 at 2015 4:10 PM

Sgt Kelli Mays — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 16:10:30 -0400

Mother's are mothers....and if they choose to breast feed...great! But, I have never been one to feel it's right nor do I feel comfortable for a women to whip out her breast in a restaurant or in a store or anywhere in public and start breast feeding....I believe this photo is not necessary and find it kind of distasteful. Breast feeding should be done in private and if they want to advocate breast feeding for combat moms or mom's in the military in uniform...GREAT! I'm all for it, but not this way...not with this photo.

I do not believe women in uniform are going to be on the battlefield breast feeding nor do I think women in uniform will have their babies with them at work...in the office or in the field or wherever they work while on active duty.....so I don't find it appropriate to take a photo like this....and if for some reason a woman has her baby with her and she's in uniform...then she should have some sort of cloth or wrap to cover her self and her baby up....

Perhaps they can petition the SERVICE to create as part of a uniform and camouflage wrap or cover up just for this type of occasion.

Response by 1SG Charles Hunter made Sep 14 at 2015 4:36 PM

1SG Charles Hunter — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 16:36:24 -0400

If the active duty military mom can't find daycare when assigned to a CONUS garrison, how will she handle deployment?

Response by MAJ Jim Woods made Sep 14 at 2015 4:51 PM

MAJ Jim Woods — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 16:51:20 -0400

I've been to so many foreign countries till I don't understand the issue. It's is the Mother's initiative to do what she feels comfortable with.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Sep 14 at 2015 5:04 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 17:04:09 -0400

Why don't we just go back to hauling the families with us on campaigns while were at it. Nothing like a good baggage train raid to boost the morale. Really, we need stuff like this? ADA compliant main battle tanks, F-35's equipped with seeing eye dogs, special submarines for claustrophobics? I don' have a problem with women breast feeding, but in uniform on display for the public? Very poor taste.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Sep 14 at 2015 5:37 PM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 17:37:52 -0400

A few thoughts:
- The military is, and of necessity must be, an apolitical organization.
- The above means that members of the military can have private political opinions but we can not have public political opinions regardless of what the political opinion is.
- Having a political military with political military members carries risk for our nation because it undermines the trust and confidence that American citizens can have should have in our military. Simply stated, we swear an oath to support and defend the Constitution and serve our political bosses regardless of what party happens to be in charge at the moment.
- Several female members of the military taking a picture in uniform while breast feeding is essentially political speech and therefore is inappropriate at best and possibly illegal at worst. Essentially these Soldiers are using OUR uniform to make a political statement. They can make this statement (and should make this statement) without the uniform on.

Response by SGT Carissa Lara, RCS made Sep 14 at 2015 10:00 PM

SGT Carissa Lara, RCS — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 22:00:00 -0400

Real life situation:
Female service member picks up her baby from daycare after being released for the day. One the way home she remembers that she needs go to the store to grab diapers or some other essential item. Service member goes in, grabs what she needs and the baby wakes up and needs fed.
What are her options?
- A. Go find an unsanitary bathroom to sit in for the next 30-40 minutes while the baby feeds.
- B. Drop everything. Leave the store with screaming baby and search for a suitable place.
- C. Go stand in the checkout line with the screaming baby.
- D. Go ahead and feed the baby while standing in the checkout line, paying for your items, find a comfortable place to finish up and go home.

As for the cover, if the baby will tolerate it then by all means please cover up. However, there are a good number of babies that will not tolerate having a blanket thrown over their head in the middle of the summer while they eat.

So, while I don't support taking the picture and making a statement in their uniforms, I believe that any nursing mother should feel free to nurse her child whenever and wherever that child gets hungry.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2015 8:58 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 08:58:45 -0400

At the risk of being flamed, I believe that family planning needs to be done a little more responsibly. We call it 'the service' for a reason. That implies sacrifice.
This is also why I support the use of the multi-year sabbatical (for one or both of the new parents) to take time to raise your children without having to compromise between service and family.

When my wife became pregnant in 99, she chose to leave the Reserves (her unit had an upcoming deployment, as did 3ID) since she realized that we could both be deployed. It would have been nice if she could have instead taken three to five years off instead. Of course, we also couldn't have envisioned what happened two years later.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Sep 17 at 2015 1:32 AM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 01:32:05 -0400

Breast feeding aside, I wonder how people would feel about military members making other types of statements in uniform?

Making a statement in your uniform, regardless of the statement, has no place in the military.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 2:52 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 14:52:03 -0400

Although I breastfed 7 children myself, I do not consider that part of my military service, nor do I think you should be represent our Army while breastfeeding a baby. It is a wonderful thing to nurture your baby, but that is not what our uniform represents. Protection is what the U.S. army represents. We worry over the smallest details of wearing the uniform correctly, obviously while nursing publicly is not the right way to wear the uniform. Take it off and be a Mom.