Can you get discharged for getting pregnant within the first year of your first duty station?

2018-07-18T11:15:22-04:00

My wife is an active duty 35G at her first duty station and we’ve been talking about starting a family. But she was told by one of her battles that females who get pregnant their first year could be discharged and we don’t want that happening.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Jul 18 at 2018 11:25 AM

2018-07-18T11:25:36-04:00

If she's through IET then no. They will not kick her out because she's pregnant. She could choose to get out on Chapter 8 but the Army doesn't kick out females for getting pregnant. The only exception I believe would be basic/AIT they get discharged.

Tell her to stop listening to her "battles" and research things herself to know what is or isn't legit.

However I would suggest waiting if she just got out of school and come up with a plan. I know you things happen and sometimes plans don't go the way you want but if you want to have a family and you're both AD then you should come up with a plan. Perhaps wait a couple years.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 18 at 2018 6:38 PM

2018-07-18T18:38:18-04:00

Gotta love "barracks lawyers." No she won't get discharged unless she requests it. I bet if she went to her Battle and asked where she heard it, that Battle would say she heard it from another person, and that person would say the same...all the way down the line.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2018 11:39 AM

2018-07-19T11:39:19-04:00

Assuming you are both still young and healthy and NOT looking at the Army equivalent of a 'sea-shore' rotation that would basically result in a prolonged period of time (sea duty for enlisted is about 5 years at a time) where it would be... irresponsible... to get pregnant as it would prevent her from being able to execute her duties or remain at her current command during the pregnancy, I would encourage her to wait for a little bit-- 2 years or halfway through her tour with the command whichever is shorter-- until she has established herself with her command and has a few performance reports under her belt indicating that she is NOT just one of those slackers that joined the military for the express purpose of having free healthcare in order to pop out babies with no intention of ever doing any actual work.

I know that sounds terrible, but there are a LOT of junior personnel (both enlisted and officer) who have justified that stereotype for new ascentions who become pregnant... Granted, in the Navy it is usually to get off of sea duty because sea duty is hard and most shore duty is pretty cake. I don't know that the Army has an equivalent.

I would also encourage her to discuss her plans in advance with her chain of command (again-- after being there for a while) so the command is aware of her intentions rather than being 'surprised' by it when she does become pregnant. They might have some insight as to the long-term schedule that could be helpful for planning purposes.

What IS something she could do (I recommend doing it several months before you plan to start trying) is ask the docs to evaluate her bloodwork including a thyroid panel. My husband and I were 'unsuccessful' for a year of trying and came really close to missing the window because I was slated to go back to sea for another 4 years because of a thyroid imbalance that was easily treatable with synthetic oral hormones. It is a simple bloodwork test, but docs won't normally test for it unless you specifically ask for it.