. Question Answered?

2020-09-24T14:06:45-04:00

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2020 2:21 PM

2020-09-24T14:21:21-04:00

Ooooh. This is a slippery slope. Your pregnancy is going to keep you from the austere environment, but being White Cell will keep you in the rear with the gear...probably on cantonment on Ft Polk main post itself. But, if going to JRTC is considered a Deployment, and your profile excludes you from deployments...based on your MRC....you may want to have your PCP have a conversation with your Command levels.

Personally, if I were your 1SG, I would tell you to enjoy your time away from JRTC and I would gladly take those sabot rounds that would come down from BN. But that's just me.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2020 2:51 PM

2020-09-24T14:51:41-04:00

Any commander that would roll the dice on sending a pregnant soldier to the field or on a deployment needs to have their head examined. Too many things that could go wrong and then his ass is in a sling.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Sep 24 at 2020 3:10 PM

2020-09-24T15:10:57-04:00

Can your BN Commander decide the best possible use and allocation of Soldiers within the BN? Yes. Yes, (s)he can. Even if it means sending a one month pregnant Soldier away from their Home Station? Again, yes.

Commanders COMMAND. It is what they do. Can you BDE CDR override your BN CDR and leave you back? Also, yes.

I, personally, do not think it is the wisest decision. But I am not the Commander. If the Commander, having recieved all relevant and available information, has decided to send you, you go. And the Commander is responsible for ALL of their decisions, not just this one.
There is data you did not include here (and is not really relevant to us armchair QBs) that will affect Command decisions. If you leave in a week and will be back before the end of the first trimester, that is significantly different than leaving in 6 months and being near term at the end of the rotation.
Also on the "held accountable" front, what does your PCM think and what is your medical history? I AM NOT ASKING FOR DETAILS, this is between you, your Doc and your PCM. But things for consideration are: Are you high risk? Have you had a history of miscarriage? What will your duties in white cell include? What are the available medical facilities for you (everything from how many and where are the medics to nearest clinic to nearest full fludged hospital)? How many children have you already had? What were the complications with those (if any)? What is your current physical health? Will you need extra visits or care beyond standard pre-natal vitamins?

As you can see, each situation is unique. That is one of the main reasons we HAVE Commanders. They view the situation, gather all available relevant facts, and MAKE A DECISION. That's why they get paid the big bucks. Commanders COMMAND.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Sep 24 at 2020 3:47 PM

2020-09-24T15:47:00-04:00

A rotation at a training center is a training event that prepares a BCT for deployment readiness and is not considered a deployment (at least in 2013 it was). So a pregnant Soldier could go because there are medical facilities there. However, on a deployment to most places do not have the facilities to properly care for a pregnant Soldier. That is why, when I was deploying before my retirement, females had to get pregnancy tests prior to deploying.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Sep 24 at 2020 4:24 PM

2020-09-24T16:24:41-04:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member "Does a BN Commander have the authority to send a pregnant female to JRTC or deployment?"
Yes, so long as the competent medical authority responsible for your positive profile states it is acceptable, or the within the limitations listed, and the CDR can meet them. (say no lifting over 50lb, must work primarily in a climate-controlled area, no excessive or continuous exposure to pesticides or petroleum products, things like that)

Assuming for the sake of discussion here with limited background and information... Your pregnancy is not high risk, you are in moderate to good basic health in general, and would be tasked as appropriate if you were to remain on Rear D.

Lots of tasks to be done at JRTC that are inline or less stressful then what you would be tasked for on Rear D.
The Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital located at Fort Polk is as fully staffed and cable to provide medical care as needed as whatever Army Community Hospital is at your duty station (which I'll leave out as you do not have it listed in your profile, no in this post)

Why would you not want to go with your unit and support the mission in any way possible so long as it is not a detriment to your health or the baby? And if it is due to a non typical pregnancy than have your PCP inform the CofC.. It may just be a lack of communication or understanding.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2020 5:01 PM

2020-09-24T17:01:31-04:00

You are four weeks pregnant, you are perfectly capable of working in the white cell. I had several pregnant females on my White Cell at NTC and they were on their feet less at NTC than at their unit. When you need to be on light duty, your provider will write your pregnancy profile to reflect the work load you should be doing. If you were in your third trimester this would be a valid issue. Unless you’re a high risk pregnancy you are not at any risk for a miscarriage by doing white cell work, picking up trash, cleaning bathrooms, monitoring radios, or headcount.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2020 5:06 PM

2020-09-24T17:06:11-04:00

As a prior commander and pregnant Soldier, this early in the pregnancy, I would go and I would send someone. The regulation specifies at what point in the pregnancy it is not authorized to wear tactical gear, ride in a military vehicle, and do field related training. The exception to the regulation is high risk pregnancy or other complications dictated by the primary care provider. JRTC is not a deployment and there is medical assistance available if required. You have made them aware of your pregnancy and sounds like they are trying to safely accommodate you during the training.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2020 6:16 PM

2020-09-24T18:16:58-04:00

At 4 weeks do you have any profile stating you cannot perform white cell duties? I've had pregant soldiers as white cell before. Usually driving the GSA van and way further along in pregnancy. You aren't deploying. And a rotation to Polk isn't a deployment. They can send you. Probably to help supply or ops.