Pregnant soldier forced to remain on front line

[Aptrgangr]

Pregnant soldier forced to remain on front line



By Simon Bouda
National Nine News

An Australian soldier was forced to remain on the front line in Afghanistan after she fell pregnant, and eventually miscarried before she was sent home.

The 34-year-old major was deployed to the front line at Camp Holland at Tarin Kowt in southern Afghanistan with the First Reconstruction Task Force.

Within weeks the married officer discovered she'd fallen pregnant before leaving Australia. Her condition was confirmed by the camp medico.

She reported the pregnancy to the relevant officers. National Nine News understands arrangements should have been made to have her evacuated as soon as possible. ADF Health Policy dictates that pregnant soldiers are unfit for both operational and sea-going duties.

But it is claimed she was told to stay in the war zone until a replacement arrived, even though she could have been evacuated on an aircraft which was due to return to Australia.

It's understood that in the days after she reported her pregnancy, Camp Holland came under mortar attack and she was repeatedly forced to lug her heavy bullet-proof vest and helmet in and out of bomb shelters.

Australian Defence Force headquarters in Canberra was notified of the major's situation but it wasn't until almost a week later that she was flown out on a C130 Hercules. She miscarried on board.

Both the major and the officers involved are now back in Australia.
It is understood that the Defence Minister's office was informed of the soldier's pregnancy before she was shipped out of Afghanistan. But she was not flown out until almost a week later.

Internal investigations are understood to have been held into the incident, but no action has yet been taken.

Pregnant soldier forced to remain on front line

[Menydh]

A tragedy that she had a miscarriage while fulfilling her duty as a soldier. But a bigger tragedy that she was performing the role of a male in the first place.

[Marcus Marulus]

Their glorious armies...

[Errigal]

I notice the story emphasizes the time it took to remove her from Afghanistan. Not surprisingly they want the reader to accept that it was right for her to be in a combat unit up to the moment it was discovered she was pregnant, but the moment the discovery is made she is to be treated again as a vulnerable woman. That cannot possibly work in practise.

[ares]

Hey don't you know that men and women are equal?
That's what happens when stupidity reigns! Sign of the times.

Like a man trying to give birth to prove that he is the equal of women ...

[Strengthandhonour]

and now she is going to be crowned a hero by her nation I bet.
What a spit in the face..this just reminds me of why in that big controversial arguement we had some time ago about women in the military, why I claimed women really don't belong in the military.

[M.R.]

Originally Posted by Strengthandhonour

What spit on the face..this just reminds me of why in that big controversial arguement we had some time ago about women in the military, why I claimed women really don't belong in the military.

Yes, I remember that and I was in full agreement if I remember correctly. It was like a year ago, right?

[Strengthandhonour]

Yes. Every once in a while it gets revived..probably will after this thread :-p

[Susi]

RAR FEMINIST RANT

to me it is silly to have women in combat roles, but in more "support" roles they're fine

[BeornWulfWer]

God, you should see the women of Bristol in action when they get going.

I'd sure as hell charge into battle with them. (albeit, slightly behind and with a look of fear and sympathy for the opponent)