U.S.: Army Sends Infant to Protective Services, Mom to Afghanistan

http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=49256

Hutchinson, of Oakland, California, is currently being confined at Hunter Army Airfield near Savannah, Georgia, after being arrested. Her son was placed into a county foster care system.

This is where one policy causes a problem with another policy. When we started to allow women to deploy into combat areas the problems were bound to arise. It seems like the Army has bent over backwards or this soldier. I would guess they are weighing the issues if they start a new policy with two already in conflict. Do they start to make concessions for duty assignments based on the needs of a single mother. There are hundreds of examples of mothers leaving their babies with family members and doing the duty they signed up for.

Seems like the Army is in a no win situation.

If you are a single parent, male or female, be prepared to deploy, don't be the one that someone else has to take your place. Don't like it, GTFO.

A serious issue, but not gender specific.

Years ago the joke was if the service wanted you to have a wife they would have issued one.

They should have given her a General Discharge, "for the good of the service".

I know 2 young men who are trying to get in, but can't, due to being immature idiots right out of high school. Either one could and would take her place.

As a veteran who had a administrative MOS, it is military policy that a single parent must designate a guardian to accept responsibility to care for their dependents while they are a member of the military service. Usually, the guardian is a member of their family, the childs God Parent, or other designated person. In his/her deployment packet, there is a form that the soldier must sign to relinquish custody of their dependent during their deployment period, and the individual who accepts the childs custody must also indicate, in writing, that they accept this responsibility. Custody transfer of dependants must occur prior to the soldiers deployment. It appears to me that this individual is going against military policy as a means to avoid being deployed.

They should have given her a General Discharge, "for the good of the service".

No, this person should give the child over to the appointed guardian in case of deployment and fulfill their obligation.

Gunny, you are correct, the soldier should have to fulfill her obligation.

I heard that the appointed Guardian flaked out and refused to take the child. Where's the father?

Gunny, you are correct, the soldier should have to fulfill her obligation.

I heard that the appointed Guardian flaked out and refused to take the child. Where's the father?

Before a deployment, we have to fill out a Family Care plan. In that, you list who will take care of your family, while you are deployed, if something happens to your spouse. You must list a primary, secondary and tertiary guardian. This Family Care Plan is turned over to the command, sealed up, until needed.

Clearly this wench is trying to buck the system and not fulfill her obligation. She know full well that when she raised her right hand that she could deploy, she knew full well when she opened her legs that she could get knocked up and have a kid and would still have to deploy, her lack of preparation is not a reason to boot her, her lack of preparation is not a reason to postpone her deployment so someone else would have to fill her shoes. If the kid goes in foster care for her 7, 12 or 14 month deployment, so be it, maybe others will get the message too.

And the father should be held accountable, completely!!!

Good info, I wasn't aware of the details and the three levels of support required. You are correct, she's trying to avoid deployment and that is fraud. I feel for the troops who will have to rely on her in the field.