Posted on Sep 14, 2015
SFC Nikhil Kumra
28K
67
38
4
4
0
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
Edited 9 y ago
Avatar feed
Responses: 25
COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM
7
7
0
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.
(7)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SGT Kristin Wiley
6
6
0
Edited 9 y ago
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.
(6)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SA Harold Hansmann
4
4
0
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.
(4)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

close