Breastfeeding in Uniform!?!

[son_of_montfort]

SoM, regarding the pictures that you posted: There is a very good chance that those Soldiers may work in a hospital and or an animal hospital. Look at my Journey Through Childhood Cancer, there is a picture of Tomas getting one of his spinal taps, the doctors are in uniform......'cept Maj Edwards, he always removed his blouse before doing the tap.

Well... the site where I got the baby pic stated it was his daughter, but it does look like a official capacity nursery. I do think you are right about the kittens, it looks like a Vet's office upon closer inspection.

As to my disagreement, it was my fault for not reading the whole thing and that they were doing the pic for an official cause. As I said, I don't care about breastfeeding in public, but using a uniform for a cause is bad news.

Why did they not just dress in civilian clothes and then caption the photo with their service record? Have we come so far we can't read captions anymore?

[Con]

Personally I dont give a crap about breastfeeding in public but the point I see that has not been brought up is that this is a bunch of guys arguing this.  Having just seen what my wife went through with breastfeeding two babies and what type of hormones and instincts it brings out in them let me add my two cents.  If you got a penis it doesnt matter what we think its the women who are going to decide this issue.

Con

[Bison]

Personally I dont give a crap about breastfeeding in public but the point I see that has not been brought up is that this is a bunch of guys arguing this.  Having just seen what my wife went through with breastfeeding two babies and what type of hormones and instincts it brings out in them let me add my two cents.  If you got a penis it doesnt matter what we think its the women who are going to decide this issue.

Con

It is in their private lives outside of duty time, but that logic is not compatible with the Armed Services during duty times.  My wife also breast fed our children, but the fact is this is not a personal freedom issue.  It is an Armed Services issue and one gives up a lot of personal rights and freedoms to wear the uniform.

[Centurion40]

Personally I dont give a crap about breastfeeding in public but the point I see that has not been brought up is that this is a bunch of guys arguing this.  Having just seen what my wife went through with breastfeeding two babies and what type of hormones and instincts it brings out in them let me add my two cents.  If you got a penis it doesnt matter what we think its the women who are going to decide this issue.

Con

It is in their private lives outside of duty time, but that logic is not compatible with the Armed Services during duty times.  My wife also breast fed our children, but the fact is this is not a personal freedom issue.  It is an Armed Services issue and one gives up a lot of personal rights and freedoms to wear the uniform.

And this is the ultimate bottom-line.  Picking one's nose is also a natural act (for some), but you don't do it in public view whilst  in uniform (even Work Dress).  Go in a bathroom stall (or some place private/out of view) if you've got to pick your nose whilst in uniform. 

[mirth]

And this is the ultimate bottom-line.  Picking one's nose is also a natural act (for some), but you don't do it in public view whilst  in uniform (even Work Dress).  Go in a bathroom stall (or some place private/out of view) if you've got to pick your nose whilst in uniform. 

I have an issue with equating breastfeeding to other 'natural' acts such as defecating or nose-picking. Simply because they are all natural acts does not make them equivalent. A mother feeding her baby in the most wholesome and nourishing possible way is not disgusting or offensive or something that requires shielding from public view.

I understand the case being made that there are standards for serving in the military and wearing a uniform that everyone serving should follow.  And I completely agree that promoting a cause while in uniform should be against regulations (as it currently is). However, I disagree that the act of breastfeeding should in anyway be construed as disgusting, unpleasant, disrepectful, unprofessional, etc.

[Con]

Picking noses and defecating are natural but pregnancy is considered a medical condition.  What are the regulations for wounded or disabled in uniform?  Is there lee way given for them?

Con

[Jack Nastyface]

Not trying to defend the use / misuse of the uniform...but is some of the reaction to this photo due partially because of the "controversial" topic of breast-feeding in public?  Some time ago (at a website that Must Not Be Named) someone posted a picture of two marines finishing the Boston Marathon in full field gear.  I don't recall anyone saying "good for them...but they should really have done this in their civiies if they weren't on-duty at the time".

What is the military policy on wearing uniform at, for example, a Democrat or Republic party rally?  What about an NRA event?  A Gay pride event?  Are there other examples of "outrage" (probably too strong a word) at soldiers wearing uniform when not on duty?  I generally don't follow those stories, so don't really know but it would be interesting to find out.

Back in Texas, I regularly saw off-duty cops wear their uniform when doing external "paid" work (directing traffic outside a large church, etc.)  I think it was one of the concessions the police dept's made to their serving staff to make up for the (infamously) low compensation.

[Airborne Rifles]

Jack, you should NEVER see a servicemember in uniform at a political rally/NRA meeting/gay pride event.  That is one of the worst abuses of the uniform and unfortunately there are too many servicemembers and former servicemembers who are doing it.     

The example of the Marines at the Boston marathon is completely different.  As far as I know, the Boston Marathon doesn't support any particular political or social cause and is simply a sporting event.  No issue there.  The issue isn't wearing your uniform off duty but rather using the uniform to influence public policy. 

[Centurion40]

Jack, you should NEVER see a servicemember in uniform at a political rally/NRA meeting/gay pride event.  That is one of the worst abuses of the uniform and unfortunately there are too many servicemembers and former servicemembers who are doing it.     

The example of the Marines at the Boston marathon is completely different.  As far as I know, the Boston Marathon doesn't support any particular political or social cause and is simply a sporting event.  No issue there.  The issue isn't wearing your uniform off duty but rather using the uniform to influence public policy.

And sometimes service personnel are authorized to wear the uniform at public events to positively promote the service.  That could happen at a marathon or a parade of any sort.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2008/06/29/gay-pride.html

http://nicolelynfiore.blogspot.ca/2010/11/homosexuality-and-military.html


My point is not to rate one function of the body above or below another, I simply illustrate a point.  There is a code of conduct and that code is to be followed, period.  Service personnel are not to challenge that code, or demonstrate social activism while in uniform; if they do then they will face disciplinary action.  It is up to the government and the defense department to change the code, not individual service personnel.  I am unaware of any NATO ally that permits mothers to publicly breastfeed while in uniform.  Ten years from now that might change.  I never thought that I would see soldiers authorized to join a gay pride parade, but there it is.

[0kult13]

So can a service person do what they please if they are wearing a uniform they bought from a surplus store. But are held by service rules in a goverment supplied uniform.

[Staggerwing]

So can a service person do what they please if they are wearing a uniform they bought from a surplus store. But are held by service rules in a goverment supplied uniform.

If the uniform has insignia then the civvie shouldn't be wearing it. That stuff should be removed prior to purchase.

[Jarhead0331]

So can a service person do what they please if they are wearing a uniform they bought from a surplus store. But are held by service rules in a goverment supplied uniform.

I'm not really sure what you're asking here. It has nothing to do with where the uniform is acquired. Typically, the government doesn't "supply" uniforms.  There are limited exceptions, but most uniforms have to be purchased by those in the military.  They normally don't get them from a "surplus" store though.  I always got mine from a PX or from a company like Marlow White.

[bayonetbrant]

In the Army, enlisted folks would get a basic set of uniforms issued to them (it used to be 4 sets, not sure now).
Officers had to purchase their own, and were given an allowance to do so when they were commissioned (though let's be honest - it barely covered your Class A's).

But Jarhead is right, regardless of the source of the uniform, you were expected to wear it within the proper standard.  How you acquired it wasn't the issue.  What you did while you were wearing it was. 
You also weren't supposed to wear the uniform in different pieces and parts - you didn't wear the pants to work on your fence in your yard on the weekend, for instance.  It didn't matter where/how/when you got it.  If it was a part of the uniform, you treated it as such.

[son_of_montfort]

Isn't part of the whole "hazing" the drill-sergeant does to new recruits based on how to properly care for and dress in the uniform (i.e. shine the shoes, etc.)?

[0kult13]

So can a service person do what they please if they are wearing a uniform they bought from a surplus store. But are held by service rules in a goverment supplied uniform.

I'm not really sure what you're asking here. It has nothing to do with where the uniform is acquired. Typically, the government doesn't "supply" uniforms.  There are limited exceptions, but most uniforms have to be purchased by those in the military.  They normally don't get them from a "surplus" store though.  I always got mine from a PX or from a company like Marlow White.

I dont mean the uniform they wear to work, but if say a person who works as a soldier owns bits and bobs they bought outside work do the same rules still apply to them ?.