Coming out of PCC, I decided to lean into issues impacting women in uniform. I did this for several reasons, some of which are deeply personal- but mostly because I think we still have a way to go based on what I’ve heard from teammates & given recent events in the Army. THREAD

We reached across Twitter (yes, it can be used for good) and enlisted the voices of some of the Badass Women of MilTwitter™ Because of their generosity, we started a series of LPDs between women in uniform & budding BN commanders. First one was on sexism https://twitter.com/scottjstephens/status/1303342962395566081?s=20

The second LPD was on women’s health considerations for commanders and it was SO informative. Sharing some of the points here in this thread-if you disagree/ want to pile on PLEASE do. I will screw some of this up but as a male commander, WE are the audience. WE need to learn.

Field hygiene! Focus on prevention of UTIs and safe menstruation. FUD didn’t seem to be popular- without modification of uniforms. Ensure medics& leaders have backup supply of feminine hygiene products& a plan for disposal (no, carrying Ziploc bag in pocket is NOT an answer).

Easy for men to urinate in the field; use forethought to accommodate women. Looking at you during MDMP, MEDO! Lastly, ensure your field sanitation course includes considerations for women’s health and your leaders know. It’s NOT on women to train women based on tribal knowledge.

Understand you might have women breastfeeding while in the field and you MUST have a plan to support—from safe spaces, to sanitation, to incorporating into your LOGPAC. Ensure your soldiers have coolers & ability to charge pumps, and you help them develop a plan! Not IF- but HOW.

Support to breastfeeding mothers is now DIRECTED by AR 600-20; get smart. Policy is cool and all—but lean into this because it’s the right thing to do. Create inviting spaces in your footprint for women to breastfeed—and it better not be the damn mop closet (yes, true story).

Next up, contraception. ENSURE providers do not have a “default” setting, and for love of god ensure they aren’t shaming women by saying things like “you aren’t supposed to be having sex while in field/ deployed; so you don’t need birth control” (not kidding on that one).

Contraception for women is very individualized and there is no “one size fits all.” Providers should be working with women to find the right fit- there can be some trial & error involved.

Installation Women’s Health clinics got RAVE reviews by the women in the LPDs- go visit with your CSM and see what services they provide. Leader Recon!

Same thing with other services in the local area- MUST set your personal beliefs aside and know where to direct women to obtain safe services they cannot get on post.

Also- great recommendation to work to get your providers a rotation in an OB/GYN clinic to gain more familiarity & expertise in taking care of unique needs of women.

To female tent or not to female tent? Some recent articles on this so I won’t belabor; but general consensus is segregation of women sleeping areas detracts from unit effectiveness.

HOWEVER- we had a great discussion on how some might not be comfortable with this (both M&W), should listen to them & not dismiss individual concerns. LISTEN to your people and find compromise that accounts for all perspectives.

Cannot overstate importance of support to pregnant soldiers. It should go without saying that THEY ARE NOT BROKEN. You have an obligation to provide fulfilling work as a contributing member of the team within environmental & individual considerations.

I’m sure you do PT with your hard charging platoons- but have you done PT with your P3T program? Or at least a recon with CSM to see how well they are programming? Some tension among the group on this one. On one hand, P3T programs at the installation level tend to be effective;

But on the other, it pulls them away from the unit & contributes to isolation. Achieve balance & ensure they receive full spectrum of care without alienating from the team. Simple leader presence & empathy will go MUCH further than any nuances of your P3T program will.

Pregnancy is a VERY individualized experience. Some women will train for marathons into third trimester; some might need to be on bedrest into second trimester.

Are you smart on how breastfeeding can impact ability to pass HT/WT& ACFT and what the regulation says? Get smart & don’t put dumb undue stress on new mothers.

Have a plan for support to your soldiers who miscarry. If you have not experienced a miscarriage personally- trust me when I tell you it is a devastating event that must be met with empathy & support.

I kid you not- I have heard stories from women about the CoC “celebrating” that the Soldier is now deployable. I’m furious just typing that.

Some great discussions on family planning. This remains a hot topic, consensus is “there is never a good time.” Think we as an Army need to continue to look at how we can make things easier on women who want to grow their families- but what can you do at your level?

Should not blow your mind that the most important factor is EMPATHETIC LEADERSHIP (see theme?). Don’t be the leader that asks women “when do you plan on having kids?” (Not kidding- happened to more than one on panel). Spoiler: you’re not having this convo until you have TRUST.

Once you’ve earned that trust, then having candid two way discussions is critical to developing a comprehensive plan to support women who want to become pregnant.

And guess what? Unexpected pregnancies happen as well. When they do—the ONLY acceptable response is “OMG congrats! I am so excited for you! How can I support?”

I’m sure I’ve missed basically everything, but my hope for this thread is that the Twittersphere can shore up my inadequacies &give us your best tips/advice/stories on how to support the health needs of women in uniform to make us an even more awesome & inclusive team. Ready, GO!

Footnote: Thank you so much to the women who continue to participate in these LPDs- I know it’s exhausting to recount your experiences & educate us- but from the bottom of my heart I appreciate it & promise not to squander the opportunity to make things better. Thank you!!!

special thanks to @chicagloww @MarchingWith7 @NotCLow @terminalyill3st @gilltheamazon for your ridiculous patience, candor, & help in this endeavor.