I’ve tried to be an advocate for female service members not because I am a female myself, but because I am a leader.
As a leader, I’ve seen too many colleagues and subordinates impacted by the current policies, biases, misconceptions & preconceived notions of women in uniform.

Particularly mothers in uniform. Too many leaders don’t understand the basic prenatal and postpartum policies, nor the issues faced by female service members who are simply expanding their families.

The number of times I had to advocate for female Soldiers lead me to creating form emails regarding not only the prenatal profile restrictions, as well as the postpartum deployment deferment policy. Ever explain to an O5 why a mom can’t just “pump more” before the field?

Women too often have to plan their pregnancy around their career timeline, or even accept that their career timeline may change due to motherhood. Seeing this impacted my desire & plans to have a family. I was scared. Will being a mom impact the opportunities I have?

Listening to leaders discuss a female’s children when considering assignments, but not doing likewise for males. Watching women, now mothers, change their career goals, or accept that their trajectory will not be the same, is heartbreaking. Can’t women have both?

But when you go to an armory and there’s not a AD 2015-43 lactation room in site. To know that both the Navy and AF have one year postpartum deployment deferments, but anything beyond 6 months in the army requires an extension request. Don’t get me started on maternity uniforms.

Women already face discrimination, harassment, sexual assault. Mothers face additional discrimination & biases because too many leaders assume that once you become a mother, your priorities have shifted. So what if they have? You can still be a damn good leader AND a parent.

Despite miltwitter drama (many of you need to stop it the inappropriate DMs & texts and start treating fellow service members like human beings), let’s get back to what can make this social media platform great-seeking professional advice, collaborating, discussing the issues.