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FACT: U.S. Air Force and DoD Officially Endorse Breastfeeding

June 2, 2012 by LD Staff 43 Comments

It has come to my attention that the two servicewomen who posed for photos in uniform while breastfeeding have allegedly been silenced by their immediate superiors and may face disciplinary action.

I find this to be unacceptable.

The women made news this past week with the photos being a part of a “campaign” by a group on Facebook called the Mom2Mom Breastfeeding Support Group at the Fairchild Air Force Base. The photos stirred up all sorts of controversy with people claiming that the women were exploiting their uniform to further their own cause.

Although some have claimed that breastfeeding in uniform is a violation of Department of Defense rules, when asked by U.S. News and World Report, the spokeswoman for the Department of Defense and the U.S. Air force both stated that there are no policies banning breastfeeding in uniform.

Others, such as Capt. Keith Kosik of the Washington National Guard, have claimed that the problem isn’t that they were breastfeeding in uniform, it’s that the women were in violation of Department of Defense rules which prohibit the use of the “uniform, title, rank or military affiliation to further a cause, promote a product or imply an endorsement.”

Kosik went on to state:

If you look at the press coverage that’s out there right now, it has been misconstrued as a battle against breastfeeding. It leads one to believe they are being persecuted for breastfeeding. The fact is they’re not being persecuted. The fact is breastfeeding was never an issue for us.

So breastfeeding in uniform is NOT an issue at all. The issue seems to come from AFI 36-2903, Section 1.4.2, which states:

When NOT to wear the Air Force Uniform …

1.4.2. While participating in public speeches, interviews, picket lines, marches, or rallies or in an public demonstration when participation may imply Air Force sanction of the cause.

Or maybe DoDD 1334.1 Section 3.1.2 which states that wearing of the uniform is prohibited “when an inference of official sponsorship for the activity or interest may be drawn.” A claim which is being made by the bigwigs in a memo on Wednesday to all Fairchild AFB personnel to support this sort of smackdown on the women.

Were the women using their uniforms to further their cause or imply Air Force sanction of the cause?

No!

In fact, the women were essentially following a recommendation and direct order of the Secretary of the Air Force by breastfeeding their children.

Air Force Instruction 44-102, January 20th, 2012

BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE
COMPLIANCE WITH THIS PUBLICATION IS MANDATORY

4.16. Breastfeeding and Breast Pumping

4.16.1. Breastfeeding provides optimal health benefits for both mother and infant throughout their life spans. Exclusive breastfeeding is optimal nutrition for the first 6 months of life. Gradual introduction of solids begins in the second half of the first year and complements human milk, which remains essential to nutrition during this period. Extensive medical research has documented that breastfeeding has significant health, nutritional, immunologic, developmental, emotional, social, and economic benefits to mother and baby. The AFMS recommends that supervisors of AF members who are breastfeeding work with the member to arrange their work schedules to allow 15-30 minutes every 3-4 hours to pump breast milk in a room or an area that provides adequate privacy and cleanliness. Restrooms should not be considered an appropriate location for pumping. The AF member must supply the equipment needed to pump and store the breast milk.

You CAN’T accuse the women of exploiting their uniforms to further their cause and you CAN’T accuse the women of exploiting their uniforms to “imply Air Force sanction of the cause” and you CAN’T rightfully silence the women nor should they face disciplinary action for exploiting their uniforms to imply sanction of the cause.

Why?

There is nothing to imply when the Secretary of The Air Force issues an order for which compliance is mandatory, an order which specifically endorses and recommends breastfeeding and breast pumping. A picture of a woman in uniform breastfeeding her child is a direct reflection of the recommendations, values, and orders from the Department of Defense.

There is no cause. There is no implication that the Department of Defense and Air Force are in support of breastfeeding.

It’s a STATEMENT OF FACT.

The U.S. Air Force and the Department of Defense specifically endorse and recommend breastfeeding and breast pumping.

No implications. Period.

Check … and … mate.

Virtually any message, expressed or implied, can be viewed as a cause … if people are so inclined. Soldiers in uniform having pictures taken and then posting on Facebook with the message “Remember Our Fallen” for Memorial Day … that is a cause. With Father’s Day coming up, soldiers posting pictures of themselves in uniform with their children and the message “Be a good dad. Love your kids!” … that is a cause.

Both of these causes could be taken to imply that the military supports the memory of fallen soldiers and good parenting and under the very same argument being made against the women, that would be wrong.

Sounds silly, doesn’t it?

Filed Under: Grumbling

  • Seems the Air Force wants to have their cake and eat it too. 

    • ADAFmommy

      What do you mean the AF wants to have their cake and eat it too?  Just because we want to nourish our children the best way possible?  We have every right to breastfeed in or out of uniform.

      • Absolutely, you have that right. I think you’re misinterpreting what Kathryn wrote. Read her comment in relation to the story.

        Meaning, the Air Force (bigwigs) want to have their cake (supporting your breastfeeding) and eat it too (give you grief for breastfeeding when hoopla arises).

        Call me crazy, but I view this hoopla along the same lines as DADT when it was OK to be gay, and they supported your right to be gay, just as long as you didn’t say you were gay or let it slip somehow

        Be gay out of sight. Breastfeed out of sight. But go team go! We support you.

        Crazy stuff.

  • Mounder

    Even if the Air Force does officially endorse some policy or another, individual service members are not entitled to wear their uniforms to make their own, personal statements about the policy. The uniform implies they are speaking on behalf of the Air Force. That’s the issue here – not whether breastfeeding is encouraged by the Air Force.

    • A woman breastfeeding in uniform is no more of a “personal statement” on policy than all of the soldiers who appear in uniform every single year in commercials and on Facebook and Youtube to wish people a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

      If a woman in the military is to be prohibited from appearing in a photo while breastfeeding in uniform – which directly supports policy and recommendations – then you must also ban any soldier in uniform from specifically “endorsing” a religious holiday because that would imply that the military endorses Christianity.

      You can’t have it both ways.

      •  I’d be willing to bet the people in the commercials are not actual service members.
        3.1.2. During or in connection with furthering political activities, private employment or
        commercial interests, when an inference of official sponsorship for the activity or interest may be drawn.

        And as for the Youtube videos, slightly different. They are simply wishing people a Merry Christmas or whatever. It would be hard to argue that they are doing it for a cause. Now if there was a picture of them put up on posters around town and spread across the internet of them actively promoting a church…. Or if they appeared in uniform behind the pulpit, or at a religious event. Then yes they would be in violation.

      • “And as for the Youtube videos, slightly different. They are simply wishing people a Merry Christmas or whatever”

        And the women were simply feeding their children in a manner that is recommended under AFI 44-102 as well as a “Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding” that comes directly from the U.S. Surgeon General and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. — http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/calls/breastfeeding/index.html

        Many of the videos and pictures you can find on Facebook, Youtube, etc. from soldiers in uniform are also likely in direct violation of AFI 36-2903 S6.3.3.2 which very clearly states: “While walking in uniform use of personal electronic media devices, including ear pieces, speaker phones or text messaging is limited to emergencies or when official notifications are necessary. Military customs and courtesies take precedence.”

        Use your video or digital camera or smartphone while in uniform and moving on your feet to take pictures and videos for non-emergency and non-official business, you’re in violation except for a few very specific cases.

        In the strict application of rules and policy, there is no “simply” or “just” because both require personal interpretation and once you start opening those doors, things can get very messy and silly.

      •  How is taking video or pictures with a camera violate, “use of personal electronic media devices, including ear pieces, speaker phones or text messaging”?

        It’s pretty clear that they are referring to talking on the phone/texting in that.

        And no they were not just “simply feeding their children” They were doing so to support their cause, in a staged photo shoot. Specifically for that reason.

      • “It’s pretty clear that they are referring to talking on the phone/texting in that.”

        Only if you CHOOSE to make that personal interpretation. 6.3.3.2 does NOT specifically identify talking as the prohibited activity. It very specifically prohibits the “use of personal electronic devices” and goes on to provide a few examples but does not limit the restriction to those examples.

        By default and by the very definition for the word “use”, *USE* of a personal electronic device includes talking or taking pictures or video even though they do not specifically identify such activities.

        If you are taking a picture or video and you are walking, you are USING a personal electronic media device while walking. You cannot take a video or picture with your digital camera or phone without making USE of that item.

        Others here have stated that if an activity is not specifically authorized, then it is not authorized. By those rules and judgements, you are prohibited from walking and taking a picture or video at the same time under AFI 36-2903 s6.3.3.2.

        There’s no way around it.

        If people want to be strict and play by the rules, you cannot go by assumption, commonsense, or what seems “pretty clear” only when it works in your favor.

        Rules are rules.

  • No where does the author explain the following in the AFI ” The AFMS recommends that supervisors of AF members who are breastfeeding work with the member to arrange their work schedules to allow 15-30 minutes every 3-4 hours to pump breast milk in a room or an area that provides adequate privacy and cleanliness.” No where does the AF authorize to make a propaganda of breasfeeding or anti-bf. Way to misconstrue the facts there…the most unbeliavable thing is that the one who instigated this the Mrs Scott is saying she wants to open up a dialogue about the issue. Meanwhile she erases in her FB the ‘negative’ ones or the ones she doesn’t see eye to eye.

    • I didn’t explain it because it is self-explanatory, but I will.

      Under AFI 44-102, which I fully quoted, it does say: “The AFMS recommends that supervisors of AF members who are breastfeeding work with the member to arrange their work schedules to allow 15-30 minutes every 3-4 hours to pump breast milk in a room or an area that provides adequate privacy and cleanliness. ”

      This doesn’t mean that the women in uniform are prohibited from breastfeeding while in public. It is a recommendation of arranging work schedules to provide the women with the opportunity to breastfeed somewhere that provides privacy. Not every woman is comfortable breastfeeding outside of a private location.

      That is irrelevant though.

      The very specific claims against the women are not about breastfeeding while in uniform and outside of a PRIVATE location. The claim is that the women were using their uniforms to IMPLY some sort of endorsement by the DoD / Air Force. It is simply illogical and unjust to discipline women under such a claim when there is nothing to imply because the DoD and Air Force specifically recommend breastfeeding.

      That is fact.

      If these women photographed themselves in uniform on Independence Day while waving the American flag, would they face disciplinary action for IMPLYING that the DoD and Air Force support America?

      Of course not. It’s fact.

      If these women are in uniform and record a “MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!” message this December and upload it to YouTube and Facebook, will they face disciplinary action for IMPLYING that the DoD and Air Force support Christmas and Christianity?

      Of course not.

      Well, at least I hope not.  I’m an atheist and even I think that would be ridiculous and silly. We’re not all as evil as people think. 🙂

  • AFI 35-10 was replaced some time ago by AFI 36-2903. One could selectively and vindictively cherry pick from AFI 36-2903 to find the women in violation because they would need to unbutton their tops to breastfeed, but doing so would be silly and dangerous.

    AFI 36-2903 tells members how they must wear their pants and doesn’t make exceptions for undoing them to use the washroom. Section 7.1.4 very clearly states: “7.1.4.1.  Short-sleeved PTU/IPTU shirt. The short-sleeve shirt will be tucked into shorts or  running  pants  at  all  times.”

    Ever try to sit down on the toilet and take care of business with your shirt tucked in? It gets messy.

    Give me a week and the authority and I could have a large chunk of the U.S. military up for disciplinary actions for violating AFI 36-2903, just based on sections 6.3.3.1 and 6.3.3.2 alone. Youtube, Twitter, and Facebook are wonderful things.

    Cherry picking rules and applying them at will and out of context is very, very dangerous.

    • MeAnder

      really?  you could?  Cuz what they do IN A RESTROOM IN PRIVATE with a closed door is how they are relieving themselves.  Just as them being out in public with boobs hanging out (on the one especially), shirts unbuttoned, undershirt up and exposed… that is ok?  So then you are saying it would be perfectly ok for a guy to walk out of his office, to bushes where the “smoke area” is, and piss on the bush.  Or a woman to pop a squat right there.  I am not against BFing at all, I’ve BF 4 kids over a year.  However, with them in uniform and officially “working” it looks so inappropriate.  

      • “really?  you could?  Cuz what they do IN A RESTROOM IN PRIVATE with a closed door is how they are relieving themselves.”

        Irrelevant.

        a. As noted in the story and referenced to the requests by U.S. News and World Report to the DoD and Air Force regarding their policies on breastfeeding in uniform, the spokespersons for the Department of Defense and the U.S. Air Force both very specifically said that (1) “The DOD policy on uniform doesn’t address that,” and (2) “We actually don’t have a policy in place that addresses breastfeeding in uniform.”

        Unless you rank higher, you have no authority to personally interpret the rules to suit your own interests.

        b. AFI 36-2903 makes all encompassing distinction between public and private. Out of the 181 pages of AFI 36-2903, the word “private” appears only once in S1.4.6 “When NOT to wear the Air Force Uniform: While furthering political activities, private employment or commercial interest.”

        My reference above to S7.4.1 is very clear in stating: “7.1.4.1.  Short-sleeved PTU/IPTU shirt. The short-sleeve shirt will be tucked into shorts or  running  pants  at  all  times.”

        AT ALL TIMES. Period. No distinction between public nor private.

        c. If you are in a restroom, you are NOT necessarily in PRIVATE. PUBLIC RESTROOMS are PUBLIC. It’s in the name.

        You may not like these things and I fully respect your right to disagree. However, you cannot cherry pick rules and personally interpret the rules that may work for you without facing the consequences from very same personal interpretation of rules that do not work in your favor.

        More importantly, what I have said here is not based on personal interpretation. It is following the direct orders and instructions, as written.
        I
         didn’t write them, so please don’t shoot the messenger.

  • ADAFmommy

    Really, you fed your child in a restroom????That is disgusting!  Would you eat your meal in a restroom?  Probably not.  I am in the AF.  I breastfed my child.  I did not do it in a restroom and I did not pump in one either.  If I got deployed, I would have had plenty of time to wean my child.  Just because I serve in the US military does not mean that I am not going to do what is best for my child, which is breastfeed.  If I do it in uniform then I do.  It is NOT against the AFI. 

  • Johndoe

    If something is not specifically authorized in 36-2903, then it states it is not authorized.

    • So be it. To the best of my knowledge there is no direct AFI specifically authorizing permission to breath. Therefore, breathing is not authorized.

      Let me know how that works out for you.

  • Actually according to the regs you listed. They are in violation. They wore the uniform to further their cause. If it wasn’t so, why didn’t they wear civilian clothes for the photo shoot?

    Also yes the DoD does recommend breastfeeding, but do they recommend doing it in public uncovered? Or having photos of someone doing the same to be placed on posters to be posted on base and around town?

    There have been soldiers and sailors disciplined for marching in gay pride parades in uniform, there was a soldier not to long ago who was disciplined for speaking at a Ron Paul rally while in uniform.

    • “Also yes the DoD does recommend breastfeeding, but do they recommend doing it in public uncovered?”

      Do they specifically recommend doing it in public? No. They don’t specifically tell you where you must do it. This entire hoopla is a VERY simple fix. After the fact, but a fix that would prevent this problem from ever coming up again.

      NEW RULE: Women are strictly prohibited from breastfeeding in uniform while (a) In public, or (b) Knowingly appearing in any form of media or medium, including both not limited to: paintings, drawings, digital pictures or video recordings.

      Period. Simple, blunt, little to no room for personal interpretations. It won’t go over very well, but the directive is very clear.

      • Actually the rules are pretty clear already. No appearing in uniform to further your cause, which is what they did. They appeared in a staged photo shoot to further their cause. Which is in clear violation of the regs. Regardless of what they were doing.

        (a) I could almost agree with, but I could see some problems with it. How about, “When in uniform if you are breastfeeding in public, you must remain covered to an extent that your uniform is covered”? For myself I don’t care if they are or not, but it is a simple fix.
        And for your (b) why is that? There is nothing in the current regs anywhere similar to that for men that I’m aware of.  

      • “Actually the rules are pretty clear already. No appearing in uniform to further your cause, which is what they did.”

        So be it. I’ll go along with that if you go along with applying the same disciplinary action to any soldier appearing publicly in uniform (be it in person or through  pictures or videos online) with the message of supporting sick, injured, or fallen soldiers because that too is a cause.

        There are buttons, books, newsletters, bumper stickers, shirts and hats with slogans, support groups, support pages on Facebook, support centers, fundraisers, and registered charities. That’s a cause. It’s a noble cause and I think it would be shameful to punish such soldiers, but a cause is a cause and AFI 36-2903 s1.4.2 makes no distinction between causes.

        As you said, the rules are pretty clear. No appearing in uniform to further your cause.

      •  “And for your (b) why is that? There is nothing in the current regs anywhere similar to that for men that I’m aware of. ”

        Because that is exactly what they’re getting hoopla for. They’re not getting grief for breastfeeding in uniform in public. That is permitted. There is no DoD, U.S. Air Force, or federal law against doing such things. Hell, federal law specifically authorizes a woman to breastfeed her child anywhere on federal property as long as they are authorized to be there and there isn’t some other law which trumps it.

        They’re getting grief for taking pictures and making them available as a “cause.” So nip it in the bud. No pictures = no potential marketing materials.

        Seems odd though. You are legally allowed to do something in public but cannot take a picture of yourself doing what you are allowed to do in public and make that picture available publicly.

        Think about it. Only a dumbass politician or military man turned suit military man could come up with such a crazy set of rules.

      •  No they are getting grief because they did it specifically at a staged photo shoot to further their cause. Which is specifically against the regs.

        To compare, I’ve seen a picture of a serviceman giving a kiss to his partner with his legs wrapped around his waist. It was taken when he returned home from either Afghanistan or Iraq. The picture was made public, he didn’t get in any trouble for it. Same with the couple of similar pictures I’ve seen of lesbians. No different than any of the pictures I’ve seen of hetero couples in reunion photos.

        The difference is they appeared in uniform for the photos specifically to further their cause. Which is not the same as the couples I mentioned.

      • Pretty much any photo shoot is “staged.”

        The grief and potential disciplinary action would be no different if they were impromptu photos of the women breastfeeding in uniform.

        The “cause” of Mom2Mom is a breastfeeding support group of the Fairchild Air Force Base. Seems rather logical that a support group on an AFB would look Air Force-like.

        In any case, as I said, I would be happy to agree with your cause argument if you’re willing to step to the plate and support disciplinary action for the cause I presented. That being soldiers in uniform expressing their support for the cause of injured and fallen soldiers.

        If you insist on the cause argument you don’t get to choose which causes are palatable.

        A cause, is a cause, is a cause.

      •  Depends. Was the photo/video taken specifically to support the cause? And also was it an organized cause?

        Also did the DoD or other authorized person give approval to the soldiers or organization?

        Nothing is black and white. Shooting a person in the military can get you a medal or stockade time or worse. It all depends. Or going by your standards, should they be able to shoot anyone anytime they like? Or no one at all?

         I remember a while back a Gurkha was going to be court martialed for
        cutting of the head of an enemy and bring it back. It turns out he was
        following orders to the best of his ability. They were sent to terminate
        a certain person and get confirmation that is who they got. After the
        guy was dead, they came under heavy fire and the only way to confirm was
        to bring back the evidence.

  • 36-2903 does not say anything about breastfeeding in uniform; however, it clearly states that anything not specifically authorized is unauthorized.  If you don’t find it in there, then it’s wrong.

    The USAF and DoD endorse breast feeding, but that doesn’t mean any military mom can breast feed any time or anywhere she pleases.  Suggesting otherwise is nothing but stubborn ignorance.  Would a mom breast feed in a formation, in a job interview, while driving or when talking to the commander?  There is a right way and wrong way to do things.  Find a quiet/clean place and take care of your baby on what I’d imagine would be a pretty rare occurrence.  I don’t know I’ve heard of any mom getting away with bringing her baby to work regularly.

    The military needs it’s people to follow the rules.  Civilians can ignore rules and laws and the consequences aren’t often life or death, but they can be in the military.  This never needed to be an issue, but people still try to force the military to bend to our will.  Guess what.  It’s the world’s most powerful military.  It’s our military.  We need to be proud of them and respect the many rules and regulations we can’t possibly understand all of the underpinnings for.  We need to respect that military members gave up freedoms to fight for us.  As honorable as that is, that still doesn’t give them the right to use the uniform for anything else.  I think if we were to ask them (military members),  very few would have it any other way.

    • “36-2903 does not say anything about breastfeeding in uniform; however, it clearly states that anything not specifically authorized is unauthorized. If you don’t find it in there, then it’s wrong.”

      As already noted, the spokespersons for the DoD and the Air Force have both said that there are NO rules prohibiting breastfeeding in uniform and the rules on uniform do not apply to breastfeeding.

      From the U.S. News and World Report link: “When asked for the Department of Defense policy on uniformed breastfeeding, DOD spokeswoman Eileen Lainez said: ‘The DOD policy on uniform doesn’t address that.'”

      36-2903 does not specifically authorize you to wear your pants around your ankles while using the toilet either, thus it must be wrong.

  • If they specifically changed into their uniforms to wave the American flag for photos on Memorial Day or Independence Day, would people be accusing them of exploiting their uniforms for the “cause” of America and remembering fallen soldiers?

    I think not. America IS a “cause” and remembering fallen soldiers IS a “cause.”

    If they change into their uniforms for “Merry Christmas” videos and pictures, that’s promoting a religious holiday.

    For the record, I’m not saying these things are bad, but people can’t have it both ways. They can’t selectively choose which “causes” are acceptable after the fact.

  • Food for thought for anyone who thinks the women are in violation of AFI 36-2903 because they would need to unbutton or untuck their tops to breastfeed, thus not wearing the uniform to the letter of the law …

    AFI 36-2903 S6.3.4.2. very clearly states: “Gym Bags. Gym bags will be solid dark-blue or black in color with matching stitching and CARRIED IN THE LEFT HAND.”

    This very specific policy requires soldiers to carry their gym bags in their left hand. It makes no exceptions to soldiers who have injured or lost their left hand, but it is commonsense that a soldier would not be disciplined for carrying their gym bags in their right hand when the left hand is injured or missing.

    Just like it is commonsense that a woman would need to untuck or unbutton her top to breastfeed.

    You cannot apply, enforce, or expect “commonsense” application of rules as matters of convenience to work in conjunction with personal opinions or feelings while denying the very same “commonsense” for other rules regarding activities you may personally object to.

    • Sam

       You have said several times that you do not approve of people personally interpreting the regulations, yet here you state that common sense should be used. In order to use common sense you have to understand and interpret what the instruction is intending. You can’t have it both ways.

      Also as much as you may or may not agree, these women were supporting a cause. Whether that cause turned out to be the view of the USAF or not is irrelevant. Before they did it, they should have gotten approval in writing. Whether the military or government support the idea is not for the service member to decide. I do agree with you that it is hypocrisy that they can do public demonstrations in support of the USA or a holiday in uniform. That shouldn’t be allowed either unless it is sanctioned by the military branch that they are a part of.

      “Members of the National Guard are welcome to participate in the vast
      spectrum of civilian organizations and causes on their own time, and
      with their own resources as private citizens. Rank, title and uniform are to be used ONLY for official purposes.”

      You have also brought up that you can’t use the restroom without getting out of uniform. This is true. However, that is required to be done in a designated location. You can’t just relieve yourself anywhere you want to. I hate that analogy of breastfeeding and using the restroom, but you were the one who brought it up.

      • “yet here you state that common sense should be used”

        No. I did not. Read the comment again. It’s simple and written in plain English. I very specifically said “You cannot apply, enforce, or expect ‘common sense’ application of rules as matters of convenience to work in conjunction with personal opinions or feelings while denying the very same ‘common sense’ for other rules regarding activities you may personally object to.”

        That is NOT a statement that you SHOULD use common sense.

        You cannot expect “common sense” from rules 1 and 5 while rejecting “common sense” from rules 2, 3, and 4.

        Just make a decision. Either accept “common sense” across the board or reject “common sense” across the board.

        Live by the rules, die by the rules. But be consistent with the rules and how they are applied.

      • Sam

        You are stating that because a woman is breastfeeding common sense should allow her to wear her uniform in any way she sees fit to facilitate that. Also, you fail to take into consideration the reasoning behind the “gym bag” regulation. It is there so your right hand is free for saluting. That is not there to maintain a professional and uniform appearance.

         I also fail to see how breastfeeding interferes with AFI 36-2903 paragraph 5.1.7: “Headgear will be worn outdoors at all times, unless in a designated ‘no hat’ area.”

        Last time I checked the breasts are not on top of a woman’s head. These women do not respect the uniform they wear, or they do not respect the regulations they swore to abide by when they took their enlistment oath.

        The reason I don’t approve of these pictures or breastfeeding IN PUBLIC while IN UNIFORM is that everything that takes you “out of uniform” in the military has a designated place for that function to be done. Why should breastfeeding be any different? There are designated areas for smoking, eating, using the restroom all of which require you to become “out of uniform.” They are not prohibited. No one says you can’t or shouldn’t do any of those things, but there is a place for them. I am not opposed to breastfeeding in public in civilian clothes, but when in uniform you are supposed to uphold an appearance of professionalism. Have you ever walked into any business and seen an employee breastfeeding in plain view? I know I haven’t. When you are in uniform, people assume that you are working.

        Again I will reiterate that they WERE involved in promoting a cause. The key word in the AFI section dealing with that is “MAY.” It doesn’t matter if it was their intention to state that the USAF promotes breastfeeding. All that matters is that someone could reasonably infer that USAF does, and I don’t think that would be too much of a stretch considering that they were posing for a support group that associates itself with a USAF base.  In order to do something like that it has to be officially approved by the USAF.

      • “You are stating that because a woman is breastfeeding common sense should allow her to wear her uniform in any way she sees fit to facilitate that.”

        No, I did not say that. Once again you are interpreting what I said based on your own personal interests just as you are interpreting the rules.

        I DID NOT say “common sense should allow her” to do anything. For the second time now, and to quote exactly what I said … either accept “common sense” across the board or reject “common sense” across the board. It is very simple. There’s nothing to misread.

        >> “Also, you fail to take into consideration the reasoning behind the “gym bag” regulation.”

        Irrelevant in the application of rules. Reasoning behind a rule does not change the common sense that would prevail so that a soldier with an injured or missing left hand could carry his or her gym bag with the right hand.

        >> “The reason I don’t approve of these pictures or breastfeeding IN PUBLIC while IN UNIFORM is that everything that takes you “out of uniform” in the military has a designated place for that function to be done. ”

        As noted several times, quoted and linked: “When asked for the Department of Defense policy on uniformed breastfeeding, DOD spokeswoman Eileen Lainez said: ‘The DOD policy on uniform doesn’t address that.'”

        Your approval is not required.

      • Sam

         I am agreeing with you that common sense would apply with the gym bag rule, because there is absolutely no other option. They cannot come up with an instruction for every conceivable scenario. These women have another option besides taking their shirts off in public while in uniform. It is go to a private location which is provided for them. If you read that section of the instruction on breastfeeding it states that it is recommended for supervisors to allow breastfeeding mothers to go to a private room to nurse at a specified interval. It is not recommending the private room. It is recommending the breaks.

      • Yes. The women have various options. They are … optional.

        If you normally drive your car to work and someone builds a bus stop and bike path outside your house, you have 2 new options to get to work. A “green activist” has no right to demand that you start riding your bike to work because you have options and driving a car is offensive to them.

        Just as you have no right to demand which legal options a woman chooses to exercise.

        U.S. Federal Law, H.R.2490, Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act of 2000, Public Law #106-58 S647, very clearly states: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a woman may breastfeed her child at any location in a Federal building or on Federal property, if the woman and her child are otherwise authorized to be present at the location.”

        And to recap again: “When asked for the Department of Defense policy on uniformed breastfeeding, DOD spokeswoman Eileen Lainez said: ‘The DOD policy on uniform doesn’t address that.'”

        There is no law or policy that prohibits a woman from breastfeeding in public and while in uniform. Federal law grants such permission, the DOD said the uniform policy does not address that.

        You may not approve of a woman in uniform breastfeeding in public and your disapproval is noted, but it carries absolutely no weight.

        Be very careful how you choose to try and restrict someone’s legal options based on your personal beliefs and what you find to be palatable. There’s an army of activists out there of all different backgrounds and beliefs and I *guarantee* you that there is something you are doing that is total legal but against their beliefs and they would love they opportunity to demand that you immediate change what you’re doing.

        Because … you have options.

      • SamExNuke

         I notice that you still have not addressed the part of my posts that deal with what these women are actually being disciplined for and why they were silenced. The fact that they are championing a cause without prior approval. And while yes I agree that the uniform regulations do not address breastfeeding. That doesn’t mean that they can make up their own policy on it. Just because something is not specifically forbidden does not mean that it is allowed either. There are numerous activities that the uniform regulations do not specifically address. Are all of those also permitted?

      • ” I notice that you still have not addressed the part of my posts that deal with what .”

        The “cause” argument was addressed in the story and in multiple comments here. You don’t read them though.

        If you want to use the “cause” argument, then step to the plate and apply it equally across all “causes.”

      • SamExNuke

        “I do agree with you that it is hypocrisy that they can do public
        demonstrations in support of the USA or a holiday in uniform. That
        shouldn’t be allowed either unless it is sanctioned by the military
        branch that they are a part of.”

        I’m pretty sure that I did say that it should be applied equally, but you didn’t bother to read that part apparently. Just because a cause falls in line with the military’s ideals doesn’t mean that the method of promoting that cause does. That is why it has to be approved if it is going to be done in uniform. That was where they messed up. They did not get permission to be in uniform to promote their cause prior to doing it.

        In your article you state that these women are not implying that the USAF sanctions breastfeeding. It doesn’t matter if they intended to imply that or not, or if the USAF agrees with them or not. The regulation that you quoted says that cannot wear the uniform “when participation MAY imply Air Force sanction of the cause.” So, if it could be inferred from their participation that it was an official USAF ideology, it is prohibited without permission.

      • “I’m pretty sure that I did say that it should be applied equally, ”

        I’m not just talking about holiday. You post pictures or videos and create pages and groups in support of injured or fallen solders – holiday or not – that’s a cause.

    • SamExNuke

       I think that you are so convinced that we can’t agree on anything that you are not actually listening to what I am saying. According to Kosik the uniform is only to be used for official military business. It should not be used to make any public statement which reflects a personal ideology. No matter what that ideology is. I am agreeing to your terms of “stepping up to the plate.” Holidays, fallen/injured soldiers, breastfeeding, puppies, anything. The military uniform is not to be worn while promoting ANYTHING unless that particular promotion was approved by the military. These women did not get approval. That is why they were prohibited from talking to the media. Anyone else who promotes ANYTHING while in uniform without approval should face the same repercussions. Its a violation of policy.

      There is nothing wrong with making pages or posting your thoughts about various topics, as long as they do not contain images of you in your UNIFORM. The uniform is a powerful thing. When someone is wearing they are a representative of the military, therefore their words can be construed as to be coming from the military. That is why any personal thoughts, opinions, or ideals cannot be expressed in any public forum while acting as a representative of the military i.e. appearing in uniform.

  • Amanda Provenzano

    I couldnt agree more!!

  • EducatedArmyMom

    The US is behind the breast feeding curve. We are stationed I Europe and it IS acceptable for other foreign military moms to feed, wherever. As far as this is concerned I don’t see any reason for them to receive more than a slap on the wrist. Breast feeding is natural. That’s why we have tits. If you are a man and dislike this, turn away! I will NOT hide in a nasty bathroom to feed my child.

  • Jerry R. Verdugo

    I don’t know about you guys & gals, but I’m not going to spend all day reading these comments.  When I was in ‘Nam filling up sandbags out in the hot sun, our Lieutenant warned us about being “out of uniform”–no shirts.  General McDonough stood up from his jeep and ordered me to zip up my jacket or take it off!  (I was in full uniform underneath.)  Hey, you know I love all you real women out there, but please consider the full uniform rule.