Pregnant U.S. Soldiers in Iraq Could Face Court-Martial and Jail Time

Stars and Stripes: U.S. personnel in Iraq could face court-martial for getting pregnant, by Teri Weaver:

The Army general commanding U.S. forces in northern Iraq has added pregnancy to the list of prohibitions for personnel under his command.

The policy, which went into effect Nov. 4, makes it possible to face punishment, including a court-martial and jail time, for becoming pregnant or impregnating a servicemember, according to the wording of the policy and confirmations from Army officials.

The rule governs all those serving under Maj. Gen. Anthony Cucolo III, who commands Multi-National Division-North, including Balad, Kirkuk, Tikrit, Mosul and Samarra. According to the order, it is “applicable to all United States military personnel, and to all civilians, serving with, employed by, or accompanying” the military in northern Iraq, with few exceptions.

Someone would violate the policy by “becoming pregnant, or impregnating a soldier, while assigned to the Task Force Marne (Area of Operations), resulting in the redeployment of the pregnant soldier,” according to the order. . . .

Pregnant military personnel do not have access to abortion on U.S. military bases except in rare circumstances.  Here is more about how this policy puts pregnant U.S. servicewomen between a rock and a hard place: Military Abortion Ban Imposes Unconscionable Burdens on American Servicewomen