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Soldier Mom Skips Deployment to Care for Baby
SAVANNAH, Ga. – An Army cook and single mom may face criminal charges after she skipped her deployment flight to Afghanistan because, she said, no one was available to care for her infant son while she was overseas.
Spc. Alexis Hutchinson, 21, claims she had no choice but to refuse deployment orders because the only family she had to care for her 10-month-old son — her mother — was overwhelmed by the task, already caring for three other relatives with health problems.
Her civilian attorney, Rai Sue Sussman, said Monday that one of Hutchinson's superiors told her she would have to deploy anyway and place the child in foster care.
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ivdad
I have knowledge from one stationed there that the arrest was not from missing her deployment, but the fact that she did not return from her pre-deployment leave, AWOL.
Nicholas Godfrey
I pray that all will go well for her. She is a good person who was faced with a tough decision and made a choice that should not have had to be made. Her mother is the one that is to blame for her having to make that decision. Had she not dropped Kamani off then she would have deployed with my wife. She is not the type of person who made this decision lightly. She was granted an extension and then it was taken from her. Everyone should pray for a good outcome to this.
CommonSense4u2
this is sad... i don't understand why they don't just give her a hardship discharge... and to tell someone to put her child in foster care is quite disturbing... i hope everything gets resolved... and if they are going to punish her at least put her on house arrest so she can be with her kid... that's just awful...
mrmack
this is sad...although she knew what she was getting into when she joined...i will say she is a mother first
USANUMBER2
why isnt this traitor in jail? she should be executed for running away from the fight
Batters56
Are the great United States of America where the poor are sent off around the world to fight wars to keep the rich people (and their babies) safe.
B.O.H.I.C.A.
You signed up to serve - what did you think it was all about - Free Obama Welfare Checks - Not the change you thought??? Ummm Ummm Ummm
AMHC Ret
She should be charged with missing movement and treated like any other deserter. She is not the only single parent who has faced this issue, and will not be the last. She has been well aware of this possibility since before the child was born. As a single Navy man, I faced this in the past and made arrangements prior to my deployments. What would make her so special and require different treatment than any other servicemember.
Mavric1919
And the Child should have been placed in Foster care? The care plan for the dependant child needed to be resummited because the current care povider declined, A single parent can not deploy with out the plain.. If she notified her chain of command of this change (which it seemed she did by them suggesting foster care) and they were to deploy her with out the dependant child care porvider plain they are the ones at fault.. It is not military policy to place the child in fostercare for the parent to deploy...I am only going by what I read on this and being once in the military my self
AMHC Ret
It is the parents responsibility to arrange for the care of the child, not the military's. First, waiting until time to deploy is wrong, second, we should maybe call our enemies and tell them to put the war on hold because we don't have child care? It is the military members responsibility to be prepared to deploy, as a retired Navy Chief, I had to make these arrangements myself for several lengthy deployments so I am well aware of her plight. But that does not negate the fact that she missed movement, period. How many others in the gulf had to make these same arrangements? Quiet a few I would imagine. The militart has, to this point, held up it's part of the contract, now it's her turn.
Ginty McGinty
Wondering - do you not have rights to maternity leave in the US?
Nicholas Godfrey
she had her maternity leave last year after Kamani was born. It lasts 6 weeks in the Army.
Genjiro
This is sad but unless she finds another caregiver the only true and fair answer to this situation is for the Army to give her a hardship discharge. This is tough because she's out of a job, the Army, but she stays home to care for her child.
citrus
This ought to be simple, and as a result I will state it bluntly. She is the same as a deserter, and should be tried as one. She is also a good mother, and as a result ought to be pardoned. Problem solved.
CLM
She should face criminal charges. If you deliberately stay in the military knowing full well you cannot do your duty when called, you are in the wrong. So her mother can run a day care operation with 14 children but can’t take care of her own grandson! I believe as a new mom, she does not want to deploy and is looking for a way out. She should have left the moment she realized she did not have a caregiver for her child.
Nicholas Godfrey
I know SPC Hutchinson, she is in my wifes unit. My wife is over in Afgahnistan now. Hutch was not looking for a way out of the Army. She wanted and still wants to remain in the Army. She was only asking for an extension to find a person to care for her son since her mom dropped him back off a few days before Nov. 5th, there scheduled day to leave. She had her plan in place then her mom kinda jacked it up. She is guilty atmost of not going threw the proper chanels and informing her chain of command. Don't call her a coward or a deserter you do not know her. If you were faced with the same decision what would you do?
citrus
Still, family comes before country in the list of priorities.
Mavric1919
One: she has some one and sent the child to them. It did not work out and the mother returned the child to her being that the age of the child was more than she could take care of.
Two: I seemed that she notified the chain of command of this issue and it is at the time presumed that they said to put the child in foster care.. That is not a military policy and if true her chain of command needs to be reprimanded.
You can't just leave the Army with a two weeks notice, and again the chain of command didn't seem to give her that option.
F.ur god
hmmmm...
THE TOMB
Sounds like an Obama solution, the government will bring up your children and they can call him Uncle Barack!
Locke Out
What a horrible story. My heart goes out to this poor lady. No one should have to give up their kids to foster care to go to this stupid war.
Major Tom
Very true...