Excuse me if this thread already exists somewhere, I'll admit that I did not check very thoroughly. Anyway, I recently read this article from NPR and it sent me on a mental rollercoaster, but first, the link;

NPR: Soldier Loses Custody of Child After Iraq Tour

Being a US citizen who is not in support of the Iraq war, or most military actions for that matter, my immediate response was one of outrage; here is yet another way in which our veterans are being screwed by a system that breaks records in its lack of support of our soldiers and their families. Granted, this is an individual example, and I can't judge the right or wrong choices of this particular family, but it got me thinking about the military system in a more general sense. Isn't it enough that these people put their lives on the line while under protected, under compensated, with minimal support systems in place for their families back home? As is pointed out in the article, many parents find themselves overseas without being able to find adequate childcare for their children because their tours keep getting prolonged indefinitely, leaving them no way of knowing exactly how long they will be gone.

At the same time, it could be argued that this is a personal choice; there is no draft and this mother and all the others chose this as a career, knowing full well the potential of their choices, so if it has led to an inability to properly care for their children, then the state has a right to intervene. And yet, it just doesn't seem right that you can lose custody to the same country that you are leaving your children to serve. Furthermore, it has been argued for many years that the US military has a habit of preying on those in low income brackets and with minimal education, a group that already has a hard enough time supporting children; could it be that the US military is setting these people up for failure? I don't know. While child services may actually be providing much needed interference for some of these kids, I have also witnessed some of that systems egregious pitfalls first hand, and it is heartbreaking. In my experience, many children end up doing far worse after being removed from their homes. It’s a case by case situation.

And of course, not to mention the thousands of lives being lost and destroyed by these same people in Iraq. Ughhh this war needs to end...
Anyway, not knowing too much about what services are actually provided for military parents, and how effective they are, I was curious as to what others thought about it.

Hey!


At the same time, it could be argued that this is a personal choice; there is no draft and this mother and all the others chose this as a career, knowing full well the potential of their choices, so if it has led to an inability to properly care for their children, then the state has a right to intervene.

This sounds a bit of an an oxy moron ,... (so if it has led to an inability to properly care for their children, then the state has a right to intervene.)




Hopefully one would ahead of time have something set up for their childrens welfare with long term arrangements in case the call for duty arrives. I too considered joining the service, but knew in my heart war was is war, nothing I say or do will change that, and if children enter my life I will be sacrificing the family life with no choice, so I gracefully re-considered my John Hancock as it were pen to paper. Time knows not war...war knows not time. I did not see where the article said who was caring for the child upon her departure originally with her service, My guess is the father.

Should they have banned her court regarded rights?, oh my..by all means no
Fair legal authority should have been rendered unto the mother even so. I am not sure the bottom line was the fact that she had extended leave..maybe there is more to the story than what has actually been revealed, but then again panel said verbally that she was an excellent mother, so that in itself sais it all. Tis an unfair twist in the system, I agree. More funds needs to attend the welfare of children who's parents give their lives for our country..One must remember, before they sign their life away, even for this country...thats what it is...their life.. anything goes, and its a shaded system wherever you turn..I feel for her.

Sherri