By RUSS BYNUM, AP Military Writer Russ Bynum, AP Military Writer
SAVANNAH, Ga. – A single-mom soldier who says she refused to deploy to Afghanistan because she had no family able to care for her young son will be discharged from the military instead of facing a court-martial, the Army said Thursday.
Spc. Alexis Hutchinson, an Army cook stationed at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, was arrested in November after skipping her unit's deployment flight. Hutchinson, 21, said she couldn't leave her son because her mother had backed out of plans to keep the child a few days before the soldier's scheduled departure.
The Army filed criminal charges last month against Hutchinson of Oakland, Calif., but a general at neighboring Fort Stewart chose to settle the case by granting her an administrative discharge rather than try her in a military court.
"She's excited that she's no longer facing jail and can still be with her son, which is the most important thing," said Rai Sue Sussman, Hutchinson's civilian attorney. "We're very happy about it right now."
The decision still carries consequences for Hutchinson. She is being demoted in rank to private and will lose benefits afforded to military service members and veterans, Fort Stewart spokesman Kevin Larson said.
Larson said the Army had evidence that Hutchinson, regardless of her family situation, would have resisted deploying "by any means." He said commanders decided a court-martial would be too disruptive to the Army, requiring soldiers now in Afghanistan to return to the U.S. to testify.
"This case wasn't about a soldier having to choose between her duty to the nation and her family," Larson said. "There is evidence both from Pvt. Hutchinson and her fellow soldiers to indicate she had no intentions of deploying."
GO HERE to read more.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
She should be facing courtmartial! Why should she be different than any other. I know many people that signed up for the military never ever dreaming that they would have to be deployed someday. They wanted the money and education that the military offers.
ReplyDeleteFirst it was women in combat now it's gays in the military this is all about dismantling our military from the inside out the same way the progressives / Socialists have infiltrated our political system !
ReplyDeletewant it the same as the men. give it to them.
ReplyDeleteWow, I'm surprised by the reaction. I thought people would say this was a good decision. I thought it was. Maybe I'm getting too soft in my old age.
ReplyDeleteShe got out.
ReplyDeleteShe got demoted.
She has NO benifits.
It's like college students....car trouble...no friends to help. Six pack of beer...five friends right away. Where was "dear ole dad(of the baby)?
Can't you people even see this is not about the mom, it is about the child. Some of these comments are a true example of the selfish thinking.
ReplyDeleteShe would have found another way out either way i am sure....I am over here right now on my third tour....she probably joined for the college money....so many people do it. It is rediculous...I joined straight into the Infantry...didnt want to do anything else. I am tired of hearing about woman wanting to be in the infantry as well....its nto for everyone...woman or men. She should have been court martialed.
ReplyDeleteNo, it is not about the child. When she joined the Army it became about our national security - there are many, many soldiers with "children". What, do we let them all come home because it is about the "child". Get a grip.
ReplyDeleteThis is why only men should be in the service . Pregnancy is a big issue for our military it leaves us short of troops . We need to go back to men only and no GAYS !
ReplyDeletei would have a problem with letting her out if she was allowed to keep her military benefits. but she's not. what was she supposed to do? leave her kid in the playpen & report for duty? there was NO ONE for the kid...
ReplyDeletewomen in the military! what a joke!
ReplyDeletesemper fi!
it amazes me how we have criminals out there that can do pretty much whatever. Yet we have a soldier who went in with high hopes of being something,defending us,and because fate took another hand she was going to be punished..it is just plain stupid. I am going to be the 1st for saying thank u and congrats. raise ur son. by sending all our people over there is doing nothing anyways. get our troops out of there... bomb the whole place. be over it. re join families,enough is enough
ReplyDelete