Even before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade ruling, military personnel had trouble getting abortions. Navigating various state laws, trying to get vacations, and figuring out travel arrangements was no easy task.
Air Force Major Sharon Arana said, “The walls we had to climb over and the walls we had to climb over were so hard that we were reset to where we thought we belonged in the military.”
In 2009, Alana became pregnant during officer training in Alabama. Instead of going to the base clinic, she was tested in a gas station bathroom.
Alana and her boyfriend eventually decided to seek a medical abortion, but were unable to get an appointment because there were few clinics in Alabama. They faced another problem. The couple paid hundreds of dollars for hotels, medical images, and tests, but were told that Georgia law required a cooling off period for her.
“They said, ‘Well, there’s a three-day waiting period,'” Arana said. “I’m like, ‘I don’t have three days. I have to go back to training.'” So I drove back the next day and graduated that week. ”
Alana then had an abortion in New York while on vacation to visit family. But she said she doesn’t know what she’d be doing if she hadn’t taken that vacation yet.
These experiences are top of mind for her now that abortion is no longer protected under federal law. Alana continues to tell her own story of her experience, even testifying before Congress, fearing experiences like hers will become more common.
“This is directly affecting our aviators and our families right now,” she said. We cannot choose where we are stationed….we should be protected from much of this.”
Alana also helped develop a new Department of Defense policy that allowed military personnel to take up to three weeks of administrative leave for abortion and fertility treatment, with travel reimbursement. This gives military personnel 20 weeks more time before they must notify their commanding officer of their pregnancy. It also restricts healthcare providers from speaking to the Commander.
Cmdr, a Department of Defense spokesperson, said: Nicole Shuegman.
“The Department’s reproductive health care initiative not only ensures that military personnel and their families have the time and flexibility to make personal and private health care decisions, but also ensures that service members have access to care wherever they are. These policies result in the fact that military personnel may be forced to travel longer distances, spend more time off work, and pay more to access reproductive health care. It helps us deal with.”
According to some proponents, the military has taken an important step towards meeting the military’s health needs.
“The military has not really been a leader on reproductive access issues in the past. It’s a refreshing change to see that they’re taking the needs of military personnel seriously, especially in the context of gender. William and Mary’s professor who studies gender, politics and reproduction.
In order to take leave, a soldier simply has to make it clear to his commanding officer that his request is an “uncovered reproductive health care need.” Provide details about the clinics where they sought abortion or fertility treatment.
Lorry Fenner, director of government relations for the Service Women’s Action Network, said the policy strikes a good balance between the military’s privacy and mission requirements, but that it’s not easy to enforce.
“There will be problems,” Fenner said. Because they believe their mission is their top priority. But the secretary reminds them that the health and care of its members is what accomplishes its mission. ”
Meanwhile, some Republicans are trying to sabotage the policy.
Through the Hyde Amendment and other provisions, Congress already prohibits the federal government from paying for abortions unless there is rape, incest, or the mother’s life is in danger. Alabama Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville argues that paying for travel to abortion providers goes against his Hyde spirit.
“Secretary Austin’s new abortion policy is immoral and definitely illegal. If he wants the law changed, he needs to pass Congress,” he said in a statement on the Senate floor.
Republicans in Congress say they plan to try to outright outlaw the policy. They proposed legislation prohibiting the Department of Defense from funding the travel expenses of service members to undergo abortions.
This article was produced by the American Homefront Project, a public media collaboration covering life in the US military and veterans.
Copyright 2023 North Carolina Public Radio – WUNC.
