oh good, by dint of presidential fiat my country's military is being gutted today

[Webstral]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

I mean, think about it. "Jones, it's damn awful that your wife was murdered, but now I'm going to have to chapter you out because she screwed up and got herself killed." That's just shitty.

Or, "Jones, it's a shame your husband was KIA in the sandbox. Too bad for your fifteen year investment, too, because we're kicking your freeloading ass and your two kids out on the street. I don't know where we'll find another senior interrogator who speaks Arabic to replace you, but this man's Army ain't no place for a single parent."

All that said, I agree with the premise that family responsibilities have caused the burden of work and responsibilities to be shifted onto the backs of soldiers who have either a sufficient family support structure or who have no family commitments. Single parent soldiers should not be allowed to enlist unless they have a "special dependent" who can meet whatever criteria the Dept of Defense sees fit to impose for said special dependents.