This article, by Malcolm Unwell, says it better than I would.
In an interview with the website of the "Today Show", Air National Guard member Terran Echegoyen McCabe, who is shown hiking her khaki t-shirt to nurse her 10-month-old twin daughters, said that the act of breastfeeding in uniform was not new -- she does it all the time, she said, “in our lobby, in my car, in the park.” What was new was the public nature of the photo, which was the point. "I'm proud to be wearing a uniform while breastfeeding. I'm proud of the photo and I hope it encourages other women to know they can breastfeed whether they're active duty, guard or civilian." CLIOK IMAGE for more.
My issue is that I value femininity and masculinity.
The military ethos is masculine. Are there women who could play the guy role? Sure there are. Just as there are effeminate males. The problem, as Malcolm Unwell writes, is that gender integration also means gender tolerance. Behaviors that I would celebrate in a woman or in some men, would be obviously inappropriate in a SEAL or fighter pilot.
It seems to me that we should want gung-ho male chauvinism in our combat troops. A woman who has that attitude can only be allowed to serve if we abandon the idea that any combat soldier can be criticized for caring more about his family than about his platoon.
Are there such women? Proabably, but would it be fair as a society to ban combat soldiers from breast feeding?
I think the real issue is the conflict between two very American ideals ..individual freedom and vs. the right to be yourself.