AS PREGNANCIES SOAR, MOD TELLS WOMEN SOLDIERS: CARRY CONDOM

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As pregnancies on the frontline soar, MoD tells women soldiers: Carry a condom

By Christopher Leake
16th May 2010


The Ministry of Defence has launched a campaign warning female soldiers to carry condoms after an alarming number of pregnancies at bases in Afghanistan.

Adverts in the Army’s official magazine Soldier warn ‘on deployment, there’ll be 50 blokes to each woman’ and urge female squaddies, medics and administrative staff to use a condom or ‘face something you really don’t want to hear.’

Officially, a ‘no-touching’ rule bans military personnel from having sex in a war zone. But, according to senior officers, provided sexual relationships are between soldiers of a similar rank and do not impact on operations commanders often turn a blind eye.


However, if, for example, a fem-ale nurse was caught having sex with a senior officer, both would face serious disciplinary action and could be thrown out of the Army. Once female soldiers become pregnant, they are flown home immediately, because rules bar expectant mothers from frontline service.

A Freedom of Information response last year revealed that between January 2003 and February 2009, at least 102 British servicewomen posted to Iraq had been sent home after it was found they were to become mothers.

Over the same period the number of female soldiers who had discovered they were pregnant while in theatre in Afghanistan was 31.

The advert shows a row of seven open red lipsticks and the words: ‘Hey gorgeous! Fancy a drink? Come here often? We’re made for each other! Get your coat, you’ve pulled! Your test is positive.’

It adds: ‘On deployment, there’ll be 50 blokes to each woman, so you’ll hear all these lines and more! If you have sex without a condom you risk an unplanned pregnancy or an STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) including HIV, the virus that leads to Aids.’

Condoms are readily available to male and female soldiers at bases such as Camp Bastion, which houses 8,500 British troops – including 700 women.

Last night Tory MP Patrick Mercer, a former Army commanding officer, asked why the Army has taken so long to take action over the rise of pregnancies on the frontline.

He said: ‘At a time of serious financial squeeze, does it really have to take a change of government before the Ministry of Defence centres on ways of saving money by helping to avoid unwanted pregnancies?These are incredibly expensive for the Army once a return to the UK and accommodation for mother and baby are provided.

‘One has to wonder why this sort of advertisement has only been used now.’

An MoD spokesman said last night: ‘The MoD does not encourage sexual relationships in theatre.

‘All personnel are expected to behave in accordance with the Armed Forces values and standards at all times.’



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