Breastfeeding moms in uniform photos spur debate
A cropped section of one of the photos posted by Mom2Mom
/ Brynja Sigurdardottir/Mom2Mom(CBS/AP) SPOKANE, Wash. - The Washington National Guard and Fairchild Air Force Base say two nursing mothers were wrong to be photographed in uniform breastfeeding their babies.
The photos were taken and posted on the Internet by Mom2Mom, a group on base that supports breast-feeding mothers.
The photos immediately prompted debate online.
Mom2Mom posted on its Facebook page that the "photographs were NEVER meant to exploit, promote or to use the uniform to help our group," and the goal was to promote National Breastfeeding Awareness Week in August.
One of the mothers pictured in the photos, Terran Echegoyen-McCabe, told NBC, "I'm proud to be wearing a uniform while breast-feeding. I'm proud of the photo and I hope it encourages other women to know they can breast-feed whether they're active duty, guard or civilian."
But state National Guard Capt. Keith Kosik says it's a violation of regulations to use the uniform to promote a cause. He says the Guard members will likely not be disciplined but that it would be used an opportunity for education.
Base spokesman Maj. Randy Bailey says there's no issue with moms in the military breast-feeding, but campaigning in uniform is not allowed.
The base is near Spokane, Wash.
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If they just happened to be of some female soldiers feeding their babies, and this group used them for its own purposes, then the mothers weren't guilty of anything. Children need to eat regardless of what outfit their mother happens to be wearing at any given point in time.
However, if the photos were purposely taken to show women in uniform breast feeding as part a show of support for this organization, then yes. Everyone that dons an American military uniform and has completed basic training knows that the uniform is not to be used to support a "cause."