Should military moms breast-feed in uniform, in public?

That's a problem with trying to use a civilian search engine to search a Military regulation.

First of all, it's unfortunate that someone referenced Army regulations when discussing an Air Force issue. (The individuals in the picture are members of the Washington Air National Guard.) But I looked at AR 670-1 anyway. It didn't take long to find a couple of pertinent entries.

Part One
General Information and Responsibilities

1–9. Uniform appearance and fit
a. Appearance.
(1) All personnel will maintain a high standard of dress and appearance. Uniforms will fit properly; trousers, pants,
or skirts should not fit tightly; and personnel must keep uniforms clean and serviceable and press them as necessary.
Soldiers must project a military image that leaves no doubt that they live by a common military standard and are
responsible to military order and discipline. Soldiers will ensure that articles carried in pockets do not protrude from
the pocket or present a bulky appearance.

(3) While in uniform, personnel will not place their hands in their pockets, except momentarily to place or retrieve
objects. Soldiers will keep uniforms buttoned, zipped, and snapped.

j. Wearing Army uniforms is prohibited in the following situations:
(1) In connection with the furtherance of any political or commercial interests, or when engaged in off-duty civilian
employment.
(2) When participating in public speeches, interviews, picket lines, marches, rallies, or public demonstrations, except
as authorized by competent authority.

I know, I know... It doesn't specify any standard for 'breast feeding', but the principles are there.
"...articles carried in pockets do not protrude or present a bulky appearance..."
Nursing babies are obviously not carried "in pockets" but they are just as obviously protruding and appear bulky.

"Soldiers will keep uniforms buttoned, zipped, and snapped."
That application to the pictures in question is obvious.

"Wearing uniforms is prohibited... When participating in public speeches, interviews..."
Posing, in uniform, for a picture that will be used in a brochure is a form of public speech and is prohibited.


I copied and pasted more of the pertinent paragraphs than was necessary just to maintain the perspective of where they come from. And be aware, AR 670-1 is more than 330 pages long, single space, small print.

Elsewhere in blogosphere, I came across a statement from the Washington Air National Guard:

"The two members of the Air National Guard who appeared in the controversial photo, Terran Echegoyen-McCabe and Christina Luna have been reprimanded because the photo "violated a policy that forbids military members from using the uniform to further a cause, promote a product or imply an endorsement," the Air Force Times reported.

"The uniform was misused. That's against regulations," Captain Keith Kosik, a spokesman for the Washington National Guard, told the Air Force Times. "I want to be very, very clear about this. Our issue is not, nor has it ever been, about breastfeeding. It has to do with honoring the uniform and making sure it's not misused. I can't wear my uniform to a political rally, to try to sell you something or push an ideology. That was our point of contention."

And as regards military decorum and protocol, that has always been the point. It's not about breastfeeding, it's about maintaining a Military appearance. And the Military gets to decide what that will look like, not us.