Sex Ban Lifted for U.S. Soldiers

General Order No. 1 was signed by Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Schloesser, easing the restrictions on civilian contractors and single soldiers in Afghanistan. Unmarried men and women in the combat zone can now legally have sex. According to an article written by Drew Brown of the Stars and Stripes publication, even though the new order was signed on April 19, the regulation warns that sex in a combat zone "can have an adverse impact on unit cohesion, morale, good order and discipline."

Single soldiers can visit each other but everyone in the same living quarters must agree or the doors must remain open at all times if alone. This still does not allow them to have sex in their living quarters, according to a statement given by Lt. Col. Rumi Nielson-Green in a Stars and Stripes article.

Even before the regulation, when a new Private knocked on my door to ask me a question and came in, he was smoked for allowing the door to close. This was a good thing. I did not even want him in my room to begin with.

Before the regulation change, soldiers were punished, receiving Article 15's or letters of reprimand for having sex in Afghanistan. The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) still remains that married soldiers can be prosecuted for adultery if they have sex with anyone other than their spouse. Many other provisions are covered in UCMJ's Article 134 which is the "catch all" for items not covered in other articles.

Do I disagree with the new policy? Yes I do. I had to memorize and recite the Soldier's Creed for the Army, which is as follows:

I am an American Soldier.

I am a warrior and member of a team. I serve the people of the United States and live the Army values.

I will always place the mission first.

I will never accept defeat.

I will never quit.

I will never leave a fallen comrade.

I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.

I am an expert and I am a professional.

I stand ready to deploy, engage and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.

I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.

I am an American Soldier.

"I will always place my mission first." This is a statement that truly reflects what our soldiers should be concerned about, not sex.

What about the risk of pregnancies while serving active duty in Afghanistan? The United States will lose a female soldier whom the government paid for training to "stand ready to deploy, engage and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat."

"I serve the people of the United States and live the Army values." What are the Army's values now? Allowing unmarried individuals to have sex? That is a value my church would totally disagree with.