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Taking steps to support motherhood in the military

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jaeda Tookes
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  On Oct.10, six breast-feeding rooms opened across Malmstrom to provide a supportive and accommodative environment for nursing mothers on the base.

“(First Lieutenant Annabel Monroe and I) saw a lack of knowledge from a few supervisors who were unaware of how to support their female troops with balancing the mission and motherhood,” said 1st Lt. Shelia Koebel, 12th Missile Squadron missile combat crew commander.

According to Koebel, not knowing where to start or what avenues to take was a challenge at times.

Koebel and Monroe began by getting a breastfeeding support letter signed by the base commander in May.

“From the space utilization board updates, submitting work requests to the 341st Civil Engineer Squadron, and attending contracting and finance meetings, it was not an easy process,” said Monroe, 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs officer.

The initial goal was to develop a safe, sanitary nursing and pumping area across the base for mothers who were nursing.

“Mothers were using bathrooms to pump, which were deemed inappropriate and unsanitary by Air Force regulation,” said Monroe. “Some mothers were going home to pump, exceeding the 15 to 30 minutes every 3 to 4 hours, and others were using an unofficial spare room.”

According to Monroe, Chief Master Sgt. Thomas Stiles, 341st Missile Wing command chief, assessed each squadron’s needs, along with squadron chiefs across the base, to attain appropriate rooms and locations for the future rooms of the mothers.

Six rooms in centralized locations were chosen to be Mother’s Rooms; Rooms 150 and 343H in Building 500, Room 104A in Building 1191, Room 115K in Building 1439 and Rooms C123 and C135 in Building 2040.

“We had a lot of help along the way from Airmen and civilians (across the base),” said Koebel.

With the help of the 341st Contracting Squadron and 341st CES, renovations were accomplished for each of the rooms, including paint and installation of cypher locks.

“We have great leaders at this base who really supported the vision Lieutenant Monroe and I had,” said Koebel. “It would not have been possible without their support.”

According to Monroe, it is important for new mothers to know they have a supportive environment when returning back to work. It enables women to continue serving and perform their duties to the best of their abilities.

“Establishing a safe area for mothers to nurse is huge to me,” said Koebel. “I have been a working mother, who has breastfed two babies as a civilian and an Airman. Knowing the wing supports this is huge for me, as I could not do the mission effectively if I did not think my goals as a mother were supported.

“As a mother in the military, I do not want to have to sacrifice what I believe is best for my family to accomplish the mission,” she continued. “I want to be able to do both, and (proud to say) I am not alone in this desire.”

The end goal is to ensure all eligible women are informed and aware of breast-feeding support through the New Parent Support Program, and more information is available by calling 731-4603 or 731-2161.