Today's "Army of One," stuck on stupid? Pagan gets over.

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At this point, one can only conclude that if the reports are correct (and they have yet to be verified by the Army) Lisa Pagan has successfully managed to walk out on her commitment to the United States and her responsibility to the Army, through her successful manipulation of the system by using her children to avoid recall to active duty. This is a serious mistake.

Briefly, like every other service member recalled to active duty, Ms. Pagan voluntarily signed a contract, just like I did, to serve her country. Within that contract is the requirement for an 8 year service commitment. That is, she effectively becomes property of the US Government for 8 years if the government determines that necessary.

Based on published reports, 4 years ago, Ms. Pagan completed her initial active duty enlistment. Like many others in the Individual Ready Reserve, she knew she was subject to recall AT ANY TIME to the completion of HER 8 year service commitment.

To her, this commitment was and is meaningless. Knowing of her commitment, she lacked the foresight to hold off on her decision to have children until her commitment was completed. And knowing that commitment existed, she made the decision to have children, which she also knew would make it geometrically more difficult to fulfill the terms of her contract.

Notice I said "geometrically more difficult." That is not the same thing as portrayed by her lawyer (How nice... she can afford a lawyer, but she cannot afford adequate child care in the voluntary absence of her husband?) who continues to pound home the falsehood that it's impossible.

The reason for the discharge will be that she doesn't have, and cannot have, anadequate family care for her two young children, he said.

I have posited the question that remains unanswered. So, if for ANY other reason, were Ms. Pagan disabled to the point that she couldn't parent as much as she liked, does that mean that the children should be removed from the subsequent custody of the voluntarily unable to parent husband?

Of course not. And that goes to the heart of the fallacy of this situation.

This is no where near a case of "can't." What this IS is a case of "won't." And, to coin Ms. Pagan's phrase: In the military, "won't" is NOT an option... or at least, is not SUPPOSED to be an option.

There are a great many people, men and women, who have found ways to overcome this same challenge. The very idea that suddenly, miraculously, this woman has turned into some sort of mindless zombie, incapable of making the necessary arrangements, arrangements she SHOULD have LONG made in advance for the care of her children, just in case she was recalled, calls into question her ability to parent under ANY circumstances, activated or not.

Again, to hear her lawyer tell it, it's all over but the shouting. And if, as mentioned, she is able to skate on her responsibilities to the United States, then the United States should feel free to ignore any obligation to her.

Hopefully, an "Other Than Honorable Discharge" would be appropriate here, because due to Ms. Pagan's manipulation of the system, the fact of the matter is that someone else will have to take her place and go in her stead.

Under Other Than Honorable Conditions. OTH Discharges are warranted when the reason for separation is based upon a pattern of behavior that constitutes a significant departure from the conduct expected of members of the Military Services, or when the reason for separation is based upon one or more acts or omissions that constitute a significant departure from the conduct expected of members of the Military Services. Examples of factors that may be considered include the use of force or violence to produce serious bodily injury or death, abuse of a special position of trust, disregard by a superior of customary superior-subordinate relationships, acts or omissions that endanger the security of the United States or the health and welfare of other members of the Military Services, and deliberate acts or omissions that seriously endanger the health and safety of other persons.

So, in the end, Pagan's actions here not only screw the people of this country... but they screw the man or woman who has to take her place... and who will live up to their commitment to the United States.

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We can now reasonably expect many, many more to follow the path blazed by this enterprising young woman who made a decision that she did not want to live up to her commitment, and then found a way to make it happen.

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Some reading this blog might wonder why this pisses me off so much.

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I was profiled out of Combat Arms and wound up in a Division G1 shop. I was bombarded on at least a monthly basis by soldiers who, for one reason or another, didn't want to deploy.

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The reasons ran the spectrum from one soldier having, literally, won the lottery and then opening up a restaurant, feeling that he couldn't leave his college-educated RN wife in charge. This Spec 4 wanted a hardship discharge (which he did not get) to the other, much more legitimate causes, like genuine parenting issues brought about by the hardship of the DEATH of a spouse, as opposed to the voluntary determination by one parent to put his job in front of the needs of both his children and this country.

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I know a scam when I see it. And I've seen a great many of them. But at the other end of the deployment issue was always, always, always this fact: SOMEONE was going to have to go. And in this case, SOMEONE will have to take Pagan's place because she found a scam that will voluntarily allow her to absent herself from her commitment... and her responsibilities.

No one talks about the matter of justice when it come to Pagan's replacement, whoever that might be.

So I am.

NC mom recalled to Army duty will be discharged

By MARTHA WAGGONER, Associated Press Writer Martha Waggoner, Associated Press Writer – Mon Mar 2, 6:17 pm ET

AP – Lisa Pagan is shown with her husband, Travis, right, and her children Elizabeth, 4, and Eric, 3, at their …

• Slideshow:Army mom reports to duty with kids

RALEIGH, N.C. – The North Carolina mother who reported for Army duty with her two young children will be discharged from the military, her attorney said Monday. Attorney Mark Waple of Fayetteville said it wasn't yet clear if Lisa Pagan would receive an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions. It also wasn't certain when she would be discharged.

The reason for the discharge will be that she doesn't have, and cannot have, an adequate family care for her two young children, he said.

"There is definitely some feeling of relief, especially since she has been led to believe that the command at Fort Benning is going to do everything to expedite this so she can return to Charlotte, North Carolina, with her children," Waple said of Pagan's reaction to the decision.

She has received no time line "except they are trying to process it as quickly as possible," he said.

He advised Pagan against talking to reporters until after the discharge is official.

Fort Benning spokesman Bob Purtiman could not confirm Monday whether Pagan's commanders were discharging her. He said she was being issued a uniform, undergoing medical and dental screenings and filling out paperwork like any other soldier.

"As far as her disposition, right now the case is being reviewed by the chain of command," Purtiman said. "Specific actions the chain of command are considering will not be discussed because that would violate her privacy rights."

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