This single Mom has been discharged from the U.S. Army for failing to deploy with her unit to Afghanistan and claiming that her family plan had fallen through and no one would have been left to care for her 10-month-old son Kamani.

Situations such as these can be easy to misjudge at first glance. A knee-jerk reaction could be applauding her for choosing family over a job obligation. But it isn't quite that simple. Personnel in the U.S. military are required to do as ordered. Without that basic premise, no military can function. If soldiers decided to do as they pleased instead of as they are required, our nation would be defenseless. We would still have British accents and bow to the Queen. Or perhaps speak German or Japanese and a select few would be kindly asked to wear cute little yellow patches.

When (now) Private Hutchinson enlisted, she signed a document stating she would ensure a family plan for the care of her son. She also signed a document promising to deploy when ordered to do so. And according to the Army, their investigation has proven that she never intended to deploy and was using her son as an excuse.

If she was unable to follow orders, she put herself and her unit in jeopardy. They must now replace her role in the unit with another soldier who was going to be tasked elsewhere. She is forcing another parent into danger so that she can let everyone down.

I sincerely hope she is a great Mom and has lots of quality time with her son. But she just served as a poor example of leadership, responsibility, and mature behavior.