Pregnant Soldiers In Afghanistan: 12 Women Flown Home Already This Year

Pregnant Soldiers In Afghanistan: 12 Women Flown Home Already This Year
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The Sun has obtained data from a Freedom of Information Act request that shows a dozen women soldiers have been flown home from Afghanistan after falling pregnant this year.

The women were taken out of the war-zone between January and August.

Ten female soldiers fell pregnant whilst on service during 2010, and a total of 64 women have been taken off duty in Afghanistan after becoming pregnant since 2003.

The Sun reports that it is not known if the women conceived whilst on home leave, or while they were on duty, but an Army source told the paper:

'Life at base comes with both boredom and fear. And emotions are heightened because anyone could get hurt tomorrow.

'The ratio is many men to a single girl - it's little surprise there are hook-ups.'

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said that relationships were discouraged amongst troops, saying:

'Our personnel are expected to behave in accordance with the Armed Forces' values and standards.'

Current regulations means that pregnant soldiers are banned from war-zones.

Do these figures shock you?

Or given the circumstances, are you surprised there are not more unplanned pregnancies?