SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- The 932nd Airlift Wing recently installed its first lactation pod to provide a private room equipped with the resources needed for women to safely breastfeed and pump breastmilk regardless of the work location.
Secretary of the Air Force Manpower and Reserve Affairs released an Air Force Guidance Memorandum that requires bases to establish lactation rooms for nursing mothers within unit facilities.
Located in the 932nd AW Headquarters, building 3650, room 122, the pod serves 932nd military and civilian personnel as well as any Scott Air Force Base personnel from other units who are nursing mothers.
Per the memorandum, the pod provides a private, secure, and sanitary area with all the necessary resources: a table, two built-in benches, an external numeric lock, and an internal deadbolt with an external indicator showing “vacant/in-use.”
“Our Airmen spoke up and we listened by purchasing the first of multiple pods across 932nd AW,” said Chief Master Sgt. Christian Biancur, 932nd AW command chief. “Thanks to the 932nd Mission Support Group and their efforts in obtaining this amenity, it’s great to be able to provide our members and visitors to the headquarters with a safe space for new mothers to breastfeed in a sanitary, private, and comfortable location.”
“This pod comes with comfort, great lighting, a calming atmosphere, cipher lock keyed access, and smartphone access via the app,” he said. “We are looking forward to expanding this effort across our multiple locations.”
Before the pod was installed, 932nd personnel brought forth concerns for the low quantity of lactation rooms across the wing, but the 932nd responded to this concern need by purchasing this first of many lactation pods for the wing.
“Many people do not consider the challenges that working mothers face, especially nursing mothers in the Air Force,” said Staff Sgt. Brooke Spenner, 932nd Public Affairs noncommissioned officer in charge. “Having a lactation room is such a necessity for nursing mothers to have.”
“I am looking forward to using it; I pumped in a lot of weird places with my first child, so I will be glad to have this available with my second,” she added.
Since women’s health is a core component of a ready force, the 932nd is working to purchase more pods for other locations in the 932nd, and Wing leaders are encouraged to designate a lactation space within their facilities for their Airmen who may be expecting or nursing.
“The 932nd AW cares about women and their newborn's health as well as their dignity while still being able to meet the needs of mission readiness,” said Biancur.
For more information on the policies and procedures of breastfeeding and breast pumping read Air Force Instruction 44-102, Medical Care Management, corresponding paragraph 4.15.