This is a guest opinion column

I am of course grateful for the hard work of Alabama’s first-term senator Tommy ‘Coach’ Tuberville. It is indeed a huge responsibility to represent all Alabamians regardless of race, gender, religion, socio-economic or educational level, criminal history, employment status, or healthcare preferences. As I follow, via AL.com, Senator Tuberville’s work on the Senate Armed Services Committee though I am confused as to whom he is representing.

Senator Tuberville is actively withholding and has pledged to continue withholding hundreds of military appointments because Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin allows Service members to travel to obtain healthcare that is not available in the state of their obligatory military assignment. The reports are that Senator Tuberville is personally dismayed that our military service members can recoup travel expenses if the healthcare they need is an abortion or IVF treatment. Just as Senators, Service members are not required to divulge to their commanders their specific reason for the need to travel for healthcare. A portion of the brief defense department memo explaining the military policy states:

“Paragraph 033013 establishes policy and provides procedures, consistent with established Department processes, for authorized travel and transportation allowances for Service members and dependents who must travel to access lawfully available non-covered reproductive health care. Such travel helps to ensure that Service members and their dependents can access care regardless of where they are stationed. This policy reflects our continued commitment to taking care of our people and ensuring that the entire Force remains ready and resilient.”

The medical procedures themselves remain an uncovered expense. It would seem that Secretary Austin simply recognizes that it is unreasonable to mandate that a volunteer United States Service member live in a state that restricts their healthcare options and not provide for another option to obtain that needed care (similar to many private companies with which the military competes for talent). Service members should have access to the care that allows them to perform their jobs. It appears that Senator Tuberville is compromising our national security while Secretary Austin is trying to provide for our common defense. General Austin is well aware of what our military members need and deserve to remain ready to serve.

On December 5, 2022 Senator Tuberville informed Secretary Austin of his intent to obstruct via a memo stating “…I am suspicious that the department’s objective is to circumvent the Dobbs vs Jackson ruling from this summer…effective this morning, I have placed a hold on all further nominees from the Department of Defense…”. Of course our U.S. Service members deserve full reproductive care; just as our country deserves a ready force. The mind reels at the notion that one’s goal is to restrict the rights of the very individuals who have voluntarily enlisted to protect our rights. Did Senator Tuberville think it was reasonable for the military to relocate Space Command to Huntsville, Alabama while he chose this course of action? Space Command remains in Colorado.

Senator Tuberville was also quoted as saying “we do not suffer from a lack of generals” but noted that 2022 military recruiting goals for enlisted members “fell short by 20,000″.

Maybe when Senator Tuberville decides to finally fill the obstructed military leadership vacancies, the leadership will be able to focus on that issue and get on with defending our nation.

Through his work on the armed services committee he might focus on improving enlisted recruitment by considering an expanded high school summer camp program at military sites similar to summer programs at many colleges and universities, or institute a gap-year program after high school or college graduation. Low hanging fruit would be to disallow select high schools from barring the military recruitment program on their campuses.

He might also consider that the record low interest in serving is indeed not exposure but disenfranchisement…not hard to poll. Through our own inaction and selfishness we have sealed their climate fate; we are actively suppressing the vote of our citizenry and young people specifically; many States are functioning under minority rule; and money (that they will never have) is directly related to speech and freedom. Would you fight for that?

And lastly, the U.S. Constitution that you would ask them to defend actually doesn’t recognize 50% of the population (females) as whole benefactors of the rights therein. Young Americans perspective is wholly different than the folks in power. This system taken to its extreme results in the situation in which Russia finds itself militarily.

As Senator Tuberville considers constructive ways to engage with the armed services committee, he may also consider the toll that the attacks of late on our government institutions have on military perception and recruitment. He may consider that mass incarceration and the lack of a responsible immigration policy has taken a toll on military recruitment as well.

I thank U.S. Senator Tuberville for his tireless efforts on behalf of Alabama that are enumerated on his website, but I hope that he will reconsider his counter-productive approach to the armed services committee.

As with anyone, I appreciate Mr. Tuberville’s personal convictions; however, imposing those personal convictions on our national security and military personnel is dangerous and disrespectful. Is discriminating against female United States Service members really where we want him to focus his efforts? It is wholly liberating to recognize that you are entitled to your opinion, but you are not entitled to control the decisions others.

Barbara Frazier lives in Florence, Ala.