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1. Military Parental Leave Program (MPLP)

The time after welcoming a new baby to the family (birth or adoption) can be stressful.  Fortunately, the services have made great strides in affording their members time to adjust and recover. 

The military parental leave program applies to all active, Full Time National Guard (FTNGD) reserve component members who were performing active duties of more than 12 continuous months around a birth or adoption event.

The program consists of: maternity convalescent leave, primary caregiver leave, and secondary caregiver leave.  All services allow parental leave entitlements to be retroactive to Dec 23, 2016.

Here’s a quick summary of each service’s parental leave policies and common misconceptions.

 

Maternity Convalescent Leave (MCL)

Limited to a covered service member birth parent and must be taken in one increment immediately following childbirth following the first full date after discharge and release from the hospital.  The birth parent, with concurrence of the medical provider, may elect to have less than the allotted 42 days.  Any medically required extension of MCL will be deducted from primary care giver leave.

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Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, & Coast Guard

6 Weeks (42 Days) of Non-chargeable Leave

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Primary Care Giver Leave (PCL)

Limited to covered service members designated as "primary caregivers" in conjunction to a birth event or adoption.  Must be taken in one increment within 1 year of the qualifying event (deployment time will not count towards the 1 year period after birth). 

As defined, the primary caregiver is the parent with the primary responsibility for caring for a child. In most cases the non-military parent shall be designated the primary caregiver.  However, the final designtion rests with the approving Commander.

In some cases, the covered military member may be designated as the primary caregiver. Such circumstances may include, but are not limited to,

• Member is the birth parent

• Dual military couple where one member of the couple is designated as the primary caregiver

• The unavailability or incapacity of the birth parent if the birth parent is not a military member

• The necessity of the non-military parent to return to his or her place of employment

• The death of the non-military parent

• Or other circumstances where the military member must act as primary caregiver

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Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, & Coast Guard

• 6 Weeks (42 Days) of Non-chargeable Leave

• May be taken consecutively to MCL (Total of 84 days)

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Navy

• By default the PC will be the non-military parent, and for dual military couples the member who is serving in the least operational position

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Secondary Care Giver Leave (SCL)

Limited to service members designated as "secondary caregivers" in conjunction to a birth event or adoption. Must be taken in one increment within 1 year of the qualifying event (deployment time will not count towards the 1 year period after birth).

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Air Force, Army, & Coast Guard

3 Weeks (21 Days)

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Navy & Marines

2 Weeks (14 Days)

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Postpartum Operational Deferment

For the birth mother service member.

*If you feel pressured to waive the deferment, you are in your right to file the issue with the Inspector General*

 

Air Force (AFI 36-2110) & Navy (MILPERSMAN 1300-1306)

12 months 

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Army (AR 614-30, section 3-8), Coast Guard (COMDTINST 1000.9) & Marines (MCO 5000.12E)

6 months (Army may ask for 12 months)

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*Approved NDAA 2020 Section 572 will make the deferment period for all "armed forces" to be 12 months*

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Service Specific

Air Force

• Active Duty male service members with civilian spouses can take primary caregiver leave

• Join Spouse couples choose which parent to designate as the PC

• Birth mothers have a 12 month PT deferment

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Army

• Female members will also be provided with two sets of maternity OCPs. Take a memo from your commander with a copy of pregnancy profile to the Central Issuing Facility or unit supply room.

• Enrollment in the Pregnancy/Postpartum Physical Training (PPPT) Program is required while pregnant and up to 6 months post-partum

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Navy

• Pregnant Sailors may remain onboard a ship until the 20th week and should not be assigned to units that are deploying from the 20th week through 12 months following delivery. 

• Sailors are also deferred from all transfers (PCS, TDY, TEMDU, etc.) 12 months after giving birth.

• Servicewomen are exempt from the PFA for nine months after giving birth.  After the 9 months, they’re required to participate in the next PFA cycle.

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Coast Guard

• 1 year following a birth or adoption event, all members are permitted to use a flexible work schedule at the discretion of the Commanding Officer

• No pregnant service member shall deploy or remain aboard a ship, including small boat duty, beyond her 20th week of pregnancy.

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Servicemembers (male and female) are encouraged to contact the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS) with any questions/concerns regarding parental leave issues.

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Reference Regulations