No Result
View All Result
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
Reserve & National Guard

New reserve maternity-leave policy issued 18 months after congressional order

Military.com
by Military.com
July 7, 2022
Maternity leave

Electronics Technician 3rd Class Tyler Hernandez meets his child for the first time following the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf's (CG 72) return to homeport. (U.S. Navy/Justin Wolpert)

This article originally appeared on Military.com. Follow Military.com on Twitter.

The military reserve components and National Guard are rolling out new maternity leave policies, providing up to six days of inactive duty pay and retirement points for members who give birth, with the Navy being the latest service to outline its policies last week.

But reserve moms who gave birth within the past 18 months – after Congress passed the law directing the Defense Department to offer the benefit, but before the agency and the services issued their guidance – will not be eligible.

The Defense Department published a policy June 9 on Reserve Component Military Leave, ordering the services to provide paid authorized absences in lieu of inactive duty for training, also known as IDT, for at least 12 training periods, or the equivalent of three weekends.

The new benefit is effective June 9, 2022, even though the law that required it was signed on Jan. 1, 2021, and stipulates that the benefit go into effect the day the legislation passed.

The directive, titled “Reserve Component Maternity Leave Program,” clearly states that the policy is not retroactive.

RELATED: Infertility a ‘silent, sad battle’ for service members

The DOD did not respond by publication to questions regarding the discrepancy between the law’s proposed effective date and its new policy, leaving mothers who gave birth and took unpaid leave between Jan. 1, 2021, and June 8, 2022, with the same option as all reserve members who had previously given birth: that of unpaid maternity leave and no accrual of retirement points for those weekends.

The services have been rolling out their specific parental leave policies in recent months, including the Navy, which released its guidance last week covering the Navy and Marine Corps Reserves.

The DOD and service policies essentially provide six days of leave for reservists and accrual of retirement points.

Per DOD guidance, the Navy announcement noted, the effective date is June 9.

“[The DOD policy] prohibits retroactive requests for qualifying birth events on 8 June 2022 or earlier,” the Navy’s message to the force said.

According to the guidance, new mothers must take the maternity absence within 12 months of giving birth, and commanders cannot deny the benefit if taken within the first three months. After that, commanders can weigh mission requirements in considering whether to grant leave.

Navy Reserve members expressed concern in mid-April that their service had not issued a policy following the Army and Coast Guard’s announcements of the new benefit earlier this year. Navy officials told Military.com that they were waiting on DOD guidance before publishing their own.

The policy does not apply to adoptions or paternity leave and will be offered only to drilling reservists “in good standing,” according to the DOD policy.

Under the memo issued June 9 by Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Gil Cisneros, reserve members who experience a live birth, stillbirth or miscarriage after 20 weeks can receive the paid authorized absences.

They also are eligible to receive retirement points for the associated weekends, according to the policy.

The Army announced its policy April 19 ahead of the DOD’s announcement, allowing Army Reserve and National Guard soldiers paid leave for 12 unit training assemblies, or three weekends, plus the option of four unpaid assemblies, usually two days.

The Coast Guard also issued its guidance in April, announcing the 12 IDT, or essentially six-day policy, while the Air Force has not yet published Reserve-specific guidance.

This article was written by Patricia Kime.

Read comments
Tags: Department of DefenseDODMaternity leaveNational GuardReservereserve componentReserve Component Maternity Leave Program
Military.com

Military.com

Military.com is proud to serve those who serve our country. Our website enables the millions of Americans with military affinity to access their benefits, advance their careers, enjoy military discounts, and stay connected for life.

Related Posts

Kentucky flood response has ‘exceeded all expectations,’ guardsman says

by Crystal Kupper
4 days ago
0
Flooding

Despite the loss of at least 37 lives, National Guard troops have played a critical role in the Kentucky flooding...

Read more

Michigan Army National Guard leverages college athletes in new recruitment campaign

by Christopher Adams
6 days ago
0
Photo courtesy of Valiant Management Group

As the transformative effect of being culturally – and financially – shaped drapes itself over college athletics — for better...

Read more

Presumed sick? Burn pit legislation receives bipartisan support, awaits president’s signature

by AmeriForce Exclusive
7 days ago
0
Burn pit

Bipartisan legislation to improve health care access for service members with burn-pit related illnesses is set for a vote this...

Read more

National Guard rescues hundreds amid flooding in Kentucky; 37 dead

by Military.com
1 week ago
0
flooding

Since Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency, the National Guard has responded to assist recovery efforts amid flooding.

Read more

Veterans protest at US Capitol as pressure mounts on Senate Republicans over toxic exposures bill

by Military.com
1 week ago
0
toxic exposure

Veterans continued their round-the-clock protest at the U.S. Capitol on Monday to press senators to vote on toxic exposure legislation.

Read more

Czech Republic hits milestone with Nebraska, Texas National Guard

by Christopher Adams
2 weeks ago
0
Czech Republic

July marks 30 years of the State Partnership Program relationship between the Nebraska and Texas National Guard and the Czech...

Read more

Ads

Let's get social

The RNG Drill

News delivered directly to your inbox

Let's connect!

ABOUT US

  • OUR STORY
  • OUR TEAM
  • OUR WRITERS

MAGAZINE

  • GET PRINT
  • GET DIGITAL

GET RESOURCES

  • MILITARY EDUCATION GUIDE

ADVERTISE

  • GET OUR MEDIA KIT
  • PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT

SUBMISSIONS

  • PITCH US
  • SUBMIT YOUR STORY

Never miss out on the latest stories.

© 2021 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Privacy Policy | Terms | Site by Swiss Commerce

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
  • YOUR CAREER
    • UNIT TRAINING
    • DEPLOYMENT
    • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • RECRUITING & RETENTION
    • ENTREPRENEUR
    • TRANSITION
  • EDUCATION
  • MILITARY LIFE
    • MILITARY SPOUSES
    • MILITARY KIDS
    • PARENTING
  • OFF DUTY
    • ENTERTAINMENT
    • TRAVEL
  • HEALTH
    • FITNESS
    • MEDICINE
    • MENTAL HEALTH
  • HISTORY
  • MONEY
    • PERSONAL FINANCE
    • BENEFITS
  • GET THE MAGAZINE
    • PRINT MAGAZINES
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINES
    • GET THE NEWSLETTER
  • RESOURCES
    • MILITARY EDUCATION GUIDE
  • ABOUT US
    • MEET OUR TEAM
    • OUR AUTHORS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • SUBMIT YOUR STORY
    • PITCH US
    • CONTACT

© 2022 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Site by SCBW