FORT CAMPBELL, KY (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A new policy from the Department of Defense went into effect this week allowing all military parents to qualify for 12 weeks of family leave following the birth or adoption of a child.
Bree Wright, a Fort Campbell military spouse and mother of two said her experience with her daughter’s birth was unbelievably bad. “I had severe injuries from her birth and his unit at the time only let him take about 10 days of leave,” said Wright. “They also wouldn’t let him take me to any of my or our daughter’s appointments since I could technically drive myself.”
According to previous standards, new military moms could take only up to six weeks of maternity convalescent leave, and the family’s primary caregiver could take an extra six weeks, to use at their discretion. Secondary caregivers in the Army and Air Force could take three weeks of uncharged parental leave, while Navy and Marine Corps members were eligible for only two weeks. No leave was available for non-birth parents.
The 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, which was signed into law in December, gave the armed branches until the end of this year to implement the reforms. It mandated that all services offer paid maternity leave for both birth and non-birth parents. According to a Pentagon official, even though not all of the services currently have those procedures in place, they will meet that deadline. Secondary caregivers in the Army and Air Force can take three weeks of uncharged parental leave, while Navy and Marine Corps members are eligible for only two weeks
“For the birth parent, 12 weeks of parental leave will be authorized following a period of convalescence from childbirth,” the memo said. “For the non-birth parent, 12 weeks of parental leave will be authorized during the 1-year period beginning on the date of birth of the child.”
“Commanders are encouraged to approve requests for incremental periods of parental leave. If the unit commander does not approve taking incremental parental leave, they must allow the member to take the full 12 weeks of parental leave in one continuous period.”
Additionally, service members who adopt a child or take in minors in long-term foster care, are also taken care of. As stated in the policy, “Members who adopt a minor child or who have a minor child placed for adoption or long-term foster care with them will be authorized 12 weeks of parental leave to care for the child.”
Jenna Hampton, a Fort Campbell military spouse, said she struggled severely with postpartum depression and anxiety. “I spiraled when my husband went back to work, and I had no help. Having a policy such as the new one would have been a big relief for both of our mental health and our marriage as a whole.”
When the new policy took effect, members who were on maternity convalescent leave or who had unused caregiver leave will transition to the new policy without any loss of benefit and will get the improved benefit.
“Families need to have time to figure out how to adapt to a new addition without being rushed. The babies are only small for so long,” said Hampton.
For more information on this new policy, you can view the memo online.