Army’s long-awaited parental leave policy bars local denials

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Army’s long-awaited parental leave policy bars local denials
By Davis Winkie
Feb 1, 02:31 PM
Pvt. Yolando Moton, a cavalry scout with 4th Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, smiles with wife, Christina Dixon-Moton, and newborn daughter, Ella Rose, during their postpartum stay at William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Feb. 26, 2019. (Marcy Sanchez/Army)

The Army rolled out its tardy parental leave policy Tuesday, expanding maternity leave and sharply increasing the benefit for non-birth parents as well.

Both mothers and non-birth parents — including soldiers who adopt children, have them through surrogates or accept long-term foster care responsibilities — are now entitled to 12 weeks of parental leave, according to the administrative message announcing the change. The policy, which comes nine months after the service revamped other parenthood policies, applies to active-duty troops and Reserve or Guard members on extended active-duty tours.

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SSG Michael Noll Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Cpl Vic Burk SGT Charlie Lee] Sgt (Join to see) GySgt Jack Wallace SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM PV2 Larry Sellnow SPC Gary C. SPC (Join to see) Amn Dale Preisach SGT Ruben Lozada 1SG Paul Ayotte CPT Richard Trione SFC Ralph E Kelley 1SG Patrick Burke PV2 Scott Mollette SGT Gerald “Jerry” Harrell Lt Col Charlie Brown