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Paternity leave for married soldiers in effect

Active-duty soldiers who are married and who father a child are now entitled up to 10 days paternity leave.

The new entitlement was signed into law in October, but implementing guidance has only recently been issued by the Army.

Under this program, 10 days of nonchargeable administrative leave is authorized for married active component soldiers — including members of the Active Guard and Reserve — whose wife has given birth since Oct. 14, 2008.

The entitlement does not apply to single soldiers who have fathered a child out of wedlock.

Army implementing guidance issued March 10 limits paternity leave to no more than 10 days, and requires that the leave be taken consecutively and within 45 days after the birth of a child, or children, in the case of multiple births.

Deployed soldiers have up to 60 days after returning to home station to use their leave.

Soldiers will lose their leave entitlement if they do not use it within the specified timeframe.

The policy has been grandfathered for soldiers who were charged annual leave in conjunction with the birth of a child on or after Oct. 14, but before the Army instructions were issued March 10.

Soldiers in this category can request 10 days of annual leave be restored to their leave account.

When requesting the leave credit through their unit personnel section, soldiers must provide documentation, such as a DA Form 31 (Request and Authority for Leave) or a Leave and Earning Statement, showing that they were charged annual leave in conjunction with the birth of a child.

The March 10 implementing guidance was issued as ALARACT message 062/2009.

The policy will be included in an upcoming revision of Army Regulation 600-8-10 (Leaves and Passes).