The Military Parental Leave Program (MPLP) provides non-chargeable leave entitlements following the birth or adoption of a Child. The policy applies to covered Soldiers who are birth Mothers or Fathers, same-sex couples, as well as adoptive and surrogate parents.

On April 19, 2022, the Army released Army Directive 2022-06 (Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Postpartum). The directive contains 12 components. Six are entirely new and the other six are updates to existing policies.

This directive will apply to:

• Regular Army (RA)

• Army National Guard (ARNG)

• Army National Guard of the United States (ARNGUS)

• U.S. Army Reserve (USAR)

Below are the 12 components that are included in the Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Directive as well as some of the changes.

• Postpartum Body Composition Exemption (existing but modified; required by NDAA FY20)

  • The body composition exemption is increased from 180 days to 365 days after the conclusion of pregnancy. 

• Physical Fitness Testing Exemption (existing but modified; required by NDAA FY22)

  • Soldiers will be exempt from taking a record physical fitness test while pregnant and for a year after pregnancy. 

• Pregnancy and Postpartum Service Uniform Exemption; (existing but modified)

  • There will be exemptions for pregnancy and postpartum.

  • Child Development Program facilities may be designated as “No-Hat, No-Salute” areas.

• Operational and Training Deferments (existing but modified; required by NDAA FY21)

  • They want to ensure that at least one parent is home with their Child so all birth parents (Soldiers who physically give birth) are deferred or excused for 365 days after the birth of their Child from deployments, mobilizations, field training, and other types of military assignments. 

• Professional Military Education (PME) (NEW)

  • A pregnancy profile will not disqualify a Soldier from being selected as an honor graduate or commandant list selectee. 

• Location Accommodations (existing but modified)

  • Commands will need to provide lactation breaks and designated location areas for lactating Soldiers. 

• Fertility Treatments (NEW)

  • Soldiers will be stabilized from a PCS or a deployment for up to 365 days from their first appointment while receiving fertility treatments. 

• Pregnancy Loss (NEW)

  • Convalescent leave after a birth event, miscarriage, or stillbirth. This will apply to the Soldier or the Spouse of a Soldier.

• Family Care Plans (FCPs) (existing but modified)

  • Soldiers will be given at least three weeks’ notice for duty requirements outside of the normal duty hours as well as for significant changes to the Soldier’s normal duty hours.

• Active Duty Operational Support (ADOS) (NEW)

  • Pregnant Soldiers will be eligible to apply and compete for ADOS tours despite their medical readiness classification 3 status. 

• Paid Parental Leave in the Reserve Component (NEW; required by NDAA FY21)

  • Birthparents will be granted 12 paid UTAs (Unit Training Assemblies) within a year after giving birth. They will also be allowed 4 UTAs that will be unpaid but could be rescheduled. 

• Education of Leaders (NEW)

  • Pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting training will be incorporated throughout all pre-command courses. 

For more detailed information, refer to Army Directive 2022-06 (Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Postpartum).

Army Directive 2022-06 does NOT expand/change parental leave in regard to primary/secondary caregiver leave (see AR 600-8-10, para 5-5, "Army Military Parental Leave Program" for the current policy).

The definition portion of the Army Directive is alluding to future changes that may be coming as outlined in NDAA 22, but they are NOT yet effective. We apologize for the confusion but until NDAA 22 becomes effective (in accordance with 10 USC 704a), and OSD has published their guidance (in accordance with 37 USC 1001), the current AR 600-8-10 policy remains the Army policy in regard to caregiver leave.