Maribeth Ferrer News Today

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- A couples introduction to parenthood was burdened by three- and six-week time constraints, which made recovery from birth, adjusting to having a new baby, and finding child care before returning to work that much harder. But according to new Department of Defense guidelines, active-duty birth mothers are authorized 12 weeks of parental leave following six weeks of convalescent leave, while the non-birth parent is eligible for 12 weeks of parental leave.

The Department of Defense released guidelines Jan. 4 to expand the military parental leave program, giving uniformed parents 12 weeks at home to welcome new additions to their families — a departure from the scant three weeks given under the previous policy.