Corps updates leave guidance for new fathers

[unhappycamper]

Corps updates leave guidance for new fathers
By Trista Talton - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Feb 23, 2009 16:43:20 EST

Got baby? The Corps wants you to be with your family.

A new policy guarantees Marine dads 10 days of leave after the birth of their child and up to three weeks off for adoptions, according to Marine Administrative Message 0076/09, issued Feb. 6. It’s not immediately clear when the new guidelines take effect, though.

Currently, new Marine dads can get up to 10 days of permissive temporary additional duty at the discretion of their commanders. The old policy also constrains commanders to authorize only up to 10 days PTAD for Marines adopting a child.

However, under the 2009 National Defense Authorization Act, commanders must authorize 10 consecutive days of mandatory PTAD for married Marines after the birth of their child, though the timing will be at their discretion, depending on the unit’s mission and operational circumstances.

“Commanders will ensure, absent any immediate or future operational requirements, that PTAD is taken and completed within 25 days after the child’s birth,” the message states. And paternity leave must be taken before any other leave, such as combat leave, annual leave or post-deployment mobilization.


Rest of article at: http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/02/marine_paternity_022309w/%2e