Section 601 of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act authorizes the Secretary of Defense to prescribe regulations for the payment of parental leave for members of the Reserve Component (including members of the Army and Air National Guard).
The period of parental leave may be up to 12 inactive duty training (IDT) periods within a one-year time frame beginning after the birth or adoption of a child of the member and to care for such child; or the placement of a minor child with the member for adoption or long-term foster care.
The member participating in parental leave may be compensated during the period of parental leave as if they had attended periods of IDT. The time spent on authorized parental leave also counts towards entitlement to retired pay.
As a result of changes to federal law enacted by Congress in the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, the benefit provides 12 weeks of nonchargeable, paid parental leave to service members who welcome a child into their family through birth, adoption or long-term foster care placement. Both birth and no-birth parents are eligible for parental leave. Initially the program only applied to active duty service members and reservists on active duty for more than 12 consecutive months. But under those policies, drilling reservists were not eligible for benefits. This provision now includes drilling reservists.
This authority will become effective on October 1, 2024.
— EANGUS National Office
