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BLUF

In NAVADMIN 008/23 the Navy updated the parental leave policy to include 12 weeks of parental leave

following qualifying events in accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 and

DTM 23-001 released on January 4, 2023.

Who needs to know?

foster care. Parental leave must be taken within the one-year period after the qualifying event.

 Navy family members are an integral part of our Navy Force, and the parental leave policy updates

provide needed time for our Navy families to bond. In most cases, Sailors who experience qualifying

events, like birth, adoption, will be authorized 12 weeks of parental leave to care for their newborn,

adopted or placed child or children.

 Commanding officers are encouraged to allow eligible Sailors to take the full 12 weeks consecutively or

in increments and are authorized to extend the one-year period if parental leave must me deferred due

to deployment or some other circumstances listed in the DTM.

 This policy applies to Sailors who experience a qualified event (birth, adoption, long-term foster care

placement) on or after Dec. 27, 2022. This policy also applies to Sailors who had at least some unused

foster care. Parental leave must be taken within the one-year period after the qualifying event. See

DTM 23-001 and NAVADMIN 008/23 for more information.

 PARENTAL LEAVE POLICY UPDATE – In most cases, Sailors who experience qualifying events, like

birth, adoption, or long-term foster care placement will be now be authorized 12 weeks of parental

leave to care for their newborn, adopted or placed child or children. See DTM

23-001 and NAVADMIN 008/23.

 NON-BIRTH PARENT LEAVE POLICY UPDATE - Non-birth parents are now

authorized 12 weeks of parental leave within one year after the birth of their

child. See DTM 23-001 and NAVADMIN 008/23 for more information.

FAQ

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Component (RC) members who perform Full-time active duties for longer than 12 months

consecutively, and RC members performing duty under a call or order to active service for

more than 12 months consecutively when any one of the following events occurs on or

after 27 December 2022: a member or their spouse gives birth to their child, qualified

adoption of a minor child by the member, or placement of a minor child with the member

for adoption or long-term foster care.

Q. What is considered a qualifying event?

A. Qualifying events include: a Sailor or their spouse gives birth to their child, qualified adoption of a minor

child by the Sailor, or placement of a minor child with the Sailor for adoption or long-term foster care.

Q. How do I submit the request in NSIPS?

A. Navy Standard Integrated Personnel System (NSIPS) is being updated to reflect expanded Military Parental

Leave. Until the update is complete, follow this procedure:

 Select Primary Caregiver Leave (PCL) and the appropriate absence reason in block 12a. If the parental

leave is for placement of a child in long-term foster care, the absence reason is to be left blank.

 Requests for parental leave that exceed 42 days must be submitted as separate PCL periods.

 Leave approvers are responsible for ensuring parental leave is approved within the limits outlined in

Q. Does the non-birth parent parental leave apply to children born outside of marriage?

A. Yes, but proof of parentage must be established. Proof of parentage may include, being listed, with consent,

as a parent on the birth certificate of the child, acknowledgment in writing to support the child, registration or

pending registration in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).

Q. What amount of parental leave is authorized for adoption or placement for adoption?

A. Navy service members, including dual-military couples, are authorized 12 weeks of parental leave for each

service member within one year of placement of a minor child with the member for adoption, or the date of

adoption of a minor child by the service member.

Q. What amount of parental leave is authorized for long-term foster care placement?

A. Navy service members, including dual-military couples, are authorized 12 weeks of parental leave for each

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that happen outside of 72 hours are generally treated as separate events. See DTM 23-001

A. Service members may take parental leave in one continuous period or in 7- day

increments and can be combined with ordinary leave, however, parental leave must be taken within one year

after the qualifying event.

Q. What if my CO denies my request for incremental parental leave?

A. The Navy encourages commanding officers to authorize requests for incremental periods of parental leave.

If commanding officers disapprove incremental parental leave, Sailors may appeal the decision through the

Immediate Superior in Command (ISIC) of their unit. The submission process will be at the ISIC’s discretion.

Q. Can I take parental leave in conjunction with ordinary leave?

A. Yes, Sailors may take ordinary leave consecutively with parental leave.

Q. What if I’m deployed? Can I still take parental leave?

Q. What if I don’t use my parental leave within the one-year period?

A. Sailors who do not use parental leave within their one-year period or by their separation from active service

(whichever comes first) will forfeit any remaining parental leave, with the exception of Sailors who were

extension.

Q. Can parental leave be transferred?

Q. Are there any events other than deployment that would allow an extension for the one-year leave period?

See DTM 23-001 and NAVADMIN 008/23 for more details.

Q. Are Navy service members authorized to be surrogates?

A. No, Navy service members are not authorized to be a surrogate. If a non-Sailor spouse of a service member

gives birth as a surrogate, the service member is not authorized parental leave.

Q. Is a birth parent who places their newborn child up for adoption or has their parental rights severed

eligible for parental leave?

A. No. A Navy Sailor who either places their newborn child up for adoption or has their parental rights severed

is not eligible for parental leave, however, the Sailor may be authorized convalescent leave as recommended

by their DoD health care provider, in accordance with medical practice standards.

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weeks of parental leave, which must be approved by the CO, and combined cannot exceed a

total of 12 weeks. See DTM 23-001 for more details. PCL and SCL were mandated to be

taken in one increment under the old policy. Prior to 27 December 2022, members who

returned to work who had not used all their entitled caregiver leave days forfeited the

Q. Am I required to take the PFA if I’m on parental leave?

A. Pregnant service members are deferred from the PFA in line with guidance in exiting policy. Non-birth

parents are still required to participate in physical fitness assessments.