This sounds like a great deal and a terrific retention and morale tool. However, the wording in the artice, "as long as he claims the child as a dependant" bothers me. What about dual-military couples? Only one parent can claim the child as a dependant in DEERS. The wording needs to be correct so dual-military parents are not left out in the cold.
I wonder if any of the fathers who are in and had children while in service will get retroactive leave credits...we had to burn days..and I had surgery. With my first one we got five days and they were advance leave days...then he was gone again and I didn't even see him again for months...which is pretty normal. We didn't get any time again for almost a year and he worked every minute until we PCS'd and then waited six months for his ten days permissive to inprocess... What a joke. His ten days was a four day weekend.
Our second we took two weeks but paid...and he had a great unit then. We were lucky I think compared to many.
I believe it ought to be left up to the services to decide. I see justification for adopting parents. I see justification for the navy--loooong deployments. I see justification for fathers from other services coming back from extended deployments--but this would be for "family" not just because a baby has been born. The Air Force makes good points about the problems created--especially that others will have to pick up the slack while a new father gets three extra weeks of leave. I'm sure those about to be fathers will see three extra weeks of leave as a great thing but I can see the awful problems this could create--especially in the Air Force. Congress should keep out of this.
I don't care for the wording because I am due in Oct 08 and there is no way with my dh 15month deployment due this apply at all because it will not be 60 days time limit the bill gives. thats not fair to me and others who are army strong wives birthing and raising our kids alone!!! its enought that he is with the last unit to get 15 moth deployments and no extra pay but now the he cant even be home for this because our sex wasnt time right thanks uncle sam
Like FORD with their better idea...here is mine. I speak as a grandfather who was allowed one day off for the birth of my two children. No leave was allowed unless there were problems that warranted my presence.
If the birth was a normal birth and it is the couple's first birth and there are no relatives nearby to help the mom, the military member gets 5 working days off. If it their second child and the other child is not in school, the military member gets 10 working days off. If this is their third child, and both are not in school, the member gets a max of 15 days total off. If there are additional births, the member gets time off based on how many children are at home but no more than 15 days total. If they have a child in school, they may be entitled to 5 to 10 days off depending. If there are problems during birth, the military member takes leave for necessary time beyond his allotted time.
great news
What a joke. His ten days was a four day weekend. 
